In the heights review
In The Heights Review
Lights up on Washington Heights
I sit down in my comfy red seat at Academy of Theatre Arts in Williamsville, NY. I look around and see that the house is full. Not one seat was empty. In those seats I see people of all ages with happy, excited expressions on their faces. This got me very excited for the show that was about to be presented for me. I am very anxious for the show to start and suddenly the lights dim, the overture music begins and the curtain opens… In the Heights by Lin Manuel Miranda opened on Broadway in 2008 with a strong cast of 28 members. One of those members was Miranda himself. In his sophomore year of college he created this masterpiece and wrote himself the leading role. Being Hispanic Miranda wanted to make sure that his race finally gets the recognition it deserves. Usually Hispanics are displayed as the workers or maids. But in In the Heights, they are represented as themselves in their very normal lives. This show covers every emotion under the rainbow such as love, hate, grief, stress, confusion, loss of one’s self, struggling to know where you belong and pure happiness. Dina Slawson, artistic director and owner of Academy of Theatre Arts (ATA), took on a monumental challenge when choosing to perform this musical. ATA opened its doors in 2003. Expert teachers were hired to teach classes in singing, acting and dance to kids ranging in ages from 4-18. Although ATA may not be a large theatre, its intimate feeling adds to the performance. The building was originally an office space until Slawson transformed it. The house sits 150 people, the stage is about 30 feet long, the wing space is 2 feet wide, one backstage room where the performers change and keep all props and set pieces. All of these circumstances were never a hard challenge for Slawson and her theatre companies to overcome. “ATA… we make it work” is a common phrase used in
Lights up on Washington Heights
I sit down in my comfy red seat at Academy of Theatre Arts in Williamsville, NY. I look around and see that the house is full. Not one seat was empty. In those seats I see people of all ages with happy, excited expressions on their faces. This got me very excited for the show that was about to be presented for me. I am very anxious for the show to start and suddenly the lights dim, the overture music begins and the curtain opens… In the Heights by Lin Manuel Miranda opened on Broadway in 2008 with a strong cast of 28 members. One of those members was Miranda himself. In his sophomore year of college he created this masterpiece and wrote himself the leading role. Being Hispanic Miranda wanted to make sure that his race finally gets the recognition it deserves. Usually Hispanics are displayed as the workers or maids. But in In the Heights, they are represented as themselves in their very normal lives. This show covers every emotion under the rainbow such as love, hate, grief, stress, confusion, loss of one’s self, struggling to know where you belong and pure happiness. Dina Slawson, artistic director and owner of Academy of Theatre Arts (ATA), took on a monumental challenge when choosing to perform this musical. ATA opened its doors in 2003. Expert teachers were hired to teach classes in singing, acting and dance to kids ranging in ages from 4-18. Although ATA may not be a large theatre, its intimate feeling adds to the performance. The building was originally an office space until Slawson transformed it. The house sits 150 people, the stage is about 30 feet long, the wing space is 2 feet wide, one backstage room where the performers change and keep all props and set pieces. All of these circumstances were never a hard challenge for Slawson and her theatre companies to overcome. “ATA… we make it work” is a common phrase used in