GC2: The PlayIn the Heights

By: Lin-Manuel Miranda & Thomas Kail

On Broadway : February 8th 2007 to July 15 2007

GC2: Play Synopsis In the Heights tells the universal story of a

vibrant community in New York’s Washington Heights neighbourhood- a place where the coffee from the corner bodega is light and sweet, the windows are always open and the breeze carries the rhythm of three generations of music. It’s a community on the brink of change, full of hopes, dreams and pressures, where the biggest struggles can be deciding which traditions you take with you and which ones you leave behind.

Synopsis: Act 1O Usnavi introduces all the main characters. Last to appear is

Nina. She struggles at college and readies herself to give her parents the bad news.

O Nina’s parents seek an emergency loam to keep their struggling taxi dispatched a float.

O Meanwhile, at the hair salon, Vanessa wants a studio apartment.

O Nina reveals how she has lost her academic scholarship. Her dad is devastated. Nina seeks comfort from Vanessa but nine ends up having a make-over.

O Usnavi discovers he sold a lottery ticket for $96,000. everyone dreams about what they would do with that amount of money

O Abuela Claudie reflects on her childhood journey from Cube to New York in 1943 and reveals to the audience that she has the winning lottery ticket.

O Nina and Benny share romantic feelings. Kevin sells the car to pay for Ninas tuition. Vanessa and Usnavi enter a club for their date whilst attempting to make each other jealous .

O Entire club breaks out into a huge fight then the neighbourhood breaks out into chaos because it looses power.

Synopsis: Act 2O Benny and Nina have spent the night together.O Abuela Claudie convinces Usnavi they should use their lottery

winnings to move to Usnavi homeland: Dominican Republic.O Ninas parents find out she’s been with Benny and her dad is

furious and says he can not be part of the family because he is not Latino. All are frustrated by the extreme heat and the power lost

O Usnavi tells everyone the news of him leaving and they all celebrate though Vanessa is heartbroken.

O Abuela Claudie suddenly diesO Daniella closes up her hair salon and decides to help get

Vanessa the apartmentO Vanessa kisses Usnavi then leavesO Giant memorial graffiti art of Abuela Claudia- he is stunned and

decides to stay- pursue Vanessa and realises this block is his true home.

GC2: Contextual Research

Geographical Context: This play is set in vibrant upper Manhatten, a neighbourhood

characterised by it’s predominantly Hispanic population and a lively mix of cultural traditions as they take shape in the context of life in New York City where 36% is foreign born. The sights, smells and sounds came like waves from around the world and settled here.

Washington Heights spans 35 blocks at the northern end of Manhattan and was originally settled by “old immigrant” populations, primarily of European descent. A large Jewish community with roots in an earlier immigrant influx still inhabits the Hudson Heights area. The dominant population in the neighbourhood today is Hispanic, comprised largely of Dominicans, but also of other Spanish speaking populations including Puerto Ricans and Cubans. The ethnic atmosphere they create here is still very much alive with the sounds of Merengue, Salsa and conversations in rapid Spanish mixed with English; the aromas of empanadas and sweet plantains; and the colourful storefronts of small family-run businesses that line the streets.

Historical ContextO “Old Immigrant” neighbourhoods retain some of their

original character and culture but economy changed in which small neighbourhoods buisness have way to corporate entities when the rents becomes to high which ended in it being a very poor community.

O After WW11 it seemed the whole world was on the doorstep hoping to escape the post-war economic hardship.

O Mid-Twentieth century gave way to the “Great Migration”. O The first Puerto Rican Day was in 1958.O Today their are roughly 1 million Puerto Ricans living in New

York City.O Washington Heights is home to the largest concentration of

Dominicans.O Civil rights movement was in 1960s. And discrimination

was the cause of: lower wages, poor education and many other issues.

Social ContextImmigrant have brought the language of:

music, food, art, beliefs and pride and is responsible for the vibrant and varied neighbourhoods around the city.

Phenomenon of Rap and Hip Hop music could be described as the creation of both language and art form. Rap and Hip Hop was born in the 1970’s and was called Disco Rap in the early 80’s. Which is a huge influence within this play. But new technology of time allowed for more sophisticated musical accompaniment.

GC2: Character Analysis

Usnavi De La Vega:24 year old owner of De La Vega’s Bodega,

his parents emigrated from the Dominican Republic and have since passed away. He lives with Abuela Claudia (Grandmother Claudia), who isn’t actually his grandmother but they are as close as family. Usnavi is in love with Vanessa and remains the eyes and ears of his Washington Heights neighbourhood.

Nina Rosario19 year old Nina has just finished her

freshman year at Stanford University. She is the daughter of Kevin and Camilia Rosario. Nina is the only member of her family and friends who made it to college. She is best friends with Vanessa and a beacon of hope and inspiration to all who know her; she represents the opportunity outside of “the Heights.”

Kevin RosarioIn his forties and owner of Rosario Car and Limousine, Kevin is a husband to Camila and father to Nina. While Kevin was born and raised in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, he immigrated to New York City with Camila. Kevin immediately started working to provide a better life for his newly-arrived family. He is stubborn, hot tempered at times and can be quick to act without thoughts of repercussions.

Camila RosarioAlso in her forties, she is the co-

owner of Rosario Car and Limousine with her husband Kevin. Also from Arecibo, Puerto Rico, she fell in love with Kevin at 19 and immigrated with him to New York City. She is cool-headed yet keeps a subtle but strong leash on Kevin. Her daughter Nina has just returned for the summer from her first year at Stanford.

BennyNow a 24 year old cab driver for

Rosario Car and Limousine, he once was a street punk and hoodlum, often finding himself in trouble. Kevin saw promise in Benny and helped shape him into a responsible, hard-working young man. Benny has enormous respect for Kevin and sees him as a father figure. Eventually falling in love with Nina, Benny sees a future for them by becoming a businessman. He and Usnavi are best friends.

VanessaA 19 year old shampoo girl

at Daniela’s Salon, Vanessa is strong, intelligent and grew up with Benny and Usnavi. Though Usnavi would like to be something more than Vanessa’s “friend”, he has never made any attempt. Vanessa dreams of leaving to create her own life away from her alcoholic mother.

Sonny15 years old and Usnavi’s

cousin, Sonny is spending the summer working for Usnavi at the bodega. He usually hangs out on the street with his friend Graffiti Pete but avoids trouble. He is an extremely intelligent young man who strives to emulate Usnavi. Passionate to solve the social and economic problems of the city, he is someone that needs guidance or risks ending up a street punk.

Abuela ClaudiaIn her late 60’s, she raised

Usnavi after his parents passed away and continues to live with him. She emigrated from Cuba when she was very young. Of all the characters, Abuela Claudia has been in “The Heights” the longest. She struggled to learn English, struggled to find work and in turn has helped others who have followed in her path. She is clearly the matriarch of the neighborhood.

DaniellaIn her thirties, she is the owner of Daniela’s Salon. Savvy to say the least, she is quick witted, brassy and outspoken. While she retains a motherly relationship with Vanessa, she remains the gossip queen of the neighborhood. No-nonsense, she has built a successful business but is being forced out the neighborhood because of the rent hikes.

CarlaIn her mid-twenties, she is

a hairdresser at Daniela’s salon. Born and raised in Queens, she is a pure, sweet, innocent and loving young woman who is devoted to her family and friends though she is easily taken advantage of because of her naivety. She and Daniela are best friends.

Grafiti Pete An18-year old graffiti artist

and the nemesis of Usnavi, he is always hanging out on the streets, dancing to his boom box music, spraying any surface he can. Usnavi is unhappy that Sonny and Graffiti Pete are friends because Graffiti Pete epitomizes everything that Usnavi hopes that Sonny will not grow up to be.

Creative ideas Scenery: Backdrops, hangings, furnishings, and other accessories on a stage that represent the location of a scene. For example: The set designer Anna Louizos' love for New York City — and her eye for detail — helped bring a touch of authenticity to the new Broadway musical, In the Heights. In her neighbourhood-streetscape design of the Washington Heights-set musical, note the battered storefront signage, the stickers on doors, the knobby fireplug, the joyless streetlamp, the general greyness of the canvas. Her set serves as a neutral canvas for the real vibrancy of the world — the people.

Props:A prop is a small object such as a book, weapon etc, used by actors in a play or film. For Example within the Broadway Musical “In the Heights” their could be use of a spray can for the characters of Graffiti Pete to use or different hair products or the dressing table for Daniella to use within her Hair Salon.

Costume:Costume within a production is the different outfits for all the different characters. The costume Designer for In the Heights in Paul Tazewell.

Sound:The Sound Designer is by Acme Sound Partners and Nevin Steinberg. Music: by Lin-Manuel MirandaMusic Director: Alex LacamoireMusic Arranged: Alex Lacamoire and Bill Sherman. Within the Musical there are many different sound effects and also musical numbers throughout.

MY IDEAS!O Abuela Claudia Memorial Graffiti Art. : either a piece of cloth or a plywood board

where either the sheet with drop down or curtains will cover the graffiti art to show the memorial on stage.

Actually Broadway Memorial This I think is very plain

compared to how, I think Manhattans vibrant colour would be so I think I'm going to do mine more colourful and detailed to reflect the atmosphere of Manhattan.

Graffiti

Other Ideas O Dressing table for the hair salon O Boom box as a prop for the

gangster kids to hold