In The Heights at the HOTA Gold Coast

12th Sept-21st Sept

Dr Gemma Regan

Forget Hamilton, the fantastic In The Heights by Lin-Manuel Miranda is the MUST-SEE SHOW!

We all know of the smash-hit success of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton and his involvement with the soundtrack of Moana, but many have not had the opportunity to see his first hit, In The Heights, the four-time Tony Award-winning musical, which is now showing exclusively at the HOTA on the Gold Coast. 

JRP Australia have gathered a fantastic cast of all-rounders who sing, act and twerk to the fabulous Latino rhythms from a fabulous live band. Miranda’s inaugural 2008 smash hit musical is set in the Latin ghetto of New York’s Washington Heights, following the desires and sorrows of a vibrant mixed Latino community. 

It oozes with the passion and vigour of Miranda’s childhood, with music that will have you gyrating in your seat. His unique combination of hip hop, salsa and cool Latino rhythms, played by an almost all-female band, is amazing. Trumpet soloist Rachael Byrnes is outstanding with exquisite salutations to salsa, with conductor Zara Stanton.

The story follows the lives and dreams of a tight-nit Latino community in Washington Heights, a ghetto of New York. The casting by the award-winning casting director Rhys Velasquez is brilliant, starring a Miranda look-alike and sound-alike, Ryan Gonzalez (Moulin Rouge! The Musical), playing the store owner, Usnavi. Olivia Vásquez (West Side Story) as Vanessa is perfect as the romantic lead. 

Note-worthy mentions are the diminutive but larger than life Richard Valdez as the Piragua seller and Mariah Gonzalez as the bolshy hairdresser, Nina. First Nations actor Ngali Shaw is delightful as the young romantic Benny, and Angela Rosero has a bold and powerful voice hidden in her elderly character as Camila. 

The choreography is outstanding, by Helpmann Award-nominee Amy Campbell, with a large cast popping their stuff in unison for a cool Latino vibe. Mason Brown’s multi-level street set is interesting and colourful with effective lighting effects by Jasmine Rizk, including a great firework scene. 

Director Luke Joslin, another Helpmann Award-nominee, has produced an outstanding MUST-SEE show produced by Joshua Robson. This is a production to match Lin-Manuel Miranda’s and cannot be missed, showing exclusively for only a week at the HOTA on the Gold Coast.