In The Heights 3/25 review (possible spoilers)

[Baiseur82]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 1:52am

Fist of all let me say that I have never before been in The Richard Rogers Theatre and I was very impressed. What a beautiful house! The second thing I saw was that AMAZING set. I was literally blown away by it. I was really stunned I don't think I have seen such a nice set in a long time. The lighting was also really great, especially the scene with fireworks.

As for the show... I was blown away. What an amazing original show this is! I was honestly getting chills throughout the entire show. The show felt so authentic to me, nothing seemed forced or over acted. And the cast is all truly amazing. the stand outs to me were (and there are a lot)
Robin DeJesus Sonny: I was really blown away by him what a talent he has
Mandy Gonzalez Nina: her "Everything I know" brought me to tears (which is hard to do)
Olga Merediz Abuela Claudia: when she sang "Paciencia y Fe" there was a solid 1 minute applause after, I had chills the entire way through the song.
Karen Olivo Vanessa: incredible words can not describe how awesome "It won't be long now" was. (That is my favorite song from the demo)
Lin-Manuel Miranda Usnavi: Absolutely stunning. In my opinion one of the most talented guys on Broadway right now. When he rapped (which I am not a fan of rapping at all) I was totally enthralled by it.
In my opinion they already have the Tony for best new musical in the bag, and I would also think that Lin-Manuel has the Best actor Tony locked up. Other deserving performances would be Robin DeJesus and Karen Olivo.
I would definitely say that if you have not already seen In The Heights get down to the Richard Rogers Theatre and check it out!

-Jeremy

Updated On: 3/26/08 at 01:52 AM

[obsessedjb]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 1:54am

um Karen sings "It Won't Be Long Now" and Mandy sings "Everything I Know"

[InThePark]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 1:57am

And Janet Decal isn't Abuela Claudia, Olga Merediz is, but I understood what you meant anyway. Thanks for your review!

[Baiseur82]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 1:59am

Sorry for the mistakes, I'm an idiot, they are fixed though.

[broadwayman17]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 2:06am

Glad to hear you loved the show, I had almost all the same reactions as you did when I saw it a couple weeks ago.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 2:20am

I'm glad to hear you loved this show.

Olga Merediz is going to give Laura Benanti some fierce competition for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. I think they are both marvelous, but I'm rooting a bit more for Merediz.

[crushgroove]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 2:55am

Agreed foster....I'm hoping for a tie...I love both of them

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 9:33am

Agreed,Foster.

I'm glad you enjoyed the show!

[broadwayfan7]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 10:05am

Thanks for your review! I loved this show so much!

[Mealz1042]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 2:19pm

I was actually quite delightfully suprised by karen's performance as well. that girl can sing.

[Ole Chum]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 2:40pm

i havent seen in the heights yet but it looks like there is zero chance karen olivo will get tony recognition given how tight this years race is, even tho i think she has one of the best voices ive ever heard live.... she needs a star vehicle of her own and quick!

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 3:36pm

Megan Mullally was there last night.

[FIERCEY516]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 3:51pm

am I the only one who thought it was a bad soap opera on Telemundo or one of those Spanish television channels??

I actually really enjoyed the music. the rap/reggae/salsa/pop fusion was VERY cool but the show and the book are just so weak... maybe I would have enjoyed it more if I was hispanic.

the fact that the musical uses a city "blackout" as a device to propel the story forward is weak and not believable.

Also, I think it was the arrangements that made the score SO vivrant and exciting. I've had the pleasure of hearing the Demo Recording of "ITH" and when it's so bare and raw, without all of the instruments, it's extremely unimpressive and bland.

sorry to be so negative but the fact that this show COULD win the Tony just because it's a huge step for Hispanics on Broadway rubs me the wrong way. No one should take it personally -- I just think the musicals need to be judged based on material, NOT politics or ethnicity.

[mejusthavingfun]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 4:02pm

"maybe I would have enjoyed it more if I was hispanic."


Nice touch.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 4:54pm

I don't think one's ethnicity determines whether or not you'd like something. I loved In the Heights and I'm neither latino nor hispanic.

[bwayfascination]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 5:12pm

I don't think you need to be latino to get it - most of us come from families who immigrated to this country with the same challenges and dreams these folks have. I just loved that the stories were real - the kinds of things that happen to real people. It's not "grand" drama - it's real drama. It didn't seem "telemundo" to me. If you really pay attention to what is going on, the story doesn't get "resolved" - people have made progress in their lives but the stories are not buttoned up for any of the characters. That's just one reason I loved this musical so much.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 6:22pm

I'm sorry you didn't like it but I really don't feel that ethnicity would have anything to do it.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 7:22pm

<< I don't think one's ethnicity determines whether or not you'd like something. I loved In the Heights and I'm neither latino nor hispanic >>

Totally agree !!! The thing that is so wonderful about this show is that it seems to appeal to the masses. Was at the matinee, and the age range was 6 to 86, and all ethnic backgrounds. So good to see !!