Genesius Theatre presents “In The Heights” – the light, sweet & hot, hot, hot Latin & hip-hop musical comedy – which runs August 5 thru 14 at the 10th and Walnut theater. Step into the super hot Tony Award-Winning musical featuring a fusion of music and dance from across Latin America made fresh with an urban New York vibe. In the Heights tells the universal story of a vibrant Manhattan neighborhood, on the brink of change, full of hopes, dreams and pressures where sometimes the biggest struggles can be deciding which traditions you take with you and which you leave behind. Take a trip to Washington Heights with GENESIUS where the coffee from the corner bodega is light and sweet, the windows are always open and the breeze carries the rhythm of life.
Music and Lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda | Book by Quiara Alegria Hudes | Conceived by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Miranda is also the writer, composer and star of this seasons mega-hit “Hamilton” which just pulled in 11 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. In The Heights ran for 1,184 performances on Broadway. The show was honored as a 2009 Pulitzer Prize finalist for Drama and won the 2008 Tony Awards for Best Musical and Best Original Score. It also won a Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album.
Miranda wrote the earliest draft of In the Heights in 1999, his sophomore year of college. After the show was accepted by Wesleyan University’s student theater company Second Stage, Miranda worked on adding “freestyle rap … bodegas, and salsa numbers. It played from April 20, 1999 to April 22, 1999. After seeing the play, three Wesleyan seniors and one alumnus, John Buffalo Mailer, Neil Stewart, Anthony Veneziale and Thomas Kail approached Miranda and asked if the play could be expanded to be on Broadway. In 2002, Miranda and Mailer worked with director Tommy Kail and wrote five separate drafts of In the Heights.
“Genesius has assembled a culturally diverse mix of extremely talented young actors, singers and dancers from the wonderful diversity that makes up Reading and Berks County”, L J Fecho, the Artistic Producer of Genesius and the musical’s director, stated. “This very special show is about finding home and what home actually means to you.” Fecho also said. “It’s all told truly insightfully with a groundbreaking score filled with spicy Latin rhythms and inventive Hip-Hop styling’s, fused together within a traditional Broadway show. It’s an amazing piece of musical theater that all can enjoy and celebrate”, Kevin Cooper, the shows musical director, stated.
L J Fecho is directing and producing the musical. Kevin Cooper is the show’s musical director and he also music directed the excellent high school production of In The Heights three years ago at Reading High.
This musical also has explosive and very diverse choreography, which is a mix of Latin Salsa, Hip-Hop, Ballet and Jazz dance. To ensure Genesius has the best-of-the-best locally we have two top Greater Reading Dance Studios offering up the choreography. Wanda Holdren, of Wanda Holdren Dance Studio and the Latin Flair Dancers, along with Berks Salsa Fest and her assistant Samantha Lins, is providing the Latin style choreography which includes top dancers from her studio specifically trained in this genre of dance. Jericho Joy, Genesius’ Director of Dance, of Monarch Dance Studio is choreographing the Hip-Hop and Jazz portions of the show. “We are very excited about the dancing and the music in this show”, Fecho, said. In addition: Hunter Willow Jones is the Production Stage Manager, with a set designed by L J Fecho and John Bigos, lights designed by Fecho and Spencer Moss Fecho, hair and makeup by Carmen Painter and staff of United Artist Salon and Spa and costumes are coordinated by Dara Himes.
The cast includes many newcomers to Genesius and a few veterans. They are: Albert Garcia as Usnavi De La Vega, Anna Ashley Calderon as Nina Rosario, Davina Lopez as Abuela Claudia, Yesnenia Mora as Danielle, Miguel Rivera as Sonny, CC Cooper as Vanessa, Nick Freer as Kevin Rosario, Kelly Moray as Camilla Rosario, DeShaun Williams as Benny, Lyndsey Bosold Hinkle as Carla, Jeffrey Flemming as Graffiti Pete, and Joey Moray as Piraguero Guy. The cast also features an ensemble of approximately twenty-five additional singers and dancers.
Genesius is a 501-C-3 Non-Profit organization. The Genesius , 2016 Season, is sponsored by Sandy Solmon and Doug Messinger of Sweet Street Desserts! Genesius Theatre, 153 North 10th Street, Reading, PA 19601
IN THE HEIGHTS – opens AUGUST 5 and runs AUGUST 14 (with the exception of Monday, August 8 and Wednesday, August 10 – which is the Genesius Gala). Curtain is at 7:30 p.m. each night. Matinee performances are offered at 3 p.m. on two Sundays, August 7 & 14. Ticket Price range – $28.50/$22.50$17.50. For Tickets please visit – www.genesiusdifference.org; 610-373-9500 card fees apply. For additional information call 610-371-8151 -Tickets also available at the door.
The play is PG Rated – ***minor adult themes – (ages 9 on up)
Genesius Theatre is handicapped accessible and there is free parking (limited spaces available) next to the theater. For more information, call the theater at 610-371-8151.
