Theatres Begin Season Together with 'In the Heights'

From the Olney Theatre Center: Olney Theatre Center and Round House Theatre begin their 2017-18 seasons with a co-production of the Broadway hit that paved-the-way for Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights. Miranda won his first Tony Award for Best Original Score for his music and lyrics and the book by Quiara Alegría Hudes was similarly nominated for a Tony. Robin De Jesús, who was also nominated for a Tony Award for his portrayal of Sonny in that original Broadway production, heads the company of the Olney/Round House production, assuming the role of the older cousin and Lin-Manuel Miranda alter-ego, Usnavi. The production runs September 6 — October 8, 2017 at Olney Theatre Center on its Mainstage.

Serving as both director and choreographer is Marcos Santana, who was last at Olney as the Associate Choreographer for Sergio Trujillo on the Helen Hayes Award-nominated Carmen: An Afro-Cuban Jazz Musical. Santana served the same role for Trujillo on the Broadway production of On Your Feet as well as acting as Associate Choreographer for Steven Hoggett and Kelly Devine on the Broadway adaptation of Rocky. As an actor, Santana has been a member of several Broadway ensembles including On Your Feet, In the Heights and Guys and Dolls where he also served as Dance Captain. Originally from Puerto Rico, he began his dance career at age 18 on his native Island where he trained in Jazz, Ballet, Contemporary, Modern, and Latin.

Starring as Usnavi is Robin De Jesús, who in addition to his Tony nomination for his portrayal of Sonny in the original Broadway production of In the Heights, earned an additional Tony nod in 2010 for Featured Actor in a Musical for playing Jacob in the revival of La Cage Aux Folles. He most recently played Boq on the National Tour of Wicked, a role he also played in the Broadway run. De Jesús is best known in some circles for his debut performance in the cult-favorite independent musical film Camp (2003). Playing opposite De Jesús as his love-interest Vanessa, is Linedy Genao, who comes to In the Heights following her professional debut in the original ensemble of the Broadway hit On Your Feet where she understudied the role of Gloria Estefan. Mili Diaz takes on the role of Nina, the neighborhood prodigy, who has returned home, ashamed of flunking-out of Stanford. Marquise White plays Benny, who still carries a torch for Nina while also working at her parents’ taxicab dispatch company. Rayanne Gonzales (recently seen as Emma Goldman in Ford’s Theatre’s Ragtime) plays neighborhood matriarch Abuela Claudia while Natascia Diaz (recently Mary Magdalene in Signature Theatre’s Jesus Christ Superstar) plays Daniela, the neighborhood gossip and Vanessa’s boss at the local salon. Michael J. Mainwaring returns to Olney (Toby in Sweeney Todd) to play Sonny, the role originated by Robin De Jesús. Danny Bolero (another veteran of the Broadway company of In the Heights) and Vilma Gil (also Camila in Virginia Rep’s production of In the Heights) play Nina’s parents, Kevin and Camila, the cash-strapped owners of the local cab company. Juan Drigo Ricafort who plays Graffiti Pete has performed regionally as well as in Daveed Diggs and Rafael Casal’s #Bars workshop at the Public Theatre. Olney-favorite, Tobias A. Young (Nicely Nicely in Guys and Dolls) joins the ensemble to play the Piragua Guy.

Rounding out the 21-member company in the ensemble are Scean Aaron, Eunice Bae, Sharlane Conner, Andre Hinds, Jesse Jones, Ashleigh King, Rebecca Kritzer and Melissa Victor.

Olney Theatre Associate Artistic Director Christopher Youstra, fresh from the summer hit of My Fair Lady, will serve as Music Director. Olney veteran Milagros Ponce de León (Sweeney Todd, Carousel, Once on this Island) returns to design sets, while New York-based Cory Pattak (New World Stage’s Stalking the Bogeyman) designs lights. Frank Labovitz (Wig Out! at Studio Theatre) designs costumes and Matt Rowe (also part of the My Fair Lady team) is the sound designer. New York casting is provided by Pat McCorkle, CSA and McCorkle Casting Ltd.

In the Heights

• Music and Lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda
• Book by Quiara Alegría Hudes
• Music Direction by Christopher Youstra
• Directed and Choreographed by Marcos Santana
• September 6 - October 8, 2017

Regular performances are Wednesday-Saturday at 8:00 pm; matinees on Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 pm; Wednesday matinees on September 13 and 27 at 2:00 pm. There are special performances on Monday, September 18 at 8:00 pm and Sunday, October 8 at 7:00 pm. There is no Saturday matinee performance on September 9.

There will be an Audio-described performance for the blind and visually impaired on September 20 at 8:00 pm. There will be a Sign-interpreted performance on September 28 at 8:00 pm.

Tickets begin at $47. Discounts available for groups, seniors, military and students.

Afterwords discussions will occur after various Saturday matinee performances.

Located just north of Washington, D.C. in arts-rich Montgomery County, Maryland, Olney Theatre Center offers a diverse array of over 300 professional productions year-round. It is situated on 14 wooded acres in the heart of the beautiful Washington-Baltimore-Frederick "triangle," within easy access to all three cities, and is also home to National Players, America's longest-running touring company. Olney Theatre Center is led by Artistic Director Jason Loewith and Managing Director Debbie Ellinghaus. For more information, please visit olneytheatre.org.

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