
Performances were March 6, 7, 13, 14, & 15, 2015
In The Heights by Lin-Manuel Miranda & Quiara Alegria Hudes
Directed by Darryl V. Jones
Musical Direction by Sierra Dee
Choreography by Laura Elaine Ellis & Catherine Delos Santos
Location: University Theatre
“In the Heights,” the 2008 Tony award winner for Best Musical as well as three other categories, was written by composer Lin-Manuel Miranda and playwright Quiara Alegria Hudes. The first musical written by and about Latinos to win a Tony award, “In the Heights” tells the story of a vibrant community on the brink of change in New York City’s Washington Heights neighborhood, and explores themes such as the pressures of reaching for one’s dreams and the struggle to keep traditions alive. The musical draws inspiration from “West Side Story,” “Flower Drum Song,” and “Fiddler on the Roof.”
“In the Heights” broke new ground on Broadway by interweaving rap dialogue with Latin American dance and music. The musical score is a mix of salsa, merengue, hip-hop, breakdancing, and traditional Broadway musical numbers. This fusion of dance and musical styles reflects the diversity of the Washington Heights community that the story is set in.
“‘In the Heights’ is written about the Dominican and Puerto Rican-American neighborhood of Washington Heights, but it transcends the specific ethnicity. It is the classic American immigrant story, the story of a community that is under pressure, one that is changing, growing, and transforming,” said Professor Darryl V. Jones, director of the CSUEB production. “The story celebrates working hard to send children to school so they will do better than their parents who may have struggled with English. It honors becoming American, but still celebrating your ethnic and cultural heritage. For this reason, as well as the musical’s infectious music and dance, the show has developed a huge cult following of Asians, Latinos, Blacks, and Whites alike.”