Why the Hype for In The Heights?

[mmFan]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 1:12pm

My husband and I were in NY this past weekend and we were able to see In The Heights (2nd row so great seats). We enjoyed the show, but to be honest, weren't blown away by it. The lead guy was amazing and the rest of the cast was really good (and that was with 4 understudies). Story was good, but I actually had a hard time understanding a lot when they were singing in rap. I like walking out of a show with the songs in my head, but didn't happen with this one.

I'm someone who goes to shows over and over again if I love them, but don't have any desire to see this one again. I'm not writing this to offend anyone, but we just don't get why it won the Tony and what makes it so appealing to people? Again, I did enjoy it, but just didn't go crazy over it. Why all the hype?
Updated On: 7/2/08 at 01:12 PM

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 1:14pm

Updated On: 5/3/09 at 01:14 PM

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 1:14pm

Ooooh, someone's going to read you the Miranda Rights for dissing the best sho' eva!

[mmFan]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 1:16pm

BobbyBubby, so what makes it so good? (again, not meaning to offend...just wondering why it's so appealing and so popular).

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 1:17pm

Updated On: 5/3/09 at 01:17 PM

[heathurrr]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 1:17pm

"I like walking out of a show with the songs in my head, but didn't happen with this one. "

Oh wow, I'm the opposite. I can't even think about '96 000' without it getting stuck in my head.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 1:19pm

Why NOT the hype? Different things speak to different people. Not everyone is going ot like the same things.

[mmFan]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 1:24pm

LePetiteFromage, I love the music in Rent, and the story although sad, is great too.

By the way, I will say that the dancing in ITH was really good...fantastic talent.

dancingthrulife, I totally hear you in that everyone likes different things....which is why I'm curious on what people love about ITH

[Jonny boy]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 1:36pm

I had no interest in the show untill I saw the Tony's performance..Just from seeing that it totally got my interest and i cant wait to get back to NY to see it=-)

[Marianne2]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 1:43pm

Maybe the story it told is not a new concept to theater, but I thought it was funny and the music was amazing. I personally have never seen a musical with music like "In the Heights." That is what makes it special for me.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 1:48pm

mmFan, to get a better understanding as to what people (like myself) see in, "In the Heights" check out the ITH appreciation thread.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 1:59pm

"BobbyBubby, so what makes it so good? (again, not meaning to offend...just wondering why it's so appealing and so popular)."

Your guess is as good as mine. I was more digging at the fans of the show who freak out whenever anyone brings up a flaw, and there are many.

[Kalimba]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 2:02pm

BobbyBubby, with the exception of the clips that have been on TV, have you even seen ITH?

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 2:03pm

I have not seen the show, but I think the score is terrific.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 3:15pm

I enjoyed the show, but it is not one of my favorites. I liked all of the songs sung by the females. Some of them are just gorgeous lyrics and melodies and Fireworks is just thrilling. However, I could not understand a word Lin sang nor could the people around me. I commend his style, but I'd be damned if I knew what he was saying. I had to get the CD to make it out and to be honest he did not sound as articulate live and his diction was not as good live as it was on the CD.

[mmFan]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 3:22pm

Thank you for all the responses.

Bettyboy, like you I have the same comment about understanding Lin. Although he had a good beat going, I found myself straining to catch words to make out what he was saying.

[abitoftap]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 3:32pm

I'm an aging Brit, and my partners even older, (between us we're a good ten years over the century) but to be honest we made out way more of the lyrics than in most shows (does anyone understand what the chorus sings in Wicked for most of the time?).
We loved it because it was fresh, exciting and positive, both musically and the choreography, in fact the whole cabodle!

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 3:38pm

Abitoftap, I totally hear you on Wicked. I had a hard time listening to the screeching chorus as well.

[once a month]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 3:50pm

Hype? What hype? Other than winning the awards off and then on B'way, there hasn't been an inordinate amount! The Producers, Jersey Boys AND Phantom of the Opera had so much hype surrounding them that I was sick of them by opening night. I didn't think any of those 3 deserved it. As a past poster stated, it's all in the tastes of the individual. The media hasn't gone crazy for ITH the way it did for previous shows. And ITH was more emotionally charged (for me) than any of the others.

[jrb]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 3:56pm

Let's see if this helps to answer your question:

I think people enjoy the use of more popular song forms. ITH chooses to use a modern vernacular which almost always makes something seem fresh - it escapes "feeling like a musical" which is something people seem to want to avoid these days. Couple this with the use of an english-spanish hybrid that has become commonplace in NYC (among other places nation and worldwide) and you've begun to include a whole new demographic in musical theater. That excites me.

It's a risk though. Shows that have highly contemporary feels tend to lack a certain timelessness. It will be interesting to see how this show fares in years to come. How long has it been since Hair - which was once edgy and controversial? It's being brought back as a revival and to some extend, I would imagine due to nostalgia and a desire to highlight the parallels between then and now.

Another reason? - Energy. This cast loves what there doing and when the people on stage love it then the audience is more likely to let go and truely experience the piece. There was so much energy in that theater that it felt like a club! I loved the irrevance and excitement that poured onto us that night.

And finally...I think I respect ITHs because it didn't come along and say, "Screw muscial theater! We're going to change the world and we don't care what anyone thinks!" Instead, they created a piece that incorporated modern musical styles into a standard musical theater form. They really dovetailed two artistic cultures in a way that showed a mastery of form and an understanding of style. I think that alone was deserving of the Tony award.

[Adam Chris]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 4:13pm

I had no interest in this show until I saw the performance on the Tonys.

[musicalmaster703]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 4:24pm

I love the sense of family.

[BillyE]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 5:15pm

I agree, it's well done, a fabulous cast, but
IT'S JUST NOT MY CUP OF TEA.
I can't stand rap.
This show has about as much appeal to me as would any other Broadway show to the Latino, rap, hip-hop crowd.

[winter_sky]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 6:01pm

This is the kind of show where people are hypersensitive and defend the show to the death. Any other show and this thread might have turned into a more open discussion but fans are pretty zealous which is not necessarily a bad thing. It just shows that fans truly love this show.

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 6:04pm

Updated On: 5/3/09 at 06:04 PM