Lin-Manuel Miranda Lands in Manila for the Restaging of IN THE HEIGHTS, 3/16-25

Manila, Philippines, March 14, 2012 – Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator, original leading man (Usnavi), and Tony and Grammy Award-winning composer of the critically-acclaimed Broadway musical In the Heights, just landed in Manila to attend the opening night of Atlantis Productions Inc.'s restaging of In the Heights – its first ever licensed production in Asia, which features an all-Filipino cast – on Friday, March 16 at Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati City.

Miranda, who recently starred in the Encores! production of Stephen Sondheim's musical Merrily We Roll Along at New York City Center, and who is currently working on the Caldwell Theatre Company's revamped production of Stephen Schwartz's musical Working, grew up in Upper Manhattan's mostly-Hispanic neighborhood of Washington Heights.  

"I grew up in Northern Manhattan, and if you've ever even driven through the neighborhood, you know that music comes out of every corner. Salsa horn lines wail from fire escape windows; bachata guitar lines blare from pimped-out car stereos," said Miranda on In the Heights' official website.

Miranda first worked on In the Heights, a musical that presents a portrait of the Hispanic community in Washington Heights, when he was a student at Wesleyan University in Connecticut in 2003.  After four years of development, the show premiered on Off-Broadway's 37 Arts Theatre in 2007.  The production transferred to Broadway's Richard Rogers Theatre in 2008. It was nominated for 13 Tony Awards, and won four: Best Musical, Best Original Score, Best Choreography for Andy Blankenbuehler, and Best Orchestrations for Alex Lacamoire and Bill Sherman. Its original Broadway cast recording also won the Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album in 2008.

In the Philippines, Atlantis Productions' first staging of In the Heights, in September last year, won the Aliw Award for Best Ensemble Cast. Directed by Bobby Garcia, In the Heights' repeat performances will bring back the original, star-studded cast, including Nyoy Volante, Jackie Lou Blanco, Ima Castro, Calvin Millado, Tex Ordonez, K-La Rivera, Felix Rivera, Bibo Reyes, Jimmy Marquez, and Jay Glorioso – who also won an Aliw Award for her performance as Abuela Claudia.

"I'm so thrilled that Lin-Manuel Miranda will be coming to Manila for the opening of the repeat run. It will be an honor for all of us to have him see exceptional Filipino talents take on In the Heights," said Garcia in a previous press statement.  Miranda comes to Manila through a special partnership with Delta Airlines.

Atlantis Productions' In the Heights features choreography by Cecile Martinez, musical direction by Ceejay Javier, set design by Mio Infante, lighting design by Jay Aranda, costume design by Twinkle Zamora, and vocal direction by ManMan Angsico. The audience can expect hip-hop, salsa, soul, and merengue (music and dance from the Dominican Republic) musical numbers from its Tony Award-winning score.

For tickets, call Atlantis Productions at (632) 892-7078 or (632) 840-1187.

Photo by Jennifer Forchelli