Who Played Vanessa in In the Heights

Vanessa is a role in In the Heights, a musical that opened Washington, DC (Regional) in 2018.

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s first Broadway musical tells the story of a vibrant community on the brink of change in New York’s Washington Heights neighborhood. The windows are always open, the breeze carries the rhythm of three generations of music, and the biggest struggles can be deciding which traditions you take, and which ones you leave behind. In the Heights won Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Score, Best Choreography, and Best Orchestrations. Music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda; book by Quiara Alegria Hudes. Returning to the Kennedy Center following her turn in the pre-Broadway production of Gigi, Vanessa Hudgens, will take on the role of Vanessa, with newcomer Joshua Grosso as Usnavi, Ana Villafane (On Your Feet!) as Nina, local D.C. actor Mateo Ferro as Sonny, Eden Espinosa (Wicked) as Daniela, J. Quinton Johnson (Hamilton) as Benny, original Broadway cast member Blanca Camacho as Camila, Saundra Santiago (Nine) as Abuela Claudia, Broadway cast member Rick Negron returning to the role of Kevin, Virgil Gadson (After Midnight) as Graffiti Pete, Arianna Rosario (On Your Feet!) as Carla, and original Broadway cast member Eliseo Roman reprising the role of Piragua Guy. The production is directed and choreographed by Stephanie Klemons, who recently choreographed the NFL Super Bowl ad featuring Eli Manning and Odell Beckham Jr. An In the Heights original Broadway cast member and Assistant Dance Captain, Klemons has a long history with Miranda’s work, having gone on to serve as Associate Choreographer for both Hamilton and Bring it On.