Amity Creative Theater's 'In the Heights' - My Review

How could the Amity Creative Theater top last year's award-winning production of Sweeney Todd? To start with they chose a great musical with In the Heights that has music and lyrics by Lin Manuel Miranda. They cast 45 Amity student actors and many musicians, added a slew of dedicated parent volunteers, and came up with another outstanding production that in my mind managed to top the demon barber of Fleet Street.

Director Robert Kennedy marks his thirteenth year of working with young people with what he calls one of his favorite musicals of all time. "This play is my story," he writes and dedicates it to his parents Joan and Pat Kennedy "and all other immigrants who dared to dream of a better life for themselves, their children and the grandchildren. In the Heights is a play about chasing dreams. The Amity Creative Theater is about chasing dreams as well."

The support that Amity has from the parents was palpable on opening night, from the 92 8 1/2 x 11 page glossy Amitybill program to the amazing hallway decorations/concession designed by Barbie Harger. Parents sported Amity Theater Department aprons as they worked the bodega selling snacks, Western Union selling backstage notes for a "dolla," Rosario's Limo Service selling water, and a raffle table, while students manned a flower shop for bouquets and a table for show DVD orders. Not to mention the outside of the auditorium was encased in rainbow artwork, subway station entrances marked the doors and pillars were covered in paper to allow for crayon graffiti. Oh and after the ticket that I had purchased online was scanned, I joined other patrons to walk "over" a lighted bridge to the Dr. John J. Brady Center for the Performing Arts (who came back to the school for opening night.) It was all pretty impressive.

Opening night was sold out, although the two chairs next to me in the front row were empty. Since I had the same seat last year, I noticed that the orchestra was moved backstage and was now amplified by huge speakers. They were too loud for the opening number of the title song, but more appropriate for the remainder of the musical numbers. The student musicians, under the direction of Musical Director Peter Randazzo and Phil Dolan, did a wonderful job with this excellent score and thankfully got to come out at curtain call for acknowledgement. One of the conductors was on a monitor for the actors and I will admit that I glanced over a few times, once to enjoy seeing some performers dancing backstage while awaiting their entrances. 

The massive and incredibly impressive set was designed by Mr. Kennedy and evoked the inner city of Washington Heights. The lighting designed by Dan Hassenmayer was perfection. Stunning costumes were designed by Julie Chevan and Brenda Burt; they included at least three changes for the leads. Co-director Andrea Kennedy was in charge of the impressive hair, wigs and makeup. The chicas of the hair salon sported the best wigs ever. Andrea Regan served as Spanish language coach/dramaturg. In the end, no high school covers the technical aspects of a show as professionally as Amity.

On that note, I must mention the choreography by the very busy Mrs. Kennedy. The dancing was so strong that it almost qualified as another character in the show. Whether it was a huge production number like "96,000" or "Carnaval del Barrio" or a small modern dance with two couples for "Sunrise," the dancing was the best I have ever seen, with the young men in the cast perhaps the most impressive. Junior Kevin Durkee (Sweeny Todd himself last year) played Graffiti Pete, but also danced with the ensemble; he was excellent throughout.

The students in this show were just as good as the support around them. I was blown away by the talent of every one of the performers that attend this high school. Ensemble members should be proud of their fine work. On opening night, Maximillian Karsanow (Anthony Hope in Sweeney Todd) covered the lead role of Benny. Freshman Ryan Rattley played the part of young Sonny at this performance and was just adorable and very funny.

Amity junior Kahari Blue (Beadle Bamford last year) was an energetic Piragua Guy with a wonderful singing voice. Senior Sara Abriola was a hoot in the role of sidekick salon worker Carla. Alida Ballou (Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney) gave another shining performance as Daniela. Senior Nicole Simon (the Beggar Woman in Sweeney) made us fall in love with Abuela Claudia and senior Chelsea Tambis was a strong Vanessa.

As the Rosarios, sophomore Jacob Leibowitz and junior Addie Robbins brought the necessary heart to the roles of Nina's parents. Senior Shaylen Harger (Johanna in Sweeney) played the role of Nina perfectly. And senior Nick Bottone was very strong in the challenging lead role of Usnavi de la Vega; this young actor can rap, sing and dance and make it all look easy.

Click here to view a video of some In the Heights cast members on WFSB's Better Connecticut.

In the Heights continues this weekend and there are tickets available for next weekend. Congratulations to the Kennedys and all the students on another blockbuster. I highly recommend that you head to Woodbridge to see what the students at Amity are able to accomplish. Click here to view a promotional video on YouTube.