South Florida - Actors' Playhouse slamming production of Broadway's "In The Heights" has the it factor, no even better the X Factor. Recreating the Broadway choreography to the exact standard in a more intimate theatre makes this "In The Heights" burst off the stage with one of the best musicals to hit Florida.
"Actors' Playhouse "In The Heights" hits the lottery, not just in the dreams of the story with a outstanding book. This "In The Heights" is one of the best ever seen. Right down to ever detail, the lights, costumes, sets, live orchestra, original Broadway choreography, and Broadway "In The Heights" cast members." BroadwayGlobal.
"In The Heights" playing now through April 7, 2013 at Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre. If word of mouth gets out this show could last for months at this intimate venue. If ever there was a musical that could extend at Actors' Playhouse "In The Heights" is it!
"Every lead down to the featured roles all have the X Factor. They could all be on the hit TV talent show and you wouldn't know who to vote for. Every actor is slamming their characters and vocally giving you raw Spanish Harlem like never seen before. "In The Heights" is the best musical to slam Florida. Don't just go tell your friends, neighbors, co-workers. "In The Heights" is a musical for all generations!" Theatre Chat.
Congratulations to Director David Arisco for this outstanding cast. Special mention must go to Stephanie Klemons who recreated Andy Blankenbueler's original Broadway choreography. Normally one likes to see new choreography, but when it comes to a musical like "A Chorus Line" you must honor Michael Bennet, and now with "In The Heights" it is obvious that honoring Andy Blankenbueler's original Broadway choreography is a must to create this magical urban journey.
The "In The Heights" slamming cast starts with lead Nick Duckart (Usnavi), Alicia Taylor Tomasko (Carla), Elisa Santora (Daniela), Sarah Amengual (Nina), Marcus Paul James (Benny), Rayner G. Garranchan (Sonny), Christie Prades (Vanessa). This cast reminds me of the moment I saw Carly Rose Sonenclar in "Wonderland" on Broadway. You just knew she had the X Factor and just months later Carly Rose was a top finalist on the X Factor. Leave your TV sets at home and run to Actors Playhouse to see the "In The Heights" with the live X Factor cast.
This musical has got to be the hottest musical to hit Florida. While other theatres produce some of the old classic's Actors' Playhouse is offering what the younger theatre audiences have been asking for. If Florida is to continue to be "the fun in the sun arts destination" our theatres must offer live theatre that will bring in all ages and the audiences for the current generation. Dancer Jose-Luis Lopez (Graffiti Pete) stets the bar high for the entire cast but they all jump over that bar at equal level of intensity.
Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre brings Broadway's Tony Award®-winning Best Musica's "In The Heights" Choreography by Andy Blankenbeuhler, recreated by Stephanie Klemmons as well as a handful of Broadway and 1st National Tour cast members of "In The Heights").
Actors' Playhouse production of "In The Heights" runs through April 6, 2013. "In The Heights" is a BroadwayGlobal top pick for music, choreography and book. Actors' Playhouse "In The Heights" is a Theatre Chat top musical that must be seen! Actors' Playhouse choice of Tony Award winning Broadway productions continues to keep Florida on the map for the "Fun In The Sun Arts Destination".
"In The Heights" tells the universal story of a vibrant community in New York's Washington Heights neighborhood - a place where the coffee from the corner bodega is light and sweet, the windows are always open and the breeze carries the rhythm of three generations of music. It's a community on the brink of change, full of hopes, dreams and pressures, where the biggest struggles can be deciding which traditions you take with you, and which ones you leave behind.
The opening of Actors' Playhouse's production of "In The Heights", taking place on the 5th anniversary of the show's opening night on Broadway, marks the first time ever members of the original Broadway and National tour casts will join together with Miami's finest talent to bring this regional production to South Florida audiences.
The principal cast is comprised of South Florida's own Carbonell, Silver Palm, and Silver Knight Award-winning actor Nick Duckart (Actors' Playhouse: "Godspell", "Joseph..., "Next to Normal", "The Color of Desire") as Usnavi, Oscar Cheda (1st National Tour: "In The Heights") as Kevin, Marcus Paul James (Broadway: "Rent", "In The Heights") as Benny, Sarah Amengual (Broadway: "West Side Story" Actors' Playhouse: "Next to Normal") as Nina, Rayner G. Garranchan (City Theatre Shorts for Kids, The Alliance Theatre Lab's "Home Sweet Funeral Home") as Sonny, Doreen Montalvo (Broadway: "In The Heights") as Abuela Claudia, Christie Prades as Vanessa, television star Denise Celina Sanchez (TV: Esta Noche Tu Night, Sabado Gigante) as Camila, and Elise Santora (Broadway: "In The Heights", "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer", "The Capeman", "Man of La Mancha", first national tour of "In The Heights") as Daniela, Alicia Taylor Tomasko (Broadway: "In The Heights") as Carla, Jose-Luis Lopez (Broadway: "In The Heights") as Graffiti Pete, and Henry Gainza (Actors' Playhouse: "Godspell", "Spelling Bee") as Piragua Guy.
Ensemble members include: Renata Eastlick, Rosie Fieldelman (Broadway: "In The Heights"), Rebecca Kritzer (1st National Tour: "In The Heights"), Dexter Carr (Broadway: "Bring it On"), Jimmy A. Arguello, Javier Munoz (Broadway: "In The Heights"), Ivore Rousell and Erika Navarro.
The creative team for "In The Heights" includes Director David Arisco, Choreographer Stephanie Klemmons (based on Original Choreography by Andy Blankenbeuhler), Musical Director Manny Schvartzman, Assistant Director Henry Gainza, Scenic Designer Sean McClelland, Costume Designer Ellis Tillman, Lighting Designer Patrick Tennent and Sound Designer Alexander Herrin.
"In The Heights' will be our most ambitious undertaking in years," said Actors' Playhouse Artistic Director David Arisco. "It will be the culmination of 25 years of growth as an artistic entity. Kicking off the regional future of this Tony Award®-winning musical at the Miracle Theatre is the way it should be. This vibrant, 21st century production belongs in Miami."
Tickets for weeknights and matinees are $42, and on Friday and Saturday evenings $50. The theatre offers a 10 percent senior discount rate the day of performance and $15 student rush tickets 15 minutes prior to curtain with identification. Discounts are based on availability and exclude Saturday and Sunday. Group discounted rates are offered for 15 or more through our group sales department. Single tickets may be purchased through the box office at 305-444-9293 or online at www.actorsplayhouse.org.
Theatre Chat commends Actors Playhouse "In The Heights" amazing cast and production team which includes "In The Heights" original cast Stephanie Klemmons, Marcus Paul James (Broadway: "Rent", "In The Heights"), Doreen Montalvo (Broadway: "In The Heights"), Elise Santora (Broadway: "In The Heights", Alicia Taylor Tomasko (Broadway: "In The Heights"), Jose-Luis Lopez (Broadway: "In The Heights', Rosie Fieldelman (Broadway: "In The Heights", Rebecca Kritzer (1st National Tour: "In The Heights", Javier Munoz (Broadway: "In The Heights" and Oscar Cheda (1st National Tour: "In The Heights"). "Actors' Playhouse brings original cast members and recreates the Tony Award winning magic for Florida." Theatre Chat.
David Arisco (Director) has been a part of Actors’ Playhouse for 25 years, seventeen of them here at the Miracle Theatre. His diverse career spans over thirty years as director, actor, musical director, stage manager, symphonic conductor and instrumentalist. Stage acting credits include starring roles in our critically acclaimed productions of "Hairspray". Mr. Arisco has directed over 100 shows at Actors’ Playhouse, including the Carbonell awarded productions of "Les Misérables" (2009), "AIDA" (2005), "Floyd Collins" (2003), "Violet" (2001), "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" (2000), "I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change" (1998), "West Side Story" (1997) and "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" (1991), all of which won for Best Musical and Best Direction of a musical. Mr. Arisco is the recipient of the George Abbott Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts, and was awarded the Richard G. Fallon Award for Excellence in Professional Theatre from the Florida Professional Theatre Association.
Stephanie Klemons (Choreographer) was an original cast member of both Broadway and off-Broadway's "In The Heights" serving as the show's Co-Dance Captain, Co-Associate choreographer of the first national tour, Carla Understudy and member of the Drama Desk Award winning ensemble (Best Ensemble in a Musical 2007). Stephanie just finished closing out a wonderful run of Universal Picture's new musical, 'Bring It On" as the show's Associate Choreographer and played the role of "Alexis" in the Atlanta production last winter. Most recently she teamed up as a cast member of Andy Blankenbeuhler and Jeffrey Sellers' in his directorial debut of new musical FLY this past summer. Stephanie also originated the role of Amma in "Tea with Chachaji', a Making Books Sing Production. Finally this year she got to work with one of her idols Frank Wildhorn providing choreography for his show "Zelda", based on the story of F.Scott Fitzgerald and his wife in the roaring 20's at FlatRock Playhouse in North Carolina.
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Group discounted rates are offered for 15 or more through our group sales department. Single tickets may be purchased through the box office at 305-444-9293 or online at www.actorsplayhouse.org.
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