“About home, family and finding where you belong,” is the tagline on the In The Heights’ poster, which is an apt description of the themes of this musical, created by Lin-Manuel Miranda.  Initially, conceived when Miranda’s high school sweetheart was going abroad to study in the Dominican Republic.

Detroit was graced with a run at the Fisher Theater from February 1st-13^th, 2011.  I was able to make it on February 2^nd and the wait was well worth it.  From the beginning, I was impressed by not only the mixture of English and Spanish in the dialogue but also the mezcla of hip-hop, reggaeton, salsa and merengue.  As the child of immigrants, switching languages and musical styles was something that resonated with me.

In The Heights tells the story of its rich cast.  From the weight of expectation on the family Kevin, Camila and their daughter, Nina to the aspirations of Usnavi and his cousin, Sonny, to the gossip in the salon owned by Daniela and staffed by her motley barrio crew, Carla and Vanessa and the different developing romances.  I guarantee there is something that connects with every audience member.  For many of the characters the barrio is nothing but a temporary stop on their life journeys.

The concept of “making it” is something that permeates In The Heights.  Whether through business or other means, many of the characters find some type of success.  However, it’s not necessarily about acquiring material wealth but in accomplishing the one thing that gives the characters’ lives meaning.  Throughout the journey of “making it,” the one constant is the sense of home, family and community that brings the characters together time and time again.  Camila, Nina’s mother, perfectly summarized ITH when she told her that, as long as she was alive, Nina could always come home.  Not only was this true for Nina but also for any of the characters.  No matter what they accomplish or where they move to, Washington Heights would always be home.

The cast did an excellent job. Usnavi, named after a passing US Navy ship, was very charming.  Portrayed by Joseph Morales, he spoke heavily in a spoken word style that flowed like the music that draped the musical.  His comic foil, Sonny, played by Chris Chatman, had excellent chemistry, as Usnavi constantly looked out for his bumbling cousin who would eventually redeem himself. Abuela Claudia, the neighborhood matriarch played by Elisa Santora, was the heart and soul of not just the neighborhood but also of the musical.  Kevin and Camila, played by Danny Bolero and Natalie Toro, respectively, had excellent chemistry as parents to Nina (Genny Lis Padilla).  Certainly worth mentioning was Benny (Nicholas Christopher), their employee and love interest to Nina.  Daniela (April Ortiz) and her beauty shop girls, Carla (Ana Noguiera) and Vanessa (Lexi Lawson) provided tons of comic relief.  Woven together, all of these characters and the actors who played them depicted the types of Latino barrios filled with taxi stands, gossipy beauty salons and bodegas that dot our American landscape.

I would highly, highly recommend that you go to the Fisher and check out this musical.  As a Latino, this speaks to my experience being surrounded by hard working family working to “make it.”  As a Latino that enjoys a multitude of different musical styles, their soundtrack is something that I can listen to.  As a Latino writer, the multiple threads that tie together this story speak to me.  More than anything, I’m glad to see that Lin-Manuel Miranda was able to create a story that portrays Latinos in a positive, non-stereotypical way that speaks to the rich “Latino experience.”  Watch In The Heights and you will not be disappointed.

For more information on tickets and showtimes, go to: http://www.broadwayindetroit.com/engine.cfm?i=76.

Author: José A. Rodríguez

Photo: Chelsea Lauren