Great news: Usnavi and Sonny are back on the boards at San Diego Musical Theatre. And so are the girls in the beauty shop, Rosario’s taxi service, Abuela Claudia and the other Latinos living in New York’s Washington Heights.
SDMT brings us Lin-Manuel Miranda’s lovable, charming “In the Heights” through June 5. And that’s good news in any language.
It’s a hot summer day in New York City, where Usnavi de la Vega (Sebastian Montenegro) runs his small bodega with the questionable help of his lazy cousin Sonny (Charlie Orozco). Usnavi’s bored with New York and yearns to return to his Dominican Republic roots. He’s been trying to save up the money to do so.
Usnavi has a thing for the lovely Vanessa (Arianna Vila), who works in the beauty salon with Daniela (Lena Ceja). His “thing” is mutual. Will they both leave New York?
Kevin (Berto Fernández), owner of the taxi service, is intent on making enough money to keep his wife Camila (Daisy Martínez) and daughter Nina (Vanessa Orozco) comfortable, and is anxiously awaiting Nina’s arrival from her first semester at Stanford. Kevin has big plans for her, and is annoyed when he finds out she has a thing for his employee Benny (Jordan Markus), who isn’t even Latino, but black.
The local Piragua Guy (Ramiro Garcia, Jr.), pushes around his ice cream cart, and local wannabe artist Graffiti Pete (Tommy Tran) adds his sometimes unappreciated talents to local spaces.
But the spiritual leader in this group is everybody’s grandma, Abuela Claudia (Analía Romero). An early emigré from Cuba, she isn’t related to any of them by blood, though she did raise Usnavi after his parents died. But everyone acknowledges her as the heart of the neighborhood.
It’s impossible not to love this show. Quiara Alegría Hudes wrote the book, and America’s favorite musical wunderkind Miranda (who later will give us “Hamilton,” which I call one of the two greatest American musicals ever written)
here gives us a homey charmer of a show featuring a passel of characters who engage, amuse and fascinate.
The show boasts a fine cast all around, complete with great songs and terrifically athletic dancing (credit Laurie Muñiz for the choreography).
Mathys Herbert’s versatile design sets the scene. Janet Pitcher’s costumes and Albee Alvarado’s hair and wig designs are wonderful. Lighting and sound are well handled by Michelle Miles and Derek Brener, respectively.
The Broadway version of this show was nominated for 13 Tonys and won four. See why through June 5 at San Diego Musical Theatre.
The details
“In the Heights” runs through June 5, 2022 at San Diego Musical Theatre, 4650 Mercury Street, San Diego 92111.
Tickets: (858) 560-5740 or sdmt.org
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