Producers Kevin McCollum, Jeffrey Seller and Jill Furman announced today that the off-Broadway production of In the Heights, a new musical playing at 37 Arts, will move to Broadway during the 2007-2008 season at a theatre to be announced. The new musical will play its final performance Off-Broadway at 37 Arts (450 West 37th Street) on Sunday, July 15, 2007.
With music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda and a book by Quiara Alegria Hudes, In the Heights is directed by Thomas Kail and choreographed by Andy Blankenbuehler. Alex Lacamoire is music director and music arrangements are by Alex Lacamoire and Bill Sherman. Lin-Manuel Miranda also stars in the role of Usnavi. Full casting for the Broadway production will be confirmed at a later date.
"When we began previewing In the Heights Off-Broadway at 37 Arts in January, we had a show we were proud of and loved. Over the past six months we have had the luxury of time to gain insight to what needs to be done to move In the Heights to the next step, which will be Broadway. Since Lin-Manuel Miranda both stars in In the Heights and is the composer and lyricist, we have elected to close the show so our full creative team will have the timeto do the work that now needs to be done. In essence our engagement at 37 Arts can be considered our six month out of town, in town, tryout," said Kevin McCollum.
"Of all the shows we've been involved with In the Heights attracts the widest audience-parents are bringing their children, schools are buying out entire houses at matinees and senior citizens are coming and connecting to the show as well. Time will only tell how deep our audiences are, but judging by our experience we think they're pretty wide. Here's a show that has attracted everyone from the hard-to-get Latino audience to the essential Jewish audience. Playing in a Broadway house will mean we can offer ticket prices that virtually anyone can afford," said Jeffrey Seller.
"In the Heights is a quintessential New York musical about a vibrant and tight-knit community at the top of the island of Manhattan. The music pulses with the hopes and dreams of three generations as they struggle to forge an identity in a neighborhood on the brink of transition," as described in press notes.
At the final performance off-Broadway, In the Heights will have played 33 preview and 181 regular performances. Through Sunday, July 15, 2007, the show will play the following performance schedule: Tuesday through Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 7pm, with matinees Saturday and Sunday at 2pm. Please note that 2pm matinees have been added on Wednesday, May 30, Wednesday, June 6 and Wednesday, July 11. There will be no performances Thursday, May 31 at 8pm, Tuesday, June 5 at 8pm and Wednesday, July 11 at 8pm. Tickets may be purchased at Ticketmaster.com (212-307-4100), and are also available at the 37 Arts Box Office (450 West 37th Street).
For more information, please visit us at www.intheheightsthemusical.com.
Photo by Joan Marcus - Robin de Jesus and Lin-Manuel Miranda
