Before Hamilton, there was Lin-Manuel Miranda’s lesser known, but arguably deserving of as much love, musical In The Heights. In my time as a theatre fan, I’ve only gotten to see In The Heights twice before as it’s not a show that comes around very often. I was delighted to read that PACA Productions would be staging this beautiful musical and I hoped it would live up to my expectations.
“In The Heights is Lin-Manuel Miranda’s vibrant celebration of the Latinx experience, weaving a narrative that reflects the American dream within a diverse community. This Tony award-winning musical captures the essence of shared struggles, resilience, and the pursuit of aspirations, resonating with audiences as a testament to the power of diverse storytelling.
Told through the lives of a dynamic cast of characters, In The Heights weaves classical storytelling with contemporary beats, seamlessly blending hip hop, salsa, and Latin rhythms. The result? An infectious groove that will have everyone tapping their feet and feeling the pulse of the neighbourhood. Walk alongside Usnavi, Nina, Benny, and a cast of unforgettable characters as they navigate the intricate tapestry of love, ambition, and family bonds. Their stories will tug at your heartstrings and leave you rooting for each and every one of them.”
My main concern when I hear about a production of In The Heights is whether it will be an authentically cast production that reflects the diversity and Latinx cultural backgrounds of the show’s Characters. This show has sought to cast as authentically as possible and it is exciting to read about the cultural backgrounds of the cast in their program biographies. Of the cast members who are not of Latinx backgrounds, there are several who have their own immigrant experiences and represent a range of other cultural backgrounds.
Directors Rodrigo Medina Noel and William Pulley have assembled a really exciting cast to bring the characters of Washington Heights to life.
As Usnavi, Henry Lopez Lopez serves as both the show’s main character and also in many ways its narrator. Lopez handles intricately wordy rap lyrics to introduce us to the Bodega he runs and his customers and friends. Lopez brought an exciting enthusiastic energy to Usnavi which helped to make the entire show feel fresh and exhilarating.
Definite highlights of this production were Danika Rojas (as Nina Rosario), Ivan Amaro (As Nina’s father Kevin Rosario) and Andrew Read (as Benny – Kevin’s employee and Nina’s love-interest)
Something that I really like about In The Heights is that while Usnavi is certainly the main character, it is at its heart an ensemble piece. Many of the other characters are just as central to the plot and each is arguably the main character in terms of their own story that comes together to form the overall plot. Consequently, several of the other characters get to sing their own solo song where they tell of their hopes, dreams, failures and desires. Danika Rojas’ performance of ‘breathe’ was captivating and beautiful. Ivan Amaro’s ‘Inútil’ was heartbreakingly honest. As Vanessa, Natalie Johnson’s ‘It Won’t Be Long Now’ was emotionally and vocally powerful as she sings about her desire and dream to get out of Washington Heights. Irene Toro, as Abuela Claudia, gave a brilliant performance throughout and her ‘Paciencia y Fe’ was one of my favourite moments of the production. The main cast was rounded out by: Lachlan Ceravolo, Paulina Johnson, Fernanda Murialdo, Nik Zielinski and Carlos Galindo. The cast are supported by a fantastic ensemble!
The music of In The Heights is so great because it is so diverse. We go from rap and hip-hop to songs that are very traditionally musical theatre. The music also drives the emotion of the show. In act II we go from what I would say is the musical’s most fun Latin inspired number ‘Carnaval del Barrio’ (Lead by Belen Johnson) then transitions into (without spoiling the show) a sequence of sad and deeply moving songs.
While In The Heights is unquestionably a Latinx story, it is also a story relatable to anyone who is an immigrant or comes from a family of Immigrants. While I myself am not Latinx, so much of these characters’ struggles and dreams are very familiar to me through the stories of my family members who came from other countries to settle in Australia for a better life.
This production is a piece of theatre very much worth seeing. Whether you’re a musical theatre nerd or someone who doesn’t usually go to the theatre, there is something for you to enjoy in In The Heights.
The production runs at the Concourse Chatswood until 11 February.
PACA would like to thank Page & Stage reviews for this wonderful review!