Open auditions being held for HEIGHTS Usnavi replacement

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 12/8/08 at 9:29am

http://www.playbill.com/jobs/find/job_detail/24426.html

"Tuesday, December 16, 2008
11 AM — 5 PM

Equity and Non-Equity performers. Equity audition procedures are NOT in effect. No Equity monitor provided. Producer runs all aspects of the audition.

Prepare a short rap to perform. You may also sing if you wish, but singing is not a requirement for this audition. An accompanist will be provided. You may prepare material from the show. Copies of "In The Heights" (Unsavi's opening section) will be available at the audition."

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 12/8/08 at 9:49am

Huh. Interesting. They'd probably do much better bumping up Javier Munoz, though.

Don't worry, fellow Heights fans. I highly doubt Lin-Manuel won't return to this role.

[mormonophobic]

Posted: 12/8/08 at 9:54am

This actually surprises me. I would have thought that since Lin leaves two months from now that the replacement is already found. Usnavi is just such an integral part of In the Heights I kind of assumed they had someone already. Weird.

[Usnavi]

Posted: 12/8/08 at 11:25am

this is interesting as well. i'm glad equity audition procedures are not in effect. i think the producers are searching for more than just a professional actor to fill the role. they're probably hoping to find some really talented rapper/performer from the inner city to fill lin-manuel's shoes.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/8/08 at 11:35am

I am so there!

[NityaC]

Posted: 12/8/08 at 1:50pm

Can you audition if you're a girl, INDIAN brown, and live in Canada? I can rap the whole CD backwards, yo! =)


Um...Good luck to all Usnavis. :P

[FlyingMonkey1223]

Posted: 12/8/08 at 1:56pm

I heard Rosie O'Donnell was interested in this role, as was Jennifer Love Hewitt. The producers are all for gender-bending for this role, from what I've heard. I'm excited!!

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 12/8/08 at 2:33pm

FlyingMonkey, "What's that Smell", Anita Renfroe, and brain cancer are all funnier than any of your jokes.

[NityaC]

Posted: 12/8/08 at 2:47pm

"The producers are all for gender-bending for this role, from what I've heard. I'm excited!! "

Are you excited you can finally audition now, or...?

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 12/8/08 at 2:48pm

Nicholas!

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 12/8/08 at 2:50pm

I seriously thought, "Dude, I want to audition!" Then I remembered that I am a white Southern girl who cannot rap to save her life and has no rhythm. Now I'm just sulking.

Replacing Lin-Manuel is going to be so weird, though. It's so much his show, whoever replaces him is going to be in a tight spot. It's like the [title of show] show episode where they fantasized about the replacement Jeff and Hunter.

[Weez]

Posted: 12/8/08 at 3:04pm

And yet we still have no date for his final performance! I tell ya guys, I'm gettin' twitchy. I need to break it to my parents that I'm going to NY (and gently, else I'll have to make my own way to the airport XD) and get my plane ticket and hostel booked. :/

[NityaC]

Posted: 12/8/08 at 3:23pm

"Nicholas!"

OMGYES! xD

"Replacing Lin-Manuel is going to be so weird, though."

Well Javier and Shaun have played the roles before and they were both given rather fair reviews right? I don't think replacing Usnavi would be all that catastrophic..

The only thing though is that I always felt that you can't "fit into a rap". Like, Lin wrote the lyrics, but it's to HIS beat, and he can do it so well, but from a little clip of Javier performing, I felt like he was performing LIN's role as opposed to a character named Usnavi.

I'm finding this hard to explain, but I hope I'm making some sort of sense...Not saying that he can't be replaced, just that Lin wrote Usnavi in a very personalized style.

"And yet we still have no date for his final performance! I tell ya guys, I'm gettin' twitchy."

I feel your pain. I got plans for NYC this winter break/new years, and I've heard he's leaving in February, but a solid date would do wonders for my paranoia just about now...

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 12/8/08 at 3:27pm

When is Lin Manuel's final performance? I think I read it was sometime in February. Thanks in advance.

[NityaC]

Posted: 12/8/08 at 3:34pm

"When is Lin Manuel's final performance? I think I read it was sometime in February. Thanks in advance."

Um...like we were JUST saying...

I don't think there's been a solid confirmed date for Lin's final performance. (At least as far as I know...I don't think I missed the news of any conformations). "End of January/Sometime in February" seems to be the only time range floating around.

The date should be out soon though, I'd imagine...

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 12/8/08 at 3:36pm

LOL. Sorry, didn't read the entire thread. I hope it is announced soon, because I definitely want to be there.

[JP2]

Posted: 12/8/08 at 4:07pm

A part of me wants to audition.

[heathurr2]

Posted: 12/8/08 at 5:41pm

Wow, I really have been hiding under a rock... Lin is leaving??

[teka21]

Posted: 12/8/08 at 9:05pm

I saw Lin twice at 37 Arts and was so disappointed when I first realized he would be out the first time I saw ITH on B'way. But Javier Munoz was a delightful surprise. He had us at "hey yall good mawnin'." He would be a fine replacement for Lin.