GCHS Drama Department presents “In the Heights” Music and Lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Book by Quiara Alegria Hudes, conceived by Lin-Manuel Miranda

Press Release

The GCHS Drama Department will present the musical In the Heights with Music and Lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Book by Quiara Alegria Hudes on November 10^th and 11^th at 7 pm, and November 11^th and 12^th at 2:30 pm in the Garden City High School Auditorium.   Ticket prices are $10 for adults and $5 for students.  Tickets may be purchased at www.gchsdrama.booktix.com, before school in the high school box office from 7:10 am-7:40 am from Nov. 6^th-10^th, or at the door.  The box office opens an hour prior to production.

Synopsis:  IN THE HEIGHTS tells the universal story of a vibrant community in New York’s Washington Heights neighborhood – 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. IN THE HEIGHTS is the winner of the 2008 Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Score, Best Choreography and Best Orchestrations. (www.rnh.com)

Usnavi De La Vega, owner of the local bodega, is played by Johb Silva (sophomore).  Nina Rosario, who has returned home following her freshman year at Stanford University, is Kimberly Loya (senior).  Her parents Kevin Rosario and Camila Rosario are played by Nathan Ayala (sophomore) and Alondra Jurado (senior).  Benny, Usnavi’s best friend who works for the Rosarios, is Colten May (senior).  Sonny, Usnavi’s cousin who works with him at the bodega, is played by Jared Arellano (sophomore).  Sonny and Usnavi’s adopted grandmother Abuela Claudia is played by Elena Lopez (senior).  Next door to Usnavi’s bodega is a salon owned by Daniela.   Daniela is Monica Aguilar (sophomore), and Vanessa and Carla who work at the salon are Alissa Sauseda (senior) and Alondra Fuentes (junior).    Sonny’s friend Graffiti Pete is played by Sefarino Ramirez (freshman), and the local Piraguero is played by Yovani Cruz (junior).  The Ensemble who dance and sing throughout the show are: Seniors- Brissa Acosta, Javier Cervantes, Carolyn Levi, Andrew Oyler, AJ Ramirez, Brenda Resendiz, Lorenz Rincones, Salma Roman, Miguel Soltero, and Jhamel Transfiguracion.  Juniors: Lilia Acosta, Kenzie Britton, Daniel Darter, Yahaira Hernandez, and Darby Schneider.  Sophomores: Rayenah Bergstrom, Sydney Bunch, Luis Jimenez, Karime Loya, Giselle Martinez, Chasidy Miner, Gavin Stimatze, Tammy Truong, and Jessica Wedel. Freshmen:  Jairus Lobmeyer and Maddie Stout.  Five children round out the cast serving as children in the community as well as younger versions of characters in the musical.  They are Daniela Loya (4^th grade), who plays young Nina; Razel Quintero (7^th grade), who plays young Kevin; Ashly Zermeno (5^th grade), who plays young Abuela Claudia; and Ignacio Perez (6^th grade) and Aztlan Quintero (4^th Grade).

Ms. Barbara Hilt is the Director with Ms. Alice Hilt serving as Assistant Director, both teach theatre at GCHS.  Technical Theatre students, under Ms. Barbara Hilt’s leadership, designed and built the sets, lighting, sound, and props. Costume Design students, Alicia Cruz and Angel Grijalva, designed and styled the costumes.  The costume crew is led by Ms. Robyn Hilt (GCHS fashion and interior design teacher).  AJ Ramirez, senior, a graphic design student, taught by Mr. Josh Greenberg, designed the poster.  The pit is led by Mr. Lyle Sobba, GCHS Band teacher. The pit includes many GCHS students, USD #457 faculty members. The Music Director is Ms. Andie Alvarado, 3^rd Grade teacher at Alta Brown; additionally Ms. Alvarado was assisted by Mr. Wyatt Smith (Charles Stone Piano teacher), Miss Olivia Henning and Ms. Misty Baldwin (GCHS vocal music teachers).  Serving as rehearsal accompanist is Mrs. Andi Sobba, 5^th grade teacher at Charles Stones.  The Stage Manager for this production is A. Ramos, senior.

In the Heights will be adjudicated for both Music Theatre of Wichita’s Jester Awards and Kansas Thespians.  Last year GCHS was nominated for 16 Jester Awards for our productions of A Christmas Story: The Musical and The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.  If selected by Kansas Thespians, we will perform In the Heights at Century II in Wichita in January.