In the Heights Tour

[wicked1492]

Posted: 12/5/09 at 3:10pm

So, I haven't seen much on here about the tour. I figured I'd update everyone. Let me just say, it's in GREAT shape. I saw it last Sunday in Columbus, OH and the audience loved it. I'll go lead character by character and aspects of the show etc:

(in order of my Playbill)
Usnavi: Well..we had an understudy, but I've heard great things about Kyle Beltran. We saw Shaun Taylor-Corbett (normally plays Sonny) and he played the character very well. You could tell he was an understudy though. No chemistry with Vanessa (not his fault though...). GREAT chemistry with Abuela though. B+

Kevin: Played by Daniel Bolero. Gave a great performance. Nailed "Inutil" but had a really strange, wide, obnoxious vibrato. Not really a stand out but still not bad. B+

Benny: played by Rogelio Douglas Jr. First off, can this man sing or what?! He really put his own spin on all the songs and I just wanted him to sing the whole score. Definately a stand out. Could have acted some parts better and toned some things down (little over the top sometimes) but otherwise great. A-

Vannessa: played by Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer. Oh Lord. This woman couldn't act her way out of a box. I was needing some Karen Olivo up in there. She was so fake and had these hand spasms and weird hand gestures. Ugh. Couldn't stand her. Sung the part fine, but couldn't get over the acting. D+

Nina: played by Arielle Jacobs. LOVED HER. She was FANTASTIC. If the whole show were just her and Rogelio standing up there singing, I'd be fine. Her voice was so emotional and soft, but was intense and belty when it needed to be (as opposed to Mandy Gonzalez's IMO harsh intense voice, stil like her though). My favorite performer of the night. A+

Grafitti Pete: played by Jose-Luis Lopez. Great dancer, not much of a role, but great with what he was given to do. A

Daniela: played by Isabel Santiago. So hilarious. She milks every line and nails the "fiesty, fire ball Latina" stereotype. So great and powerhouse voice. A

Abuela Claudia: played by Elise Santora. Ehh. She was okay. When I listen to "Paciencia y Fe" on the cast album, it just punches you and comes out of now where and I cried the first time i listened to it. When Elise sang it...it had great emotion, but not that punch it should have. Okay acting. Little exaggerated old lady thing though. B-

Camila: played by Natalie Toro. Dang. Loved her. She is a true performer. Even though she's not performing that AMAZING choreography, she still stands out in all her scenes. "Enough" was AMAZING. This woman belongs in the Broadway company. A+

Ensemble: WOW. These six dancers dance the CRAP out of the already AMAZING, inventive choreography and they were really the stand outs for me. The Club scene was so much fun. I wanted to go up there and dance with them! A+

Direction: Thomas Kail. Great job. Inventive. It's all been said. Awesome director (hope he can get past The Wiz and work on other projects). A+

Choreo: Andy Blankenbuehler. This man is truly amazing and groundbreaking. He has quite a career ahead of him. Greatly executed. Beautiful. A+++

Lin-Manuel Miranda: It's all been said. He's a genious. Awesome music, lyrics, story. Touching, beautiful, etc. Yay. A+

Set and costumes (a few of the girls' costumes were different, but nothing major) seem to be the same as the Broadway production. Loved the set. A few sound problems, nothing big.

Great production. Go see it if it's near you! It's completely worth it!!!

Overall Production: A


Dear Producer of In the Heights:
Please get a new Vanessa for the tour. She's godawful. Kthanksbye.

[jigblob]

Posted: 12/6/09 at 12:39pm

I'm really glad to hear that you liked Arielle Jacobs. I haven't seen the tour yet, but from the preview videos I've seen I'm really excited to see her! Rogelio Douglas Jr seems great too... too bad about Vanessa though. I don't think I've heard anything but bad things about her. You mentioned that she sang well, so I guess there is at the very least something to look forward to there? haha

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 12/6/09 at 1:08pm

Due credit must always be given -- "The Club" dance sequence was choreographed by fellow original Broadway cast member Luis Salgado NOT Andy B. Andy B. only choreographed the rest of the show.

Many people have given enormous kudos to Andy B. for that salsa club sequence when he did not choreographed.

[Felm_heart]

Posted: 12/6/09 at 1:14pm

I saw it Wednesday here in Minneapolis. An amazing show! I'm debating about rushing it again today. I agree with almost all of what you said. Vanessa was pretty terrible, and Nina was really great. I got a picture with Natalie Toro after the show!

[round2]

Posted: 12/6/09 at 1:44pm

Happy to see the amazing Luis Salgado getting acknowledged here!

Does anyone have any idea if the Chicago engagement will have a lottery or rush? Any discounts?

[steven22]

Posted: 12/6/09 at 2:47pm

so who played Sonny?

[wicked1492]

Posted: 12/6/09 at 3:04pm

Oops! Sorry! Sandy Alvarez, the Sonny understudy went on. He was hilarious! He seemed a little unsure of the singing parts, but was great with the rapping. He was alot taller than Usnavi so it was a little awkward, being used to little Robin de Jesus... :)

Had no clue about Luis Salgado choreographing "The Club"! He definetly deserves more recognition then, it's the dance highlight of the show. Wow. He's not even credited until after all the Who's Whos, in tiny print, before the Equity credits. He deserves his own bio.

Updated On: 12/6/09 at 03:04 PM

[bwayfascination]

Posted: 12/6/09 at 4:57pm

Does anyone know for sure if the tour is coming to San Francisco. The SHN website claims the show is coming in Spring 2010, but the ITH website does not include SF on its list of cities.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 12/6/09 at 5:16pm

According to the tour's itinerary... there is an open month not booked from mid-May to mid-June 2010, so maybe San Francisco has snagged the tour somewhere during those non-booked dates.

The tour is booked solid for the rest of the run so a stop in San Francisco is definitely not happening.

[Jon]

Posted: 12/6/09 at 5:38pm

I'm seeing opening night of the Chicago stop, and I'm really looking forward to it!

[The Boy From Ohio]

Posted: 12/6/09 at 9:15pm

I also saw this show in Columbus. Very good. Very fresh and exciting, unlike "Chicago" in Cincy this weekend.

[bluewave]

Posted: 12/7/09 at 1:09am

I saw this tour in Columbus on Thanksgiving night which was really odd since the theater was only about 1/3 full at most. I'm surprised they even did a show that night, but they did, and there were no understudies.

I liked certain numbers in the show, but I felt it was a bit uneven overall. I've never seen it on Broadway, so I can't compare it.

I agree that Benny and Nina are the standouts by far. I also enjoyed the Piragua guy who made the most of his smallish part.

[BroadwayBound115]

Posted: 12/14/09 at 2:53am

Any enter themselves in the Be In The Heights contest? I know someone mentioned earlier on these boards that the top 5 in each city get tickets, is that still true or is it only the top person from each city?

[bwaybabe2]

Posted: 12/14/09 at 9:10am

Wow, thanks for the update! :) I am planning on seeing this anywhere I can while it is on tour. So much good review must be for something, after all.
It's great that Toro joined this tour, as I am looking forward to seeing her perform other than in ATOTC (never caught her in Evita, unfortunately ...). And yes, she does belong on Bway's A list!

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 12/14/09 at 10:00am

Anyone know how full thetgeaters have been on. Regular basis?

[purtynpynk]

Posted: 12/14/09 at 10:47am

I'm glad to hear this tour is good. My friend just saw it on Broadway back in September,and she said when it came through Chicago, where I live, I have to see it. This just makes me more excited to do so. :)

[Marlothom]

Posted: 12/15/09 at 5:50pm

Just grabbed my ticket for tonight in Chicago, anyone else seeing it tonight? Or during the Chicago run?

[Unknown User]

Posted: 12/15/09 at 7:02pm

I'll be seeing it in Chicago!

Click here for some exciting news



Chicago ITH

[Marlothom]

Posted: 12/15/09 at 11:31pm

Just got back - what a great show! I knew nothing of this show (shame on me) going in, and was so touched and surprised. Glad it got a standing O from a fairly-full house.

[Jon]

Posted: 12/16/09 at 11:38am

I loved it. Yvette Gonzales-Nacer (Vanessa) was OK. For me, the weak link among the princiapls was Genny Lis Padilla (Carla).

I totally fell in love with the beautiful Arielle Jacobs (Nina). And I fell in lust with ensemble dancer Natale Carmacho, who has a spectacular derierre.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 12/16/09 at 12:38pm

And I fell in lust with ensemble dancer Natale Carmacho, who has a spectacular derierre.

You must mean Natalie Caruncho as there is no Natale Carmacho in the tour cast.