The Official "In The Heights" Love Thread....- Page 45

[Mealz1042]

Posted: 6/1/08 at 6:51pm

1100 posts, woo!
I sas spring awakening today, and at rush we were singing 96,000. It was fun. good times.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 6/1/08 at 6:54pm

Have not stopped listening to the CD yet---but I just noticed something.. did they leave out Seth's "thats a lot of spray cans" line from "96,000" ?

[Anakela]

Posted: 6/1/08 at 7:00pm

did they leave out Seth's "thats a lot of spray cans" line from "96,000" ?

Yeah, instead it's Chris going "somebody won" in that spot.

[BroadwayChica]

Posted: 6/1/08 at 7:01pm

Yeah, they changed that line on the recording. It's weird. I wonder why, cause it's still in the show, as far as I know. Ha, maybe Seth copyrighted the line and was asking for too much money to release the rights for its use on the cd. Updated On: 6/1/08 at 07:01 PM

[Anakela]

Posted: 6/1/08 at 7:07pm

Ha, maybe Seth copyrighted the line and was asking for too much money to release the rights for its use on the cd.

Lol that would've been hilarious... but then they should've just used Rickey's "that's a lot of tshirts" version instead, hee. :)

[BroadwayChica]

Posted: 6/1/08 at 7:29pm

No, cause, see, Ricky copyrighted that one, too Actors...right? The EGO!

ETA: I watched the NY1 interview, and it is absolutely fantastic. I love how eloquently and affably Lin-Manuel always conducts himself. And, honestly, here's to a young Broadway composer who openly embraces traditional musical theatre. It's become so common for younger or more contemporary artists to show disdain to tradition, and it's refreshing to have someone say that traditional and contemporary sounds don't need to be mutually exclusive.



Updated On: 6/1/08 at 07:29 PM

[Mealz1042]

Posted: 6/1/08 at 8:18pm

damn i wish i had gotten to see that.

Okay so ready here is my goal: No in the heights for me until the 17th UNLESS Janet is on for Nina or Vanessa.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 6/1/08 at 8:34pm

<< ETA: I watched the NY1 interview, and it is absolutely fantastic. I how eloquently and affably Lin-Manuel always conducts himself. And, honestly, here's to a young Broadway composer who openly embraces traditional musical theatre. It's become so common for younger or more contemporary artists to show disdain to tradition, and it's refreshing to have someone say that traditional and contemporary sounds don't need to be mutually exclusive.

>>

His explanation of the good vs. bad of "West Side Story" was very well said !! I love when he talks about the lack of a knife wielder in "ITH", and how one of the critics reacted to it.

So glad you got to see the interview.

And yeah... I was surpised that they took out Seth's line as well- It is still in the show. Weird.

[crzyray]

Posted: 6/1/08 at 8:58pm

sooo i ordered my tickets for the show...seeing it july 18th... one question my seats are in row E (orchestra) seats 13-15 (so it would be the side orc.) will i have an obstructed view or anything?!?! i've never sat on the side orchestra before but i've heard people complain about when they saw other shows.

[BroadwayChica]

Posted: 6/1/08 at 9:07pm

I have a deep rooted resentment for West Wide Story, but it's honestly nice to hear Lin-Manuel talk about it in a much more respectful way than I ever could.

crzyray, in response to your question, I'm pretty sure your seats are fine, and there will be no obstructed view. Enjoy the show :)

[Mealz1042]

Posted: 6/1/08 at 9:08pm

those seats sound good to me. there are very few bad seats (if any) in that theater.

ps dont remember if this was posted but theres an article about Luis Salgado:

Luis Salgado: Reaching New Heights Through Dance
by Lindsay Dreyer — May 27, 2008

http://wwwhttp://www. danceruniverse. com/stories/issues/200806/Luis-Salgado-J2/

It’s easy to look at dancer Luis Salgado’s life story and attribute his success to luck or simply assume he was always at the right place at the right time. But as we chatted at the famous Brooklyn Diner in midtown Manhattan, I discovered that there is so much more to this Broadway and film star’s success than serendipity.



Throughout his life, Salgado, who you may recognize from the film “Step Up 2: The Streets” or the Broadway hit “In the Heights,” never believed for one second that he could not accomplish whatever he set out to do. He visualized his goals, told himself he would achieve them, and then went for them with all his heart, even when others were skeptical.



“There were people who said dance does nothing but give fun, but dance has given me everything, opportunities to see the world, go to Japan, Germany, Italy, Greece. Being in New York City on Broadway, paying my rent. I bought my mom’s first car,” he reveals. “And they never imagined it would be that way, but I pursued what I wanted to do and that is what opened the doors.

”


Luis Salgado break dancing in Peru
Photo: Alexandra Molina Even his mother encouraged him to pursue something more conventional, like law or medicine, but Salgado refused. The moment he set foot in a dance studio at the age of nine, he knew immediately that his life would be far from conventional.



“Right then in that moment, the second I set foot on that stage, I thought, ‘Wow, I can do this!’ I discovered this passion very, very early on. I didn’t see myself doing anything else at that moment. So, I watched all the music videos and tried to learn the routines by myself and reinvent them into my style.

”

On his journey, Salgado encountered a few key teachers who helped him find his way, one of the reasons he loves giving back and teaching young kids today. When he met his first mentor, José Javier “Pepito” Rivera, he was nine years old and had just moved back to Puerto Rico after spending a difficult year living in Hawaii with his father.



Salgado explains, “Dance was my savior. It allowed me to relearn who I was at that age. Coming back from Hawaii, where I didn’t speak English, and having all these differences in my life, I discovered freedom and who I could be through the arts, thanks to this teacher.

”

Rivera was running a small arts program at Salgado’s public school. While participating in the program, which included weekly acting and dancing performances, his schoolwork improved drastically as well as his disposition and outlook. Through dance, he was able to discover and come to terms with his identity at a crucial time in his life.



Salgado, who knows firsthand the importance and power of the arts, especially in the lives of young people, laments the loss of arts programs in public schools in his native Puerto Rico, in the United States and around the world.



“The bottom line is that there were more opportunities in dance in the public school system back then, but now I feel like there are less and less in Puerto Rico and here,” Salgado reveals. “Everywhere I go I think, ‘What is happening to the arts?’ People are just trying to make money fast and we respect and value less and less the arts. I think that disconnects people with themselves, but people need to discover who they are.

”

After completing Rivera’s after-school program, Salgado continued to train with his mentor, but also took advantage of the opportunities at a nearby studio. Doors began opening, and at the age of 17, he landed his first gig as a backup dancer for singer Jailene Cintrón. And in the midst of this hectic schedule, between performing and training, Salgado realized he owed everything to Rivera, his first mentor, and wanted to give back in the very same way.



So when the opportunity to teach jazz at the local studio came his way, he jumped on it, even though there were only eight students enrolled at the time. After teaching a few lessons, Salgado grew frustrated with the direction of the failing school and gave the owner a business proposition. A natural leader, he said, “Give me the opportunity to run things for two months. If I develop this and get more students, then you give me the opportunity to pay the rent and make it my own dance school.

”

The studio owner took a chance on Salgado, who surpassed every expectation. He took those eight students, rented out a theater, and put on a successful Christmas production. Word spread throughout the community, and after a few months, the young, optimistic teacher had acquired 200 new students.



Inspired by his positive attitude, kind spirit, and most importantly his passion, aspiring dancers from all over the community flocked to take class with Salgado.



“I was in college and I was working, so people started to know my name, but I think people came to my class because I loved it and I wanted to be there,” he professes. “I loved being in a room where I could create stuff with students, to have bodies to play with. I was somebody they could play and create with.

”

Through teaching, Salgado began learning more about himself and the kind of dancer he wanted to become. “Who was I to be teaching jazz then?” Salgado asks with a laugh, looking back on the experience. “I started dance in public school and I never had a strong, technical foundation, but it’s what you do with it. I had the opportunity to learn and discover with my students.

”

Salgado’s no-holds-barred attitude carried him through the rest of his career, ultimately taking him to New York City at the age of 22 to pursue his dream of dancing on Broadway. A risk for sure, but one that Salgado knew was necessary to achieve his goal.



“Leaving my mom behind was hard, but not the hardest thing to do,” he reveals. “It was hardest to leave my school behind. I was attached to 300 students who were with me, trusting what I was doing with them, seeing them grow and develop their own path. It was a journey I wanted to be with for them, but I also had to follow my own heart and grow for myself. If I didn’t take that risk I wouldn’t be doing what I came here to do, which is Broadway.

”

After only three weeks of work/study at Broadway Dance Center, Salgado landed his first gig dancing at Madison Square Garden with pop stars Thalía and Paulina Rubio. Shortly after, he received his first musical theatre job in the Rockland County production of “Evita.” And according to Salgado, that is when everything really started to fall into place.



Not long after, he was selected to appear in the Broadway show “The Mambo Kings.” The show was ultimately cancelled, but the experience led Salgado to the most important connection in his adult life, Sergio Trujillo, the original choreographer of “In the Heights” who brought him on board with the production.



For Salgado, those connections and mentors have been the most important part of his journey through dance. He explains that some people in the business network incorrectly, throwing their resumes and headshots at every teacher and choreographer they happen to meet. But Salgado did things differently; he made his most significant connections in a pure and honest way.



“You just have to do your thing,” explains Salgado. “If you’re doing your own thing with all your heart, your light is shining and people will see it. Now I’m friends with so many beautiful people from all over the world.

”

Many of those connections he made along the way have opened doors beyond the Broadway stage. Salgado has appeared in a few feature films including “Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights,” “Enchanted,” “Across the Universe,” and “Step Up 2: The Streets.” Working on films has helped him discover another world of possibilities with dance, one that he would like to continue developing and exploring.



“When you add the camera to your work, it adds so many more possibilities as a choreographer,” Salgado confesses. “The camera can do so many things. When I was assistant choreographer in ‘Enchanted,’ I saw the whole process and everything that’s behind it. I thought it was brilliant. So, it’s a new passion of mine.

”

However, nothing compares to dancing on the Broadway stage for a packed house, Salgado revealed to me. When he gets that immediate response from the audience as he dances underneath the Puerto Rican flag in “In the Heights,” he feels more alive than ever.



But Salgado’s passion for life goes beyond the stage and the camera lens. A dedicated humanitarian, he believes in giving back to the Latin American community. Recently, he spearheaded a program called Revolución Latina, which he describes as “an open invitation to experience the greatness of an active Latin community” as well as “an artistic movement with the means of strengthening, educating and collaborating with each other through their art.
” More information about Revolución Latina can be found on their Myspace page at http://wwwhttp://www. myspace. com/revolucionlatina.



Luis Salgado exudes passion, not only for teaching and performing, but for every aspect of life. A risktaker, a dreamer, and a true artist in ever sense of the word, he is constantly aiming higher and reaching new heights. And the only way to reach those heights is to risk the fall.



“You have to be willing to risk it all, to give that extra mile, to go beyond because that’s what it takes. If you want to commit to something you have to commit to something,” Salgado states emphatically. “I’m not saying I’m the best. There are so many talented people out there with all the technique in the world, but dance was my passion. And the drive to do what I want to do is what has allowed me to accomplish all of this.

”

And with his sights currently set on acting, there are certainly more accomplishments on the horizon for Luis Salgado.

[alfgiotir]

Posted: 6/1/08 at 9:09pm

Nope. Those seats are perfect.

who else is going to be there tuesday june 17th (1st show after tonys)? i feel like that show is going to be amazing.

[withoutlovewithoutU]

Posted: 6/1/08 at 9:15pm

That is such a wonderful article.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 6/1/08 at 9:35pm

Yes, great article !!!

I will be there on the 17th !!! I think a mumber of us are going !!! :))

[antiandrewx]

Posted: 6/1/08 at 9:36pm

GREAT show today! It gets better every time I see it. LOVE this show.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 6/1/08 at 9:54pm

That is an amazing article.

I'm attempting lotto again on Wednesday. Maybe the 3rd (4th?) time is the charm?

[IsolatingAge]

Posted: 6/1/08 at 10:20pm

I'll be there on the 14th. I can't wait. It's my first Broadway show of the year! I think it'll be an amazing experience to see all these wonderful performers the very night before all their dreams could come true.

I'm sitting Orchestra Row R seat 18. It would've been Row O, but my mother shuddered at the thought of having to sit all the way over to the side. Personally, I think she's crazy.

Updated On: 6/1/08 at 10:20 PM

[withoutlovewithoutU]

Posted: 6/2/08 at 12:27pm

I just had this wonderful, weird moment of listening to the Finale from the show and being moved all over again.... the emotion came out of nowhere!
I love it when a show can pull at your heartstrings even after you have listened to it for the 100,000 time!

[yankees1253]

Posted: 6/2/08 at 1:35pm

so excited i got the obcr and eager to start listening to it. i was wondering when will they peform their numbers from the show this thursday because i have be at work like 5-10 mins before 6pm and i just want to catch a number or two.

[Mealz1042]

Posted: 6/2/08 at 9:58pm

just watched Lin on NY1, it was so cute. love that guy.

[singingbackup]

Posted: 6/2/08 at 10:34pm

"PS the guy who works at the merch. table is a total babe :) What a nice guy!"

Wish him a happy birthday if you see him this week! (His B-Day is today)

Feliz Cumpleaños Rodrigo!

[Marianne2]

Posted: 6/2/08 at 10:53pm

Just a question about the show length and needing to be somewhere else afterwards. I figured this was the thread to ask it in because it's about the show, and so I don't make a thread asking a redundant question.

Anyway, I noticed that the show is 2 1/2 hours long. I was thinking about doing the lottery on June 26th, when I'm going to the city overnight. However, I know I already need to be somewhere else for a show, by 11:30pm. Actually, to be specific, where I need to go is down on 37th st. So, my question is, if I did happen to win the lottery to see the show, would it be possible to make it to my other show on time, as long as I just leave the theater and not do stage dooring or anything else? I'm assuming it's possible, but just wanted to see what others thought or know. If it is not possible, then I'll think of another plan.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 6/2/08 at 10:56pm

I got the CD today, and it's wonderful. 96,000 and Carnaval de Barrio are terrific.

[Mealz1042]

Posted: 6/2/08 at 11:54pm

it gets out around 10:35ish, if that helps. where is your other show?

[Anakela]

Posted: 6/3/08 at 1:43am

Ditto what Mealz asked Marianne2, where's the other show? Actually, duh, scratch that- if you're trying to get to 37th by 11:30pm I'm taking a wild guess that you're headed to Don't Quit Your Night Job. Yes, it's completely doable to get from Heights to 37th between 8th/9th after the show- in fact that is what some of the cast of DQ will be doing also, getting from their respective shows down to the Zipper. (Walk it, it will probably be faster that trying to cab it.)

Happy Birthday merch guy! :)