"I don't know about God, but I believe in Chris Jackson!"
May 20, 2016 2:28 PM Subscribe
He's done some things since, but In The Heights is what put Lin-Manuel Miranda on the map, winning 4 Tonys and running from 2008-2011 on Broadway. What is In The Heights? It's a musical about one summer weekend in the Latino community in Washington Heights, where personal relationships mingle with issues like education, gentrification, and legacy. Miranda started writing the show while in college at Wesleyan, and faced producers who didn't share his vision before finding the right team. The Tony performance gives a good sample of the flavor of the show. Below the cut, a lot more media about the show, almost all of it from an excellent roundup by tumblr user stickmarionette.
The original cast recording is available on Youtube and standard digital music services. The Genius annotations are very helpful both for context and translations of the Spanish for those of us that need them.
Unfortunately there's no full recording of the original production, but there are snippets like 96,000 and Paciencia y Fe.
Miranda made a bunch of fun promo videos on his Youtube channel, including a parody of High School Musical (featuring a Groff cameo) and a freestyle responding to critics that thought the show was too sanitized.
PBS aired an excellent hourlong documentary about the show, from origins to post Tonys. The moment Seth Stewart sees the poster go up is a tearjerker.
The Les Mis parody Easter Bonnet performance.
Miranda's Tony acceptance speech for Best Score is still amazing.
Broadway closing night curtain call and speech by Miranda
A conversation at Swarthmore about the show, including performing in Puerto Rico, and an early preview of a later musical he was working on.
And finally, a pretty good though incomplete recording of the Reunion Concert from 2013.
The original cast recording is available on Youtube and standard digital music services. The Genius annotations are very helpful both for context and translations of the Spanish for those of us that need them.
Unfortunately there's no full recording of the original production, but there are snippets like 96,000 and Paciencia y Fe.
Miranda made a bunch of fun promo videos on his Youtube channel, including a parody of High School Musical (featuring a Groff cameo) and a freestyle responding to critics that thought the show was too sanitized.
PBS aired an excellent hourlong documentary about the show, from origins to post Tonys. The moment Seth Stewart sees the poster go up is a tearjerker.
The Les Mis parody Easter Bonnet performance.
Miranda's Tony acceptance speech for Best Score is still amazing.
Broadway closing night curtain call and speech by Miranda
A conversation at Swarthmore about the show, including performing in Puerto Rico, and an early preview of a later musical he was working on.
And finally, a pretty good though incomplete recording of the Reunion Concert from 2013.
He discussed the play at some length in his commencement speech at Penn on Monday* (which I was lucky enough to attend since my wife was graduating).
* Worth watching the Provost's intro to put the first 30 seconds in context.
posted by supercres at 3:14 PM on May 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
* Worth watching the Provost's intro to put the first 30 seconds in context.
posted by supercres at 3:14 PM on May 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
Ah, just saw the gif excerpt in the "faced producers" link. Anyway, the whole speech was good, though on rewatch not as much devoted to In The Heights as I first thought.
posted by supercres at 3:27 PM on May 20, 2016
posted by supercres at 3:27 PM on May 20, 2016
I really regret missing out on this when it was on Broadway and then touring. IIRC, it came out during that period when everything else on Broadway was a Disney remake or a jukebox musical, and I assumed it would some sort of corny appropriative pap. I was wrong, and if I had given it more than a few minutes' thought, I would have realized that it's not like Broadway is just so dying to produce a musical about a Dominican neighborhood that it would greenlight something that wasn't outstanding.
Come to think of it, "corny and appropriative" was my first thought when I heard about Hamilton too. So, so wrong.
Apparently it's become a really popular play for high schools to put on. I'd love to see that.
posted by lunasol at 3:40 PM on May 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
Come to think of it, "corny and appropriative" was my first thought when I heard about Hamilton too. So, so wrong.
Apparently it's become a really popular play for high schools to put on. I'd love to see that.
posted by lunasol at 3:40 PM on May 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
I did see a high school production of In the Heights. I am not, by habit, a lover of musical theater, and this was last spring, just before Hamilton started blowing up big; so I had never heard of Lin-Manuel Miranda and my expectations were, let us say, rather muted. I enjoyed it much more than I expected to. The kids seemed to really like the material.
On the whole front of the casts of Lin-Manuel Miranda productions playing with racial expectations, this high school was in a fairly blue-collar suburb of Richmond's East End, which has a super-segregated school system, and so the cast was almost entirely black and non-Hispanic, other than one white kid who played the piragua guy.
posted by strangely stunted trees at 4:23 PM on May 20, 2016
On the whole front of the casts of Lin-Manuel Miranda productions playing with racial expectations, this high school was in a fairly blue-collar suburb of Richmond's East End, which has a super-segregated school system, and so the cast was almost entirely black and non-Hispanic, other than one white kid who played the piragua guy.
posted by strangely stunted trees at 4:23 PM on May 20, 2016
There's a production playing in the West End right now.
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 4:46 PM on May 20, 2016
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 4:46 PM on May 20, 2016
When I was visiting NYC in 2008 and we were waiting in line at TKTS and deciding between In The Heights and Passing Strange. Passing Strange won, and while I'm glad Miranda is having massive success, I'm not sad I didn't see In The Heights, I just wish the team behind Passing Strange had similar success because that show was awesome, and just as fresh as Hamilton seems to be now.
posted by PenDevil at 4:50 PM on May 20, 2016
posted by PenDevil at 4:50 PM on May 20, 2016
I just wish the team behind Passing Strange had similar success because that show was awesome, and just as fresh as Hamilton seems to be now.
Hmm. I think there's a big difference between LMM and Stew, in terms of what they want - LMM grew up a theater geek, so in doing Hamilton and In The Heights he's doing exactly what he wants. As for Stew - I get the sense he doesn't really care either way whether he gets as far as Broadway or whether he only plays at the Public, so long as he gets to do things his way. Passing Strange somehow made it to Broadway? Weird. Okay, fine. His next one didn't? Okay, fine, people still came and liked it and he wasn't about to play some kind of weird game just to suck up and get to Broadway, he's happier leaving the show the way it is and sticking to the Public, thanks.
I will say, though, that while Stew maybe didn't make a bigger splash, Mr. Venus has been doing quite well over on Fear The Walking Dead.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:36 PM on May 20, 2016
Hmm. I think there's a big difference between LMM and Stew, in terms of what they want - LMM grew up a theater geek, so in doing Hamilton and In The Heights he's doing exactly what he wants. As for Stew - I get the sense he doesn't really care either way whether he gets as far as Broadway or whether he only plays at the Public, so long as he gets to do things his way. Passing Strange somehow made it to Broadway? Weird. Okay, fine. His next one didn't? Okay, fine, people still came and liked it and he wasn't about to play some kind of weird game just to suck up and get to Broadway, he's happier leaving the show the way it is and sticking to the Public, thanks.
I will say, though, that while Stew maybe didn't make a bigger splash, Mr. Venus has been doing quite well over on Fear The Walking Dead.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:36 PM on May 20, 2016
This looks amazing - I am looking so much forward to going through the links after work
posted by mumimor at 5:36 PM on May 20, 2016
posted by mumimor at 5:36 PM on May 20, 2016
i didn't know the plot of in the heights when i listened to the cast recording. it took a few starts to get the flow, so i listened to part or all of act 1 three or four times before i made it through the whole show and i didn't expect to be bawling by the end - which, of course, i should have totally expected, it being lin and all...
posted by nadawi at 5:41 PM on May 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by nadawi at 5:41 PM on May 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
There's a production playing in the West End right now.
I saw it, on a relatively empty Tuesday. I saw pretty much every understudy and still enjoyed it very much. The actors who play Usnavi and Benny (not understudies) were terrific.
posted by purpleclover at 8:06 PM on May 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
I saw it, on a relatively empty Tuesday. I saw pretty much every understudy and still enjoyed it very much. The actors who play Usnavi and Benny (not understudies) were terrific.
posted by purpleclover at 8:06 PM on May 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
For more about In the Heights, I also recommend episode 21 of the Theater People podcast, recorded way back in 2014.
posted by purpleclover at 8:12 PM on May 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by purpleclover at 8:12 PM on May 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
Toledo School for the Arts did this just recently. Lin-Manuel Miranda actually stopped to see the kids. It was fantastic! Love him, loved the show.
posted by charred husk at 8:16 PM on May 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by charred husk at 8:16 PM on May 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
Toledo School for the Arts did this just recently. Lin-Manuel Miranda actually stopped to see the kids. It was fantastic! Love him, loved the show.
You guys, are we sure Lin doesn't have a Time Turner?
He did spend all that time with Hermione recently.
posted by lunasol at 9:48 PM on May 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
You guys, are we sure Lin doesn't have a Time Turner?
He did spend all that time with Hermione recently.
posted by lunasol at 9:48 PM on May 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
'Paciencia y Fe' sends me into choking-weeping 90% of the time I listen to it, so I have to stop myself from singing along with it while driving. (You'd think it'd be 'Alabanza,' and sometimes that song gets me but it happens less often.) Which reminds me: when I was listening to 'It Won't Be Long Now' my mom asked me if it was a Disney princess song playing?, and that tickled me so much. lol.
Anyway, thanks for this post! I'm going to enjoy going through it.
posted by one teak forest at 12:28 AM on May 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
Anyway, thanks for this post! I'm going to enjoy going through it.
posted by one teak forest at 12:28 AM on May 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
I saw this (apparently in early 2007, during its off-Broadway run) mostly because my wife worked with LMM's mother who was, of course, proudly promoting her son. (Probably the last musical I saw until I saw Hamilton, too!)
My kids have been obsessed with Hamilton and the soundtrack has been on repeat for months, it had never occurred to me to play In The Heights for them until seeing this post. Now I'm listening to Alabanza and bawling and my 2-year-old is looking very concerned. Maybe it just hit me at the right time, but I really connected to this musical at the time - even though I never listened to it again.
Which makes me think, my kids will never understand a world where you can't get any soundtrack just be speaking into the air ("Alexa, play In the Heights"). What cast recordings should we go for next?
posted by These Premises Are Alarmed at 8:22 AM on May 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
My kids have been obsessed with Hamilton and the soundtrack has been on repeat for months, it had never occurred to me to play In The Heights for them until seeing this post. Now I'm listening to Alabanza and bawling and my 2-year-old is looking very concerned. Maybe it just hit me at the right time, but I really connected to this musical at the time - even though I never listened to it again.
Which makes me think, my kids will never understand a world where you can't get any soundtrack just be speaking into the air ("Alexa, play In the Heights"). What cast recordings should we go for next?
posted by These Premises Are Alarmed at 8:22 AM on May 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
What cast recordings should we go for next?
How old are your kids aside from the 2-year-old? Kids love Les Miserables, I think because it is big and brazen and has huge emotions. LMM also frequently cites it as an inspiration.
Others your kids might like:
- Into the Woods (they definitely will not or should not "get" the lyrics but the music is fun and has a lot of similarities to Hamilton)
- Any of the old Rogers and Hammerstein classics. I adored The Sound of Music as a kid.
posted by lunasol at 12:08 PM on May 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
How old are your kids aside from the 2-year-old? Kids love Les Miserables, I think because it is big and brazen and has huge emotions. LMM also frequently cites it as an inspiration.
Others your kids might like:
- Into the Woods (they definitely will not or should not "get" the lyrics but the music is fun and has a lot of similarities to Hamilton)
- Any of the old Rogers and Hammerstein classics. I adored The Sound of Music as a kid.
posted by lunasol at 12:08 PM on May 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
As far as other cast recordings: When I was a kid/teen, I loved The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady, and West Side Story. I could never get into either Sondheim or Andrew Lloyd Webber. I LIVE FOR HAMILTON.
posted by epersonae at 12:59 PM on May 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by epersonae at 12:59 PM on May 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
I was lucky enough to see In the Heights when it was on tour and it was great! I highly recommend seeing it if you ever get the chance. I keep hoping they'll follow through on making a movie, but no luck so far.
posted by angelchrys at 2:53 PM on May 23, 2016
posted by angelchrys at 2:53 PM on May 23, 2016
This is my favourite video:
from a fundraiser, Mandy Gonzalez and Robin De Jesus sing Breathe
THE STRINGS!!!
posted by Theta States at 10:40 AM on May 25, 2016 [1 favorite]
from a fundraiser, Mandy Gonzalez and Robin De Jesus sing Breathe
THE STRINGS!!!
posted by Theta States at 10:40 AM on May 25, 2016 [1 favorite]
so, i guess we'll get a hamilton movie just as soon as he creates yet another thing that changes broadway forever.
posted by nadawi at 4:01 PM on May 31, 2016
posted by nadawi at 4:01 PM on May 31, 2016
I have so many feelings about Mary Poppins. I am giddily excited.
posted by Theta States at 8:30 AM on June 1, 2016
posted by Theta States at 8:30 AM on June 1, 2016
Lin is leaving Hamilton in July, apparently. No big surprise, but now tickets are even more insanely expensive. I never thought I would see the $400 I paid as a good deal.
posted by lunasol at 3:50 PM on June 6, 2016
posted by lunasol at 3:50 PM on June 6, 2016
Lin is leaving Hamilton in July, apparently.
While I understand the demand to see HIM, Mel Brooks assures us it won't be so bad as Javier Muñoz is even better:
posted by Theta States at 6:10 AM on June 9, 2016
While I understand the demand to see HIM, Mel Brooks assures us it won't be so bad as Javier Muñoz is even better:
Muñoz says the “2,000-Year-Old Man” came backstage one Sunday and said, “So you’re better than him, right? Yeah, yeah, so he’s the writer, but you’re better!”I saw Muñoz as Usnavi in In The Heights and I agree, he brought a special range to that role.
posted by Theta States at 6:10 AM on June 9, 2016
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posted by zachlipton at 2:42 PM on May 20, 2016 [2 favorites]