Roars of a standing ovation echoed through the Little Theater at the conclusion of the opening night of “In the Heights” musical theatre production on Oct. 22.
Cal State Fullerton’s production of “In the Heights” featured fiery dance and strong vocal performances that made the play feel like more than just a performance, but a community brought together.
“In the Heights” is a 2008 four-time Tony Award winning musical about Usnavi, a man with Dominican roots, navigating life in the barrio of Washington Heights, New York as he is trying to leave with the hope of finding some place better.
Acting, singing and dancing beside Usnavi is an eclectic community dealing with their own struggles, including gentrification pushing out long-time residents away from Washington Heights and forcing others into making tough life-altering decisions.
Despite any hardships, what bands this community together are the relationships amongst one another; whether they are blood-related or found family.
This theme resonates with the director of CSUF’s “In the Heights,” Sara Guerrero, as her notes in the playbill bring her personal experiences to light.
“Growing up, I witnessed the strength of unity among friends and family during both joyous celebrations and challenging times,” Guerrero said in her director’s note. “It reminds me of the power of support within my own community, how we uplift one another in our own pursuits.”
The supporting character, Abuela Claudia, played by Gaily Garcia made a heartfelt impression on everyone in the community.
Garcia’s Abuela Claudia is a character whose influence spread beyond that of the cast and crew. After finishing her solo in Act I, “Paciencia Y Fe,” the audience erupted in applause as her strong performance turned the audience into more than just spectators, but a part of the musical experience themselves.
“Paciencia Y Fe” is more than just a song in the musical, translating to “Patience and Faith.” This phrase pulsates throughout the musical as characters struggle yet remain steadfast in their goals; not letting anyone or anything stand in the way of making their dream into reality.
Abuela Claudia, played by Gaily Garcia captivates audiences on opening night Thursday. (Danna Granados / Daily Titan)
Looking at the cast, from the principal cast to the supportive members of the ensemble, there were stellar performances from all of them.
Throughout the musical, the bright colors and cast captivated audience members’ as their eyes were weaving throughout the stage observing the liveliness of the performance.
The choreography itself was impressive with the combination between feisty choreography and up-tempo music — a surge of energy was felt from the impressive art on stage.
However, this musical is not without its somber moments either as the difficulties of the characters are exposed to the audience. Difficulty, vulnerability, struggle and a whole host of other tough expressions can be observed throughout the duration of the performance.
What makes this production of “In the Heights” memorable is the raw strength of the actors utilizing these characters to tell a story that bears semblance to reality and how life is not always fair.
The characters in the musical make the best of their circumstances and their actions motivate the plot forward as the characters’ experiences begin to take different forms.
The audience laughed, cheered, gasped in shock and buzzed with excitement as they watched CSUF’s production of “In the Heights” from the moment the curtains raised to the final bows of the performers.
With more dates to follow until Oct. 31, CSUF’s theater program will continue to impress audiences with a musical that fosters connection to a story through song and dance.