Lights up on full casting for New York City Center‘s upcoming gala presentation of Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegría Hudes‘ In the Heights, performing October 28-November 15 at the Manhattan venue. David Mendizábal (Mexodus) will direct the new staging, which will feature choreography by Mayte Natalio and music direction by Alejandro Senior.
The production will feature Matte Martinez (MJ) as Usnavi, Jaci Calderon as Nina, Ashley De La Rosa (Buena Vista Social Club) as Vanessa, Tony winner Natalie Venetia Belcon (Buena Vista Social Club, Avenue Q) as Claudia, Linedy Genao (Bad Cinderella) as Daniela, Ishmael Gonzalez (& Juliet) as Sonny, Ivan Hernandez (Schmigadoon!) as Kevin, Cedric Leiba, Jr. as Piragüero, Aaron James McKenzie (A Beautiful Noise) as Bennie, Ilia Isorelýs Paulino as Carla, and Veronica Vazquez-Jackson as Camila, along with Gabi Campo, Adriel Flete, Amanda K. Lopez, Kate Louissaint, Ángel Lozada, Yani Marin, Alora Tonielle Martinez, Bianca Leticia Medina, Sael Antonio Nuñez, Cristian ”Chino” Rodriguez, Kiki Rodriguez, SeQuoiia , Michael Anthony Sylvester, and Ricardo A. Zayas. Casting is by The Telsey Office.
The musical, which began as a college project during Miranda’s time at Wesleyan University, served as the now Tony winner’s debut work, playing a 2005 try-out at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center and Off-Broadway’s 37 Arts Theater in 2007 before transferring to the Main Stem. The musical would go on to win four 2008 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and was a finalist for the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The work also became a spiritual predecessor for Miranda’s seminal megahit Hamilton, which reunited director Thomas Kail, choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler, and music supervisor Alex Lacamoire on the creative team, along with much of the cast (Christopher Jackson, Jon Rua, Javier Muñoz, Mandy Gonzalez, and KO—formerly Karen Olivo—are all Heights and Hamilton alum, among others).
In the Heights—featuring music and lyrics by Miranda and a book by Hudes—centers on New York City’s Washington Heights neighborhood and its citizens, a vibrant immigrant community trying to get the American Dream while navigating a rapidly changing world. Miranda starred as bodega owner Usnavi, the ensemble musical’s protagonist, in the original company. Following the success of Miranda’s Hamilton, a film version of In the Heights was released in 2020, directed by Jon M. Chu and featuring performances from Anthony Ramos, Corey Hawkins, Melissa Barrera, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Jimmy Smits, and more.
City Center’s production will feature scenic design by Riw Rakkulchon, costume design by Dede Ayite, lighting design by Justin Townsend, and sound design by Alex Neumann. Cynthia Cahill will serve as production stage manager.
“In the Heights inspired a generation of young artists to see themselves onstage and believe that a career in theatre was possible for them,” says NY City Center Musical Theater Vice President and Artistic Director Jenny Gersten in a statement. “It’s incredibly meaningful to now place this beloved musical in the hands of David, Mayte, and Alejandro, who are pouring their hearts into creating a company where so many performers are having a true breakout moment—and to see that happen at City Center in the heart of New York City, where this story began, makes it all the more special.”
Tickets are at NYCityCenter.org.