Wellesley Theatre Project to Present Broadway Smash 'In the Heights'

WELLESLEY, MA – The Wellesley Theatre Project is bringing Lin-Manuel Miranda's story of a vibrant community in New York City's Washington Heights neighborhood to town.

"In the Heights," the Tony Award-winning Broadway debut of the "Hamilton" playwright, introduces audiences to Washington Heights - a community where neighbors flock to the corner bodega for their daily coffee, the windows are always open and three generations of music flows with the breeze.

A community on the brink of change, full of hopes, dreams and pressures, its residents struggle with deciding which traditions to hold close and which to leave behind.

Miranda has said about the show, "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."

The Wellesley Theatre Project has committed its cast to this learning experience, working with dialect coach Emmanuel Avellanet to ensure they correctly pronounced the Spanish that is occasionally spoken during the show.

The cast was also treated to a Q&A with Olga Merediz, the actress who originated the role of “Abuela” on Broadway.

"This has been a great learning experience with the students to engage with characters and a culture that may be different from their own families and expand into styles of performing they are not normally asked to do," director Ben Rush said.

Thirty-three students between the ages of 12 and 18 from Wellesley and its surrounding towns round out the cast to bring "In the Heights" to life.

"In the Heights" will be performed Thurs., August 18 and Fri., August 19 at 7 p.m., as well as Saturday, Aug. 20 at 2 p.m. at the Wellesley High School auditorium.

Tickets purchased in advance are $12 for adults and $6 for students and seniors and may be purchased online at www.wellesleytheatreproject.org/tickets. Tickets purchased at the door are $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors.

Photos submitted by the Wellesley Theatre Project