Hurry! There’s a celebration going on at the Cadillac Palace Theatre. It’s called In the Heights, and it’ll make you shimmy, sing, laugh, and, perhaps, shed a tear or two – but only until January 3.
Conceived by 29 year-old Lin-Manuel Miranda, In the Heights explores a tightly-knight neighborhood founded in love, laughter, tradition, hopes and dreams. Based on his life growing up in Washington Heights, Miranda created this show to celebrate the community that influenced and shaped him as a young adult. And from the moment Usnavi, a charismatic shop owner played by Kyle Beltran in this first-rate national tour, introduces us into his world, we know we’re in for a great time.
However, little does Usnavi know that his world is about to change forever as major events – some driven by fate and some born out of necessity – take place during one scorching July 4 weekend.
Usnavi may be our gateway into his community, but once we are in, we feel right at home. You know these people. You don’t have to be an immigrant, a second- or third-generation child of an immigrant, or even Latino, to make a connection. The struggles and desires these people have are universal. And, thankfully, we have an eager, lively cast to embody these tales.
Chicago Theatre Addict 
Wow, I’m glad everything I loved about In the Heights on Broadway is coming through on the tour.
I definitely agree about the struggles of these characters being universal. I also love the fact that it’s an immigrant story and although it takes place in a Latino neighborhood, these aren’t cookie-cutter characters. They come from different places and have different stories.
And Miranda tells their stories so well through the score, especially Nina. You really get the sense that she’s the pride and joy of her family and her neighborhood and feels like she’s let everybody down.
But the whole show is also funny and exhilarating, too. I really enjoyed it. Although I do have qualms about how well it’ll translate to the big screen. Musicals operate on a different plane – almost like fantasies – even the gritty ones. And I wonder if the realism of film, shooting on location, will ruin the feeling of the show.
[…] as that’s not *really* Chicago theatre, as far as I’m concerned. (Otherwise In the Heights might have been included). Click on the show’s title to read my original thoughts (please […]