In the Heights Director Notes
I’m often asked how I choose the shows I direct each year. (Or more specifically, students tell me a title of a show they’d like to be in.) I’m constantly reading, watching and researching plays and musicals. I pay attention to the productions at other high schools in the state. I’m also paying attention to the performances and work ethic shown by the students in our program (you are always auditioning). And then I ask myself questions like, “Do we have students with the skill sets needed for this show?” or, “Do our students have the potential and discipline to learn the needed skill sets?” I also ask, “What is the educational benefit of producing this show?” and, “How will the RHS students and community respond to this production?” Then I let these questions marinate with my short list of musicals and plays for several months to see what floats to the top. Sometimes the ideas come easily, and sometimes it’s a struggle.
I struggled with In the Heights.
I first saw the production on Broadway in 2010, and I loved it. It was both familiar and new at the same time. I couldn’t think of another musical that combined hip-hop, rap and traditional Latin music, or that could be taking place right now and just up the street. As a theatre snob, I’m always looking for productions that surprise me. And In the Heights astonished me. I thought it would be an incredible musical to direct at a high school—so current and relatable—especially in the post-Hamilton theatre world. But I never thought I’d be able to direct it at a high school.
In the Heights is set in a specific section of upper Manhattan, a neighborhood where the majority of residents are of Latino heritage, with family ties to a variety of Caribbean countries, but primarily the Dominican Republic and the United States Territory of Puerto Rico. Riverton is not known for its large Dominican or Puerto Rican population, or for being a particularly racially diverse school. Our population becomes more diverse each year, but no school in Utah will ever reach the specific diversity of Washington Heights. So does that mean that high schools in Utah shouldn’t produce this musical? Should Utah (and other) high schools also stop producing West Side Story, Fiddler on the Roof and South Pacific? Should there be no more junior high productions of The Lion King or Aladdin? I was truly perplexed. I had the distinct impression that In the Heights was the show I was supposed to direct at Riverton High, but I still felt unsettled about my perceived disconnect between our available student population and show’s cultural themes. I continued my research and found this quote by the musical’s author, Lin-Manuel Miranda:
"When I see a school production with not a lot of Latino students doing it, I know they're learning things about Latino culture that go beyond what they're fed in the media every day. They have to learn those things to play their parts correctly. And when I see a school with a huge Latino population do HEIGHTS, I feel a surge of pride that the students get to perform something that may have a sliver of resonance in their daily lives. Just please God, tell them that tanning and bad 50's style Shark makeup isn't necessary. Latinos come in every color of the rainbow, thanks very much." Broadway World article by Michael Dale, Dec. 3, 2015 from an Interview with Howard Sherman.
When I read this quote, all of my casting concerns evaporated. My cast not merely learning music, they are making connections between the cultures represented in this Washington Heights and their own heritage. They see that the themes of what HOME means to every human being, and that we are ALL chasing the American (and Dominican, Puerto Rican, Mexican, etc.) Dream, are truly universal.
I have not been this excited about directing a production in several years. Each rehearsal has been a stimulating challenge. I’m eager to see how audiences react to this show, and I hope that we can reach a new audience. Whether you are new to RHS productions or you’re a veteran audience member, thank you for coming to share this experience with us.
Erin McGuire, Director
