ST. PAUL, Minn. (August 11, 2017) — The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts is excited to present In the Heights, Sept. 12-24. This Ordway Original production will be brought to life through a collaboration with Teatro del Pueblo. Tickets start at $37 and can be purchased online at www.ordway.org, by phone at 651-224-4222 or in-person at the Ordway ticket office.

Written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, 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 to take with you and which to leave behind.

The cast features Pedro R. Bayon as Kevin, Brian Bose as Graffiti Pete, Debra Cardona as Abuela Claudia, Fernando Collado as Sonny, Justin Gregory Lopez as Usnavi, Emily Madigan as Carla, Aline Mayagoitia as Nina, Val Nuccio as Vanessa, Lara Trujillo as Camila, Lauren Villegas as Daniela and Stephen Scott Wormley as Benny.

Rounding out the ensemble are Courtney Arango, Rush Benson, Alexander Gil Cruz, Renee Guittar, Patrick Charles Jeffrey, Abby Magalee, Giselle Mejia, Zander Morales, Jorge Quintero, Jen Santoro Rotty, Rudolph Searles III, Maureen Sherman-Mendez and Adan Varela.

In the Heights is directed and choreographed by Teatro del Pueblo Artistic Director Al Justiniano and Ordway Vice President of Programming and Producing Artistic Director James A. Rocco, in association with Alexander Gil Cruz, Giselle Mejia and Ashley Selmer.

“After staging West Side Story in collaboration with Teatro del Pueblo this past spring, we’re so excited to be able to continue that partnership by bringing In the Heights to the Ordway stage next,” said Rocco. “I’ve heard from many people in the community that this is such an important story to be told, and I can’t wait to work with Al on bringing it to life.”

"I am thrilled to be working on a story that encapsulates the strength of a Latinx community who, when its very existence is jeopardized, musters the guts to celebrate its cultural pride as an act of defiance," said Justiniano.

Beyond the stage, audiences can engage with the work through pre-show discussions and post-show talk backs with the cast. In addition, an exhibit of contemporary photographs of the Washington Heights neighborhood by Xavier Tavera will be on display in the lobby.

The creative team for In the Heights includes Eugenio A. Vargas (musical direction), Anna Louizos (scenic design), Jesse Cogswell (lighting design), Andy Horka (sound design), Trevor Bowen (costume design), Robert A. Dunn (hair and make-up design), Rick Polenek (props design) and Reid Harmsen (casting).

In the Heights features music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda and a book by Quiara Alegría Hudes. It opened on Broadway at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in March 2008, running for 1,184 performances. The original production was nominated for 13 Tony Awards, winning four: Best Musical, Best Original Score, Best Choreography and Best Orchestrations. It won a Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album and was also nominated for the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

In the Heights is sponsored by Travelers. Generous support for Ordway Originals is provided by Marcia L. Morris. In the Heights is part of the Ordway’s 2017-18 Musical Theater Series, sponsored by Bremer Bank. For tickets and more information, visit www.ordway.org.

ABOUT THE ORDWAY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

The Ordway is widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading nonprofit performing arts centers and Saint Paul’s most elegant and inviting performance space. The Ordway’s Music Theater and Concert Hall attract diverse audiences with an array of productions showcasing the finest in American musical theater, world music, dance and vocal performance. Education and community engagement are integral to the Ordway’s mission, with major initiatives including the annual Flint Hills International Children’s Festival and Ordway Education programs that serve more than 50,000 students annually. Together with Minnesota Opera, The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and The Schubert Club, the Ordway is a member of the Arts Partnership and serves as the principal venue for their performances. For more information, visit www.ordway.org.

ABOUT TEATRO DEL PUEBLO

Teatro del Pueblo's mission is to promote Latinx culture through the creation and presentation of the performing arts while developing and supporting artists and educating the community at large. Since 1992, Teatro del Pueblo has produced Latino-inspired work that blends traditional Latin American theatrical expressions with the bicultural experience. We are committed to further enriching and strengthening our communities through the promotion of diversity, equity, cross cultural engagement and educational programs. For more information please visit us at www.teatrodelpueblo.org