To say that I'm excited to be presenting this production of In The Heights would be the understatement of the year! Some people have said that it's a smart and timely move with all of the success of Lin-Manuel Miranda's other musical, Hamilton. While Hamilton may be the hottest ticket around, it also has people talking about history, and more importantly, what it means to take responsibility for your place in society. While Hamilton gets all the press, it's In The Heights that tells the more important story.
The show first came to my attention through a close friend of mine who had seen the production in New York. She had asked if I knew anything about the show and told me that she thought that I would love it. She was right. When I first heard the soundtrack, I was surprised by the contemporary sound of the opening number combined with the traditional construction of more classic musicals and their desire to provide some exposition for the audience. By the second song, I was hooked! The story of family, home, and finding where you belong is one that everyone can find relatable. I found myself thinkng that I knew a person exactly like each of the characters, and even saw pieces of my personality in some of the characters. This isn't too surprising since we are a product of our home and our families, and no matter what our background, we aren't that different.
This show is a wonderful example of how we define ourselves. How we define family and home is completely up to us, the more inclusive we are, the more we are able to share in the joys of those around us! I was able to see this firsthand as I worked on a seperate production of this show as the lighting designer. I hope that you enjoy this performance as much as I have had lighting it, and now directing it!
Thank you to the following people who have joined our family and helped bring this story to the Dougherty Valley stage!
Dave Kravitz, Principal
The DVHS Administration team
Peggy Thomas
Norma Oslund
Brian Olkowski
Kathleen Breedveld
Tri-Valley Reperatory Theatre
The DVPAC staff
The Dufrane Family
The Okmin Family
Thank you to the following for their financial support of the DVHS Theatre Arts Program
The Burgess Family
Ryan Chan
The Dufrane Family
The Gies Family
Splendor Medical & Spa
Wente Foundation for Arts Education
This production is dedicated to the memory of:
Kris Barker
An "Abuela" figure to DVHS Drama over the years
Marcos Villazon
His loving spirit can be seen in many of the characters appearing on stage today.
