Broadway in Tucson
'Heights' a Broadway hip-hop celebration
A winning lottery ticket could change everything
-
John Daughtry/Broadway in TucsonPerry Young stars as Usnavi in 'In The Heights.' -
John Daughtry/Broadway in TucsonThe touring cast of 'In The Heights.'
The musical “In The Heights” is about a neighborhood in Manhattan, but it also is a universal story about community. People work to make a living young, people fall in love, families struggle, people succeed and fail. When a winning lottery ticket is sold, people dream of what they would change if they could. Of course, in most neighborhoods, the residents don’t spontaneously break into energetic song and dance.
Broadway in Tucson is bringing the national touring company of “In The Heights” to town with eight shows during the limited six-day run.
Winner of the 2008 Tony Award for Best Musical, “In The Heights” also won Tonys that year for Best Music and Lyrics, Best Choreography and Best Orchestration, as well as the 2008 Grammy for Best Musical Show Album.
“In The Heights” is set in New York’s Washington Heights, a close-knit ethnic community. American-born Usnavi, the son of Dominican Republic immigrants, runs the bodega where the winning ticket was sold. Puerto Ricans Kevin and Camilia run a struggling transportation company. Their daughter, Nina, is the first in the family to make it to college. Daniela runs a nearby hair salon threatened by increased rent. Her employees include Vanessa, Usnavi’s love interest, and innocent Carla There are also street-savvy friends, artists and food vendors to round out the story.
The original story was conceived by composer and rapper Lin-Manuel Miranda while in college in 1999, where he wrote the music and lyrics. An early version of show was first staged at Wesleyan University. With Quiara Alegria Hudes providing a new book, the show made it to Broadway in 2008.
Although heavily infused with hip-hop, salsa and Caribbean rhythms, “In The Heights” is part of the long tradition of community tales on Broadway, including “Fiddler On The Roof” and “West Side Story.” It also demonstrates the flexibility and willingness of Broadway shows to incorporate new sounds into traditional structures to create new, exciting works.
Video
If you go
- What: “In The Heights,” presented by Broadway in Tucson
- When: Thursday through April 29, Tuesday through Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., Sunday at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
- Where: Tucson Music Hall, 260 S. Church St.
- Tickets: $29 - $66, with discounts available for seniors, military and students. Tickets available at the Tucson Convention Center Box Office, at (800) 745-3000 or at broadwayintucson.com. Tickets purchased through the TCC Box Office will avoid additional Ticketmaster online fees.
Related stories
- 'Mary Poppins': Will you believe a nanny can fly?
- 'Lidless' asks hard questions through hard-edged theatre
- Awkward musical 'Bat Boy' saved by stars
- One-woman show offers multiple perspectives
- 'Red' illuminates the creative process
- Don’t be afraid of 'Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf'
- 'Vagina Monologues' reading celebrates Women's History Month
- 'Death and the Maiden' offers ambiguous truth
More by Dave Irwin
- Janis Ian's 'LAST TOUR' comes to Tucson on Thursday
- Meditating on music & meaning: Kronos Quartet brings 'A Thousand Thoughts' to Tucson stage
- 5 reasons to see ATC's latest hit, 'Fences'1
- UA show 'this heart in my mouth is called home' explores experimental theatre1
- Leapin’ lizards! Limited-run 'Annie' worth effort to catch this weekend
- More stories »
