'In The Heights' Movie Seeks Locals To Act As Extras

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, NY — Washington Heights residents will have the chance to earn some screen time in the upcoming film adaptation of the musical "In the Heights."

The Grant Wilfley casting agency will hold a casting call for extras in Washington Heights on June 1 at West 187th Street and Wadsworth Avenue, the agency recently announced. The agency is seeking local actors (union membership not required) to play the parts of Washington Heights residents.

According to the casting notice, roles include:

• Latino Washington Heights neighbors;
• Latinos in bathing suits at the pool (must be able to swim or be comfortable standing in 4 feet of water);
• Latino club goers dancing salsa (20s-30s with no professional dance experience required);
• Latino and African American basketball players (20s-30s);
• Latino and African American soccer players (20s-30s);

The "In The Heights" movie will be shot within the Washington Heights from June to September. Specific filming locations were not announced. Actors who can't make it to the June 1 casting event should send an email including their name, union status (SAG-AFTRA or NonUnion), phone number, and current/recent photos to theheights@gwcnyc.com.

The film is an adaptation of neighborhood native Lin-Manuel Miranda's Broadway musical that earned him national prominence when it won the 2008 Tony Award for best musical. Miranda, who wrote the musical's songs and also starred in the lead role, was nominated for best actor.

The musical adaptation will star Miranda's frequent collaborator Anthony Ramos as well as Mexican actress Melissa Barrera, singer Leslie Grace and "Straight Outta Compton" start Corey Hawkins. Olga Merediz, a cast member in the original Broadway musical, will reprise her role for the movie.

Hollywood studio Warner Bros. set a summer of 2020 release date for the adaptation after acquiring its rights from the disgraced Weinstein Company in May 2018, Variety first reported. The movie has been in the works for many years and the musical's book writer Quiara Alegría Hudes is attached as the screenwriter, according to the report.