What's the pre show announcement for In the Heights?

[Dean716]

Posted: 11/4/10 at 11:13pm

Does anybody know what the words are to the Lin Manuel Miranda pre show announcement/rap for In the Heights?

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 11/4/10 at 11:33pm

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to In the Heights! We would like to remind you that the use of any recording devices, whether on a camera or on your cell phone, are strictly prohibited by the law. We would also like to take this moment to remind you to silence all cell phones, pagers, and other electronic devices. Please, turn them off and put them away."

and then the same thing in Spanish plus "Como dice mi abuela... "'A la buena o a la mala.' Gracias, thank you, and enjoy the show."

(and yes, I am fully aware of how sad it is that I can do that from memory.)

Updated On: 11/4/10 at 11:33 PM

[Dean716]

Posted: 11/4/10 at 11:37pm

Thank you very much. Somebody told me it was a rap or something, clearly it isn't.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 11/5/10 at 12:30am

The national tour was a rap for one of the shows. For another show it was the one dancingthrulife just said. I had a friend who went to the Wednesday night and they used a rap. I went to the Sunday night and it was the English then Spanish one. Not sure why they used two different pre show announcements in the same city, but they did!

[threetwoone]

Posted: 11/5/10 at 12:33am

^ It's probably the same one. People just call it different things. I saw the show with a friend and she said something about the rap in the beginning, but it was the one written above. It's probably because "Heights" sort of rhymes with "deVICEs"

[Dean716]

Posted: 11/5/10 at 1:11pm

Would you by any chance know the words or where I can find the words to the rap used by the national tour?

[poochie4]

Posted: 11/5/10 at 2:36pm

I've noticed in my multiple viewings of the show (both on Broadway and on tour) that the last part of the announcment, the "a la bueno o a la mala" part, seems to elicit a big laugh from the spanish speaking members of the audience.

Anyone have any ideas what the saying means or a close approximation of it is saying? I assume it is a saying or idiom as a direct translation makes no sense.

My friend and I have always wondered. Thanks!

[Lin-Manuel Miranda]

Posted: 11/5/10 at 4:58pm

Sup, y'all. Dancingthrulife got the text of the pre-show announcement exactly right, and earns bonus points for memorization. The pre-show announcement has never been a rap (which would take away from the opening number), so I'm curious about those of you who claim to have heard one on tour. Do I need to make some phone calls to regional theaters? I mean, Heights/DeVICES? Y'all making me nervous.

And "A la buena o a la mala" IS something my Abuela says, all the time. I most often heard it in my childhood, as a threat to take Robitussin willingly, or have it force-fed. It basically means, "we can do this the easy way or the hard way." Hope that answers your question, poochie. See y'all for the holidays!

[gvendo2005]

Posted: 11/5/10 at 5:38pm

^ While the board has your attention, Mr. Miranda, have you considered creating a unique and thrilling "It Gets Better" video? When I heard about the project, I somehow thought of you contributing something.

[kchenofan]

Posted: 11/5/10 at 5:57pm

Nice to see you around the boards, Mr. Miranda. It's always a treat to hear from you. :) Thanks for the pre-show announcement clarification and that story about your abuela.