In The Heights

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 1 person | Log in to rate

Ranked #1,235 in Entertainment, #32,174 overall

In The Heights - 2008 Tony Award winner for best musical

"Lights up on Washington Heights, up at the break of day"

With those simple words rapping in the background my attention was drawn away from my computer and I was hooked to the T.V.

I was watching the Tony's when I kinda got bored and went to my computer to, well, mess around. I had almost lost complete touch with the tony's, other than the once in a while turn of the head to see what was on, when Usnvavi opened his scene. I heard Hip Hop and it was on a broadway musical.I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I immediately picked up my phone and text my best friend Nicole: "Are you watching this?". She replied with a big "Yes!". Needless to say I watched the rest of the scene and was even more captivated when I heard spanish being spoken and sung. I couldn't believe it. I immediately went on-line to find out all I could. I went and got the CD a few days later and have been listening to it ever since.

The music is awesome. The characters are well rounded and human. The story (from what I can tell from the CD) is well written. And I haven't even seen the show yet (*UPDATE* I have seen the show! Read my review below!)

Oh and did I mention it won 4 Tony's including Best Musical? Alabanza!

Review of "In The Heights"

Follow Nina Rosario on Twitter!!


Purchase Tickets

In The Heights Tour 

The Tour has been announced. See if it's coming to a city near you below:

October 26 - November 1, 2009
Tampa, FL
Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center

November 3 - 8, 2009
Atlanta, GA
The Fox Theatre

January 5 - 10, 2010
Hartford, CT
The Bushnell Center for
the Performing Arts

January 26 - 31, 2010
Buffalo, NY
Shea's Performing
Arts Center

February 2 - 7, 2010
Pittsburgh, PA
Benedum Center

February 9 - 21, 2010
Cleveland, OH
PlayhouseSquare/Palace Theatre

March 16 - 28, 2010
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Broward Center for the Performing Arts

April 6 - 18, 2010
Houston, TX
Hobby Center for the Performing Arts

June 15 - 20, 2010
Tempe, AZ
ASU Gammage

July 27 - August 1, 2010
San Diego, CA
San Diego Civic Theatre

August 3 - 15, 2010
Costa Mesa, CA
Orange County Performing Arts Center

Check out the cast of the tour! 

powered by Youtube

Starring 

Original Broadway cast

Lin-Manuel Miranda, Usnavi

Andréa Burns, Daniela

Janet Dacal, Carla

Robin De Jesús, Sonny

Carlos Gomez, Kevin

Mandy Gonzalez, Nina

Christopher Jackson, Benny

Priscilla Lopez, Camila

Olga Merediz, Abuela Claudia

Karen Olivo, Vanessa

Seth Stewart, Graffiti Pete

The cast on stage

My Review 

In The Heights

When you buy a CD off of one song, invite two friends to New York specifically to see a musical, book a 5 hour flight, and buy tickets a month in advance I think it's safe to say that high expectations for In The Heights were in order. So on Tuesday Nov. 11 2008 me and two of my closest friends hop onto Jet Blue in Long Beach headed towards New York for our date with In The Heights.

In The Heights follows a predominately latino barrio for a few days in the Washington Hieghts district of New York. It's the story of Usnavi who is looking to go back to his roots in the Dominican Republic while also taking care of both his Bodega and his younger cousin Sonny. Usnavi is also in love with Vanessa but doesn't quite know how to tell her. The story also follows Vannessa (she wants to leave the Barrio), Benny (has high hopes of owning his own business and winning the heart of Nina), Nina (returning from failed stint at Stanford after being one of the few to get out of the Barrio), Kevin and Camila (The parents of Nina who struggle with what is right for thier daughter), and Abuela Claudia (the patriarch of the block who everyone respects and loves). One of the themes of the play is 'home'. And what it means to each character.

The play starts with Usnavi introducing himself and all the main characters in a opening Hip Hop number that sets the tone for the rest of the night. You know your in for a treat. And it never let's up. With a mixture of Hip Hop, Latin music, and Broadway tunes it makes you want dance in your seat. The story itself flows and is easy to follow. It pulls you in and doesn't let go till the very end. The characters are all engaging and believable.

One of my favorite parts was when Abuela Claudia breaks out into her first musical number "Paciencia Y Fe". Prior to this number Abuela seems frail and forgetful, then all of the sudden the spotlight hits her and she belts out "CALOR!". Surprising anyone not familiar with the songs. The musical actually has a lot of strong female characters. Nina is very independent and very bright. Camila comes on strong in the second act putting Kevin in his place. Vanessa wants nothing more than to get out of the barrio on her own.

I'm so glad we went to go see it with most of the original cast (Karen Olivo left in October). Usnavi, Benny, and Nina were awesome and I can't imagine anyone else playing them and being that good. The character of Usnavi is probably one of the most likable characters you'll see on stage anywhere.

I can't really put into words how much I enjoyed this musical. We ended up going to see it twice. And I wish I could have seen it again. From Usnavi to Benny to Nina to the Piragua guy to Sonny to Graffiti Pete it was all good. I can't wait for the show to go on tour and come here to L.A. I guess the best way to show how good the show was is to tell you this. As the first number ended my friend tells me "feel my arm, I have goosebumps." She said the same thing at the end of the show.

Pics from my trip:

Clips of "In The Heights", "The Club", and "96,000" 

Clips of "In The Heights", "The Club", and "96,000"

this video shows performance clips of the show's title song ITH, The Club and 96,000. courtesy of http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jul/01/usa.theatre NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT IS INTENDED.

Runtime: 331
56441 views
86 Comments:

curated content from YouTube

Amazon Spotlight 

In The Heights (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

Amazon Price: $16.99 (as of 11/28/2009)Buy Now

"USNAVI:
But as for manana, mi pana
Ya gotta keep watchin
You'll see the late night
You'll taste beans and rice
The syrups and shaved ice,
I ain't gotta say it twice
So turn up the stage lights
We're takin a flight
To a couple days
In the life of what it's like

ALL
En Washington Heights!"

This Music is amazing. A little bit hip hop, a little spanish flavor, a little of Broadway in the mix and you got In The Heights. An amazing album that I can't stop listening to.

In The Heights Lyrics! 

Click below to check them out

The Tony Awards performance 

'In the Heights' - 2008 Tony Awards Performance - 96000

The Cast of In the Heights performs on the 2008 Tony Awards singing '96000'. Winner of 4 Tony Awards including Best Musical! In the Heights stars: Karen Olivo. Mandy Gonzalez. Christopher Jackson. Lin-Manuel Miranda. Robin De Jesus. Andrea Burns. Seth Stewart. Olga Merediz. Priscilla Lopez. Janet Dacal.

Runtime: 288
363466 views
857 Comments:

curated content from YouTube

Pictures! 

Cast pics and more

Click on a pic to see a bigger view

Poll 

Loading poll. Please Wait...

Lin-Manuel Miranda talking about his influences 

Phantom and Rent

Lin-Manuel Miranda on 'In the Heights'

Lin-Manuel Miranda, star and creator of 'In the Heights', talks about the inspiration for his hit Broadway musical, recently nominated for 13 Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Lead Actor and Best Original Score.

Runtime: 48
39846 views
28 Comments:

curated content from YouTube

In The Heights on The View 

In the Heights On the View

So turn up the stage lights, we're takin a flight to a couple days in the life of what it's like, En Washington Heights!

Runtime: 247
56590 views
86 Comments:

curated content from YouTube

Learn about the Dominican Republic 

The Dominican Republic (, ) is a nation on the island of Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are occupied by two countries. Both by area and population, the Dominican Republic is the second largest Caribbean nation (after Cuba), with 48,442 km² and an estimated 10 million people. Context: Estimaciones; Población en Tiempo Real

Inhabited by Taínos since the seventh century, what is now the Dominican Republic was reached by Christopher Columbus in 1492 and became the site of the first permanent European settlement in the Americas, namely Santo Domingo, the country's capital and Spain's first capital in the New World. In Santo Domingo stand, among other firsts in the Americas, the first university, cathedral, and castle, the latter two in the Ciudad Colonial area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

After three centuries of Spanish rule, with French and Haitian interludes, the country became independent in 1821 but was quickly taken over by Haiti. It attained independence in 1844, but mostly suffered political turmoil and tyranny, and as well a brief return to Spanish rule, over the next 72 years. United States occupation 1916-24 and a subsequent, calm six?year period were followed by the military dictatorship of Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Molina to 1961. The last civil war, in 1965, ended with U.S. intervention, followed by the authoritarian rule of Joaquin Balaguer, to 1978. Since 1978, the Dominican Republic has moved toward representative democracy.

The Dominican Republic has also adopted a liberal economic model, which has made it perhaps the largest economy in the region. Though long known for sugar production, the economy is now dominated by services. The country's economic progress is exemplified by its advanced telecommunication system. Nevertheless, unemployment, government corruption, income maldistribution, and inconsistent electric service remain major Dominican problems.

Migration is a major issue affecting the country, as it both receives and sends large flows of migrants. Haitian immigration and the integration of Dominicans of Haitian descent are major issues in the Dominican Republic. The total population of Haitian origin is estimated to be 800,000. A large Dominican diaspora exists, most of it in the United States, where it comprises 1.1 million. They contribute to the development of the Dominican Republic, as they send billions of dollars to family members in the country, accounting for one-tenth of its GDP.

The Dominican Republic has become the Caribbean's largest tourist destination; the country's year?round golf courses are among the top attractions. In this mountainous country is located the Caribbean's highest mountain, Pico Duarte, as is Lake Enriquillo, the Caribbean's largest lake. Quisqueya, as Dominicans often call their country, has a mild average temperature (26 °C) and is outstanding for its great biological diversity.

Wallpapers and stuff 

Click away!

T.V. Commercial 

IN THE HEIGHTS ON BROADWAY

IN THE HEIGHTS is here. www.intheheightsthemusical.com

Runtime: 33
18462 views
28 Comments:

curated content from YouTube

Benny's Dispatch 

'In the Heights' - Benny's Dispatch Bryant Park 2008!

Broadway in Bryant Park 2008! Watch in High Quality! Chris Jackson and Janet Dacal sing "Benny's Dispatch" from In the Heights, winner of the 2008 Tony Award for Best Musical. Broadway in Bryant Park took place on Thursday July 17, 2008 in New York City.

Runtime: 182
7011 views
18 Comments:

curated content from YouTube

In The Heights Paperback 

Amazon Error: Could not open remote connection

Sorry, there are no results available from Amazon.

Musical Montage 

'In the Heights' Musical Montage

Footage from the new musical on Broadway.

Runtime: 69
51037 views
57 Comments:

curated content from YouTube

Next Question! 

Loading poll. Please Wait...

Learn about Cuba 

The Republic of Cuba (; , ) is an island country in the Caribbean. It consists of the island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city. Cuba is home to over 11 million people and is the most populous insular nation in the Caribbean. Its people, culture, and customs draw from...

When Your Home and It Wont Be Long Now 

'In the Heights' - Virgin Megastore Performance New York

"When You're Home" & "It Wont Be Long Now" The cast of 'In the Heights' @ Virgin Megastore singing 2 songs, for the launch of the Original Broadway Cast Double Disc Album! June 5, 2008. Karen Olivo. Mandy Gonzalez. Christopher Jackson. Lin-Manuel Miranda. Robin De Jesus. Andrea Burns.

Runtime: 598
20419 views
46 Comments:

curated content from YouTube

Choreographer ANDY BLANKENBUEHLER on In The Heights 

Runtime:
views
Comments:

curated content from YouTube

Lyrics from Carnaval del Barrio

"Maybe you're right, Sonny
Call in the coroners
Maybe we're powerless, a corner full of foreigners
Maybe this neighborhood's changing forever
Maybe tonight is our last night together, however
How do you wanna face it?
Do you wanna waste it, when the end is so close you can taste it?
Y'all could cry with your head in the sand
I'm a fly this flag that I got in my hand"

Sign the guestbook! 

Let me know what you think or just say hi!

submit

10 Year Old 

10 year old - In the Heights opening number Nicholas Dayton

A 10 year old fan of "In the Heights" and Lin Manuel Miranda performs the opening number to "In the Heights". He's Nicholas Dayton from New Orleans, LA. Only positive comments please.

Runtime: 319
8205 views
86 Comments:

curated content from YouTube

Explore related pages

Create a Lens!