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In The Heights: A New Musical
March 14, 2008
Richard Rodgers Theatre
The sounds of salsa and mambo have made their way onto Broadway along with an array of Dominican, Puerto Rican and Cuban flags hung proudly out of numerous windows of the Washington Heights inspired set. The little musical that could, “In The Heights,” made its Broadway debut on Sunday, March 9th 2008 after an impressive year long stint off Broadway.
The musical depicts the lives of numerous members of the barrio. Nina (played by Mandy Gonzales), the barrio’s star returns from her first year at Stanford with news that she can’t hack it. While Usnavi (Lin-Manuel Miranda) the bodega owner daydreams of the day he can sell the family business and return to his native Dominican Republic and landing a date with the town hottie Vanessa (Karen Olivo) who’s dying to get out of the Heights. The cast of 27 includes hilarious break out performances by Robin De Jesus (Sonny, Usnavi’s cousin) and Andrea Burns (Daniela, the local salon owner and queen of town gossip).
The musical is an honest portrayal of the Latino community inhabiting the upper-upper part of Manhattan. The streets are populated by people with big dreams and small means. A barrio, sadly, on the brink of extinction. Being a Washington Heights native myself it was easy to identify with the every day struggles of making it while staying true to those who helped you along the way. The play hit close to home numerous times including one where Vanessa longs for a quieter neighborhood in the West Village in “It Won’t Be Long Now” she sings “The elevated trains by the window doesn’t phase me anymore/the rattling screams don’t disrupt my dreams/it’s a lullaby in its way/the elevated trains drives everyone insane but I don’t mind oh no/when I bring back boys they can’t tolerate the noise and that’s ok because I never let them stay/And one day I’m hoping in an elevated train and driving away/It won’t be long now…”
To compare this musical to any other would do it injustice, yes the play takes place in the streets of New York but the Latinos portrayed aren’t street thugs or maids, yes the music is vibrant and so are the costumes donned by its characters but there’s something about it, which I’ve yet to put my finger on it, that makes it truly magical. ¡Que viva el alto Manhattan! (Long live the heights!)
La salsa y el mambo han llegado al escenario de Broadway acompañada con banderas dominicanas, Puertorriqueñas y Cubanas colgadas orgullosamente fuera de las ventanas del sistema inspirado por las calles del alto Manhattan. El musical, “In The Heights,” se estreno en Broadway el domingo 9 de marzo del 2008 después de un año en exhibición off Broadway.
El musical representa las vidas de los miembros numerosos del barrio. Nina (jugado por Mandy Gonzales), la estrella del barrio vuelve a partir de su primer año en la universidad de Stanford con noticias que ella no puede continuar sus estudios. Mientras que Usnavi (Lin-Manuel Miranda) el dueño de la bodega sueña del día que el puede vender el negocio de la familia para volver a su país natal, la República Dominicana y poder sacar a la muchacha mas bella del barrio, Vanessa (Karen Olivo) que está loca por salir del alto Manhattan. El elenco de 27 persona incluye Robin De Jesús (Sonny el primo de Usnavi) y Andrea Burns (Daniela, la dueña del salón y reina del chisme de la ciudad).
El musical es una representación honesta de la comunidad Latina que habita la parte más alta de Manhattan. Las calles son habitadas por la gente con sueños grandes y medios pequeños. Un barrio, tristemente, a punto de la extinción.
Comparar este musical a cualquier otro no le haría justicia, aunque el musical se desarrolla en las calles de Nueva York los Latinos representados en la obra no son sirvientes o callejeros, la música es vibrante igual a los trajes de los personajes pero la obra tiene algo especial, algo que no se puede describir fácilmente pero es verdaderamente mágico. ¡Que viva el alto Manhattan!