Jordin Sparks to Make Broadway Debut in IN THE HEIGHTS Starting August 19

The 2008 Tony and Grammy Award-winning Best Musical In The Heights welcomes 19 Recordings/Jive Records platinum recording artist and 2007 "American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks as Broadway's new Nina Rosario. Making her Broadway debut in In The Heights Thursday, August 19, 2010, 20 year old Jordin Sparks will play a limited 12 week engagement through Sunday, November 14, 2010.

"It's always been one of my dreams to perform on Broadway," says Jordin Sparks. "This is a brand new experience for me. I look so forward to spending time in New York City and joining this talented cast and my favorite new musical."

Jordin Sparks has been performing from a young age and stands alone as the youngest contestant to ever win "American Idol." At the age of 16, she auditioned for the show and within a few months went on to win the hearts of fans and the Idol judges. She has since become a platinum and award winning recording artist. Her self-titled debut album was released in 2007 on 19 Recordings/Jive Records and went on to sell over 1.6 million copies worldwide and produced three Top 5 hits on Billboard's Pop singles chart including: "Tattoo," "No Air," and "One Step At A Time." Cumulatively, these popular singles have sold almost 9 million downloads/ringtones. In addition to winning an American Music Award for Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist and receiving two MTV Video Music Award nominations for Best Female Video and Best New Artist; she earned one of the music industry's highest honors with a 2008 Grammy nomination for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for "No Air." On June 2nd Sparks kicks off The Battlefield Tour, Presented by MIKE AND IKE®. Her sophomore album, Battlefield, contains the album title hit single and the bona-fide dance smash, "S.O.S (Let The Music Play)." In the last three years Jordin has also toured extensively around the world with artists such as Alicia Keys, The Jonas Brothers and Britney Spears. This multi-faceted performer is also known for her philanthropy, which includes her own project, the I'm M.A.D. Are You? campaign as well as other charitable efforts.

Now in its third year at the Richard Rodgers Theatre (226 West 46th Street), In The Heights is the winner of four 2008 Tony Awards including Best Musical. Lin-Manuel Miranda won the 2008 Tony for Best Music and Lyrics, Andy Blankenbuehler won the 2008 Tony for Best Choreography, and Alex Lacamoire and Bill Sherman won the 2008 Tony Award for Best Orchestrations. In The Heights began previews on Broadway Thursday, February 14, 2008, after a six-month award-winning 2007 Off-Broadway run. The musical opened on Broadway to critical acclaim Sunday, March 9, 2008, recouped its $10 million investment in 10 months. With a book by Quiara Alegría Hudes and conceived by Lin-Manuel Miranda, In The Heights is directed by Thomas Kail. Alex Lacamoire is music director and music arrangements are by Alex Lacamoire and Bill Sherman. In The Heights features a scenic design by Anna Louizos, costumes by Paul Tazewell, lighting by Howell Binkley and sound by ACME Sound Partners. In The Heights is produced by Kevin McCollum, Jeffrey Seller, Jill Furman, Sander Jacobs, Robyn Goodman/Walt Grossman, Peter Fine and Sonny Everett/Mike Skipper with associate producers Ruth Hendel and Harold Newman.

In The Heights won the 2008 Grammy Award for Best Original Cast Album. The first national tour of In The Heights launched in October 2009 in Tampa, FL at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center and will travel to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Costa Mesa, Tempe, San Diego and Japan. This past May, In the Heights: Chasing Broadway Dreams premiered on THIRTEEN's Great Performances on PBS HD. IMAGEM MUSIC, the Number #1 independent music publisher in the world, has acquired the worldwide stock and amateur rights to In The Heights. In November, 2008, Universal Pictures acquired the rights to produce a feature film based on In The Heights with filming beginning this summer.

IN THE HEIGHTS stars Corbin Bleu, Andréa Burns, Janet Dacal, David Del Rio, marcy Harriell, Christopher Jackson, Priscilla Lopez, Olga Merediz, Rick Négron, Courtney Reed and William B. Wingfield leading a cast of 28 that features Tony Chiroldes, DWayne Clark, Rosie Lani Fiedelman, Marcus Paul James, Nina Lafarga, Jennifer Locke, Doreen Montalvo, Noah Rivera, Eliseo Román, Gabrielle Ruiz, Luis Salgado, Rickey Tripp, Blanca Camacho, Allison Thomas Lee, Alejandra Reyes, Marcos Santana and Seth Stewart.

In The Heights is 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.

Tickets for In The Heights range from $41.50 to $121.50, and can be purchased at the Richard Rodgers Box Office or at www.ticketmaster.com. The playing schedule for In The Heights is as follows: Tuesdays and Sundays at 7pm, Monday, Wednesdays - Saturdays at 8pm, with matinees Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm.