What the IN THE HEIGHTS documentary has done to the non-theatre-inclined pu
What the IN THE HEIGHTS documentary has done to the non-theatre-inclined pu
#1What the IN THE HEIGHTS documentary has done to the non-theatre-inclined pu
Posted: 5/31/09 at 10:07pm
A sweet, unexpected event occurred a couple days ago while I was a work. A fellow coworker of hispanic origin, Maria, (who speaks very basic English) came up to me when I arrived and she was in a frenzy. She was very anxious to ask me something but she wasn't able to think of the words to translate it into English. The only noun I understood was "Broadway" and "hits."
Another coworker who is bilingual translated the conversation for us. It turns out, Maria had seen the PBS documentary of IN THE HEIGHTS (she was pronouncing it "hits") and knew that I was a huge Broadway fan. She asked if I had seen it so I told her about the show. She had never seen a theatre production before so I had to explain how it was different than going to see a movie.
I DVR'd the film and invited her to come watch it again at my home. The next day, she arrived with her husband and five children, which was quite a shock! I had no where for them all to sit as I was in the process of moving, so she and her husband sat on the couch and the five kids all watched from the floor. I put on the Espangol closed captioning and left them to watch as I continued packing.
When it was over, the husband asked how to get tickets.
In July, the extended family of just under 20 people will be going to see their first Broadway show, but more important than that, their first ever live theatrical production!
This was my first personal experience with non-theatre friends being affected by Broadway marketing (which wasn't even a marketing campaign to begin with!). It's so refreshing to know that these mainstream films aren't just for us geeks who go see theatre twice a week and visit BroadwayWorld, but also that the general public *does* watch (or in this case, 'stumble upon') them.
When you watch the Tonys a week from today, think about how the general public will be affected when they see a boy's love of dance, a family's struggle to be a family, an ode to '80s rock, a famous green ogre, classic gangsters singing gospel, hippies dancing in the audience, and two gangs colliding through dance. One of those seven performances will hit home with Joe Schmoe, and perhaps he will take his family to New York and see their first theatre production, too, just like my fellow coworkers from North Carolina.
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
Updated On: 5/31/09 at 10:07 PM
--Aristotle
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#2re: What the IN THE HEIGHTS documentary has done to the non-theatre-inclined public...
Posted: 5/31/09 at 10:09pmThat's a nice story.
#2re: What the IN THE HEIGHTS documentary has done to the non-theatre-inclined public...
Posted: 5/31/09 at 10:12pm
D'awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
That makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Thank you!!!!!!!
Some people paint, some people sew, I meddle.
#3re: What the IN THE HEIGHTS documentary has done to the non-theatre-inclined public...
Posted: 5/31/09 at 10:13pmThat brought a tear to my eye! Thanks for sharing..
Genius lasts longer than beauty.
#4re: What the IN THE HEIGHTS documentary has done to the non-theatre-incline
Posted: 5/31/09 at 10:18pmAwwww
I'm a professional. Whenever something goes wrong on stage, I know how to handle it so no one ever remembers. I flash my %#$&.
"Jayne just sat there while Gina flailed around the stage like an idiot."
#5re: What the IN THE HEIGHTS documentary has done to the non-theatre-incline
Posted: 5/31/09 at 10:29pmYour story just got me all choked up!
Hey Dottie!
Did your colleagues enjoy the cake even though your cat decided to sit on it? ~GuyfromGermany
#6re: What the IN THE HEIGHTS documentary has done to the non-theatre-incline
Posted: 5/31/09 at 10:36pmThat's awesome!
I chose, and my world was shaken. So what?
The choice may have been mistaken. The choosing was not.
#7re: What the IN THE HEIGHTS documentary has done to the non-theatre-incline
Posted: 6/1/09 at 12:29am
Aw, that's a great story. What an amazing experience they're going to have when they see the show. 
#8re: What the IN THE HEIGHTS documentary has done to the non-theatre-incline
Posted: 6/1/09 at 12:51amSomeone let Lin know!!! Honestly, he would be really touched.
#9re: What the IN THE HEIGHTS documentary has done to the non-theatre-incline
Posted: 6/1/09 at 10:18amSuch a great story. Thanks for sharing :)
"i had no idea billy elliot was about one boy's triumph over epilepsy."-FindingNamo
#10re: What the IN THE HEIGHTS documentary has done to the non-theatre-incline
Posted: 6/1/09 at 10:46amWow. This is quite inspirational. :)
round2
Featured Actor Joined: 4/11/08
#11re: What the IN THE HEIGHTS documentary has done to the non-theatre-incline
Posted: 6/1/09 at 10:52amI want to be there when they go!
#12re: What the IN THE HEIGHTS documentary has done to the non-theatre-incline
Posted: 6/1/09 at 12:11pmAw, that is so sweet. I love that.
singingbackup
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/3/06
#13re: What the IN THE HEIGHTS documentary has done to the non-theatre-incline
Posted: 6/1/09 at 3:41pm
(Wipes away a tear)
Simply awesome.
#14re: What the IN THE HEIGHTS documentary has done to the non-theatre-incline
Posted: 6/1/09 at 3:52pmWhat a great story and how sweet of you to accommodate the family like that.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
BwayLeadman
Broadway Star Joined: 9/29/04
#15re: What the IN THE HEIGHTS documentary has done to the non-theatre-incline
Posted: 6/1/09 at 6:12pmwow, what a touching story
#16re: What the IN THE HEIGHTS documentary has done to the non-theatre-incline
Posted: 6/1/09 at 6:23pmBeautiful story, and thanks for sharing !!!
#17re: What the IN THE HEIGHTS documentary has done to the non-theatre-incline
Posted: 6/1/09 at 6:28pmI love that this show is SO many people's first show ever! I hope Broadway continues to have shows that bring in entirely new audiences.
#18re: What the IN THE HEIGHTS documentary has done to the non-theatre-incline
Posted: 6/1/09 at 7:25pmMore than anything, I'm touched by CapnHook's generosity. Letting Maria and her family into his home to watch the film was a selfless thing to do. I'm sure they appreciated it greatly.
Salve, Regina, Mater misericordiae
Vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra
Salve, Salve Regina
Ad te clamamus exsules filii Eva
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
O clemens O pia
Vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra
Salve, Salve Regina
Ad te clamamus exsules filii Eva
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
O clemens O pia
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