Photo Flash: Jai Rodriguez to Star in IN THE HEIGHTS at SD Rep in August; Cast Announced

San Diego REPertory Theatre (San Diego REP) in partnership with the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts (SCPA) will present "In the Heights" by Quiara Alegrìa Hudes as the first production of the company's 38th season. The Tony and Grammy Award-winning production was conceived by and with music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, and the San Diego REP production is directed by Sam Woodhouse and starring Jai Rodriguez. "In the Heights" is a production Variety Magazine calls "an uncalculated charmer." Previews for "In the Heights" begin Saturday, July 30, 2013. Opening night is Sunday, Aug. 4, 2012 and runs through Sunday, Aug. 25, 2013 on the Lyceum Stage.

San Diego REP's staging of "In the Heights" is the first resident production of the musical in San Diego. It is an exuberant, universal story of a vibrant immigrant community seeking their 21st century version of the American Dream. A 20 piece live orchestra will perform a rich, eclectic score from hip-hop, rap, jazz, pop, salsa, and meringue, with dancing staged by award-winning choreographer, Javier Velasco. "'In the Heights' was selected to open season 38 because we fell in love with the Grammy award winning music with messages of desire, of hope, of ambition, of fear and courage as well as the cultural diversity the musical features," said Sam Woodhouse, co-founder and artistic director, San Diego REP. "Combining Grammy Award winning music sung by a company of more than 30 onstage performers supported by a live orchestra will be thrilling and groundbreaking," said Woodhouse. "Lin-Manuel Miranda said it best: 'Fiddler on the Roof' is in the DNA of 'In the Heights.' 'Fiddler' is about a community where nothing's changed for hundreds of years. 'Heights' is about a community where everything is changing everyday. And if we all come from different communities with our own traditions, what do we take with us, what do we keep?' It's a very powerful piece," continued Woodhouse.

"In the Heights" is set in Washington Heights, the vibrant New York neighborhood on the cusp of change. Over the course of three hot summer days, a diverse group of characters will decide which traditions to take with them and which ones to leave behind. Through songs that carry their hopes, struggles and dreams, Miranda's award-winning music sings about the importance of home, family and to find where you belong.

"In the Heights" is a cleverly crafted mixture of comedy and heart set to a lusty new beat, with Grammy Award-winning music and lyrics, and a book by 2012 Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Hudes. For this production, San Diego REP once again collaborates with the talented dance and theatre students SCPA and a live 20 piece orchestra.

"Jai Rodriguez was cast because his audition was a breath of joy and musicality filled with a giant amount of heart - exactly what this emotionally potent story calls for," said Woodhouse.

Quiara Alegría Hudes is the author of "Water by the Spoonful," winner of the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. "Water by the Spoonful" is the second in a trilogy of plays. The first, "Elliot, A Soldier's Fugue," was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 2007. The third and final installment, "The Happiest Song Plays Last," opened at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago in April 2013.

Hudes wrote the book for the Broadway musical "In the Heights," which received the 2008 Tony Award for Best Musical, a Tony nomination for Best Book of a Musical, and was a 2009 Pulitzer Prize finalist. In its original Off-Broadway incarnation, "In the Heights" won the Lucille Lortel and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best Musical. The touring companies of "In the Heights" have performed at Puerto Rico's Centro Bellas Artes, Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles, and Tokyo's International Forum.

Other works include "Barrio Grrrl!," a children's musical that premiered at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 2009 and toured nationally. "26 Miles" premiered at Atlanta's ALLIANCE THEATRE in 2009 and was published in American Theatre Magazine. "Yemaya's Belly," Hudes' first play, premiered at Portland Stage Company and received The Clauder Prize.

Hudes's honors include the United States Artists Fontanals Fellowship, the Joyce Fellowship at the Goodman Theatre, the Aetna New Voices Fellowship at Hartford Stage, the Roe Green Award at the Cleveland Playhouse, fellowships at Sundance Theater Institute and the O'Neill Theater Center, and a residency at New Dramatists. The City of Philadelphia honored Hudes with a Resolution in 2011 and Mayor Rahm Emmanuel declared April 27, 2013 "Quiara Hudes Day" in Chicago.

After graduating from public school in Philadelphia, Hudes went on to receive a B.A. in music from Yale University and an M.F.A. in playwriting from Brown, where she studied with Paula Vogel.

Woodhouse co-founded San Diego REP with D.W. Jacobs in 1976, and has since served as its Producing and Artistic Director. He has worked as a director, producer, or actor on more than 260 San Diego REP productions. Woodhouse has performed as an actor on the REP stages in The Seafarer, in the title role of King Lear, Proof, Hamlet, and with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra in the title role of Stravinsky's L'Histoire du Soldat. "In the Heights" is Woodhouse's 268th production.

His most recent directorial work with the REP includes: "Federal Jazz Project," "Clybourne Park," "The Exit Interview," "Tortilla Curtain," "The Who's TOMMY," "In the Next Room or the vibrator play," "Superior Donuts," "Hairspray," Boom," "The Three Penny Opera," and "Water & Power." In 2011 he directed "American Night: The Ballad of Juan José" for the Denver Center Theatre Company.

Woodhouse, a San Diego native, is consistently pushing the envelope in production selections to stay true to the mission of San Diego REP, which is to produce intimate, exotic, provocative theatre. Additionally, San Diego REP has produced more productions by Latino playwrights than any other San Diego theatre, and have long fostered specific events and series to create and promote a more inclusive community to celebrate the multiple voices of the region. In 2003, he was awarded the Patté Shiley Award for Lifetime Achievement by KPBS and the prestigious Alonzo Award by the Downtown San Diego Partnership. Woodhouse is the founder of the REP's Calafia Initiative, a multi-disciplinary artistic initiative that brings together unlikely partners to create new works that speak to the future of our bi-national region. In 2005, Woodhouse and Jacobs were honored with the Craig Noel Award by the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle for 30 years of artistic dedication to downtown and diversity.

Velasco is an award-winning director and choreographer, who has a long-standing relationship with San Diego REP, where he directed productions of "Suds," "Cabaret," and "A Christmas Carol;" and choreographed "Zoot Suit (2012)," "The Who's TOMMY," "Great American Trailer Park Musical," "Hairspray," "Threepenny Opera," "Corridos Remix," "Zoot Suit (1997)", and others. He is responsible for the original musical staging and choreography of "Suds" in New York, San Francisco, Toronto and Actors Theatre of Louisville. As artistic director and resident choreographer of San Diego Ballet, he has choreographed more than 80 ballets for the company. His production of "The Toughest Girl Alive" premiered at the New York International Fringe Festival in August of 2011.

Lin-Manuel Miranda is the Tony-winning composer-lyricist of Broadway's "In the Heights." "In the Heights" received four 2008 Tony Awards (including Best Orchestrations, Best Choreography and Best Musical), with Miranda receiving a Tony Award for Best Score, as well as a nomination for Best Leading Actor in a Musical. Off-Broadway, "In the Heights" received nine Drama Desk Nominations (including Best Music, Best Lyrics) and an award for Outstanding Ensemble Performance. "In the Heights" also won the Lucille Lortel Award and Outer Critic's Circle Award for Best Musical. Additionally, Miranda received an Obie Award for Outstanding Music and Lyrics for the show. "In the Heights" also took home a 2009 Grammy Award for its Original Broadway Cast Album. "In the Heights" was also recognized as a Finalist for the 2009 Pulitzer Prize in Drama. As an actor, Miranda received a 2007 Theater World Award for Outstanding Debut Performance, and the 2007 Clarence Derwent Award for Most Promising Male Performance courtesy of Actor's Equity Foundation. He also received the ASCAP Foundation's Richard Rodgers New Horizons Award and is a National Arts Club Medal of Honor recipient. In May 2009, Miranda received the degree of Doctor of Human letters, honoris causa, from Yeshiva University, the youngest recipient of such an honor in the University's 123-year history.

Jai Rodriguez (Usnavi) is an Emmy Award-winning television host and actor. Rodriguez began is career at age 18 when he was cast in the role of "Angel" in the critically acclaimed Broadway musical "RENT." Most recognized for his role in Bravo's culturally groundbreaking series "Queer Eye For The Straight Guy," Rodriguez stood-out on the series as the "Culture Vulture," a youthful and savvy addition to the show's already dynamic cast. Over the years, he has worked regularly as an authority in culture and style with extensive hosting credits, including: "Styleyes Miami" (SiTv), "America's Prom Queen" (ABC Family), "Ultimate Style" (Style Network), two consecutive seasons of "Groomer Has It" (Animal Planet), and "Model Latina" (SiTv). As an actor, Rodriguez has appeared on numerous shows, including: LOGO'S "Rick and Steve," "Nip/Tuck," "How I Met Your Mother," "Bones," "Days of Our Lives," and "GIGANTIC" (TeenNick); however, it was his 2011 tear-jerking performance as transgender "Amanda Knott" on "Harry's Law" that showcased his extraordinary talent as an actor.

Rodriguez is the only male actor who after rising to stardom on a reality TV show has successfully transitioned to a series regular role on a primetime series, "Malibu Country" (ABC). Actors who share the accomplishment include: Jennifer Hudson, Katherine McPhee and NeNe Leakes.

Desmond Newson (Benny) makes his San Diego REP debut in "In the Heights." He has performed across the globe in the South Korean Tour of "Fame: The Musical," and as "Simba" in "The Festival of the Lion King" for Hong Kong Disney, and the lead male vocalist for Tokyo Disney's "The Power of Music." He has also performed background vocals for Interscope recording artist, Beck, The Little Mermaid's Jodie Benson, and Sherie Rene Scott. His regional credits include: "Rent," "Hairspray," "A Chorus Line," "Smokey Joe's Café," and "Five Guys Named Moe." He is a graduate from the UCF Conservatory with a BFA in Musical Theatre and a Minor in Business (Cum Laude).

Danielle Mone' Truitt (Vanessa) is one of those performers who can legitimately be called a triple threat. The Sacramento native makes her mark as an actor, singer and dancer. Truitt returns to San Diego REP for "In the Heights" after a successful run in the west coast premiere of "The Mountaintop" as "Camae." Truitt started her professional acting career in Sacramento performing at regional theatres. Performing in "Neat," "A Raisin in the Sun," "AIDA," "The Music," and more. Shortly after her move to Los Angeles, Truitt joined the cast of the Academy Award nominated animation "The Princess and the Frog," as the video reference for the lead character, "Princess Tiana." Truitt performed the body movements and facial expressions for the Princess character, giving Princess Tiana her persona and essence. She is also starring in the independent feature film "Stolen Moments" and Fox Digital's new feature film "ETXR." In Los Angeles, she can currently be seen in the "For The Record" series at Rockwell Table and Stage.

Chelsea Diggs-Smith (Nina) makes her San Diego Rep debut in the production of "In the Heights." Her most recent credits include "The Bluest Eye" (Mo'olelo/ MoxieTheatre), "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots" and "The Nightingale" (La Jolla Playhouse), "Guys and Dolls" (Lamb's Players Theatre), "The Producers" and "Evita" (Theatre by the Sea), "Amour" and "Taming of the Shrew" (Shenandoah Conservatory). Diggs-Smith has a BFA in Musical Theatre from Shenandoah Conservatory.

Roxanne Carrasco (Camila) performs in her third San Diego REP production as a cast member of "In the Heights." Carrasco's other REP productions include "The Women" and "Real Women Have Curves." Carrasco's other credits include: "Chicago" on Broadway and in the production's first National Tour; "Like Water for Chocolate" workshop at Sundance Theatre Lab at White Oak; "West Side Story" National Tour; International and regional productions of "A Chorus Line"; "The Poet Matador" Broadway Workshop; the pre-Broadway production of "The Mambo Kings"; and as a member of the original cast of "Tommy" (La Jolla Playhouse). Carrasco also has a recurring role on television's "As the World Turns," and has also been in "Law and Order: SVU." Carrasco attends San Diego State University and is currently working on her MFA in Musical Theatre (2014).

Mauricio Mendoza (Kevin) is has completed three seasons as a series regular on Showtime's "Resurrection Blvd.," one season on the series, "Angeles," and a bilingual soap opera, "Hacienda Heights." Additional television and film credits include: "Hearts of Man," "La Sorpresa del Katch," "Confessions of a Gangster," "A Gangster's Word," "La Guapa," "Law and Order Los Angeles," "The Nine Lives of Chole," "Judging Amy," "24," "King of Queens," "NCIS," "Lincoln Heights," "Cold Case," "Days of Our Lives," "Everybody Hates Chris," "Sueños de Fama," and "Blow." Mendoza's selected theatre credits include "Water & Power," "School of the Americas," "Nine," "Into the Woods," "Zoot Suit," "West Side Story," "Man of La Mancha," "Evita," "Much Ado About Nothing," "Taming of the Shrew," "Lalo Guerrero," "Fantasma," "Romeo and Juliet," "Cesar and Ruben." Mendoza often shares the stage with his twin brother Carlos, in "The New Mambo Kings," which they co-created. He is the executive producer on the web series, "Encounters" (www.theofficialencounterswebseries.com) and just completed the film "After School," which he starred in and served as executive producer (www.theafterschoolfilm.com).

Susan Denaker (Abuela) makes her San Diego REP debut. She has performed in both the United States and the United Kingdom, including London's West End Theatre; Mark Taper Forum; Reprise Theatre; Nottingham Playhouse, Edinburgh Royal Lyceum, Scarborough Playhouse, Westport Playhouse and in the British National Tour of "A Winter's Tale." Denaker's film and television credits include: "American Friends"; "Accidental Death of an Anarchist"; "As Time Goes By" with Dame Judi Dench; "Just a Gigolo"; "Me and My Girl" "Royce"; "The Woman He Loved"; and "Passport to Murder." She has voiced more than one hundred audio books and is a classically trained pianist.

Michael Garcia (Sonny) returns to San Diego REP after making his debut as "Rudy Reyna" in "Zoot Suit." He is a proud student of San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts for the last four years. Garcia's credits include "The Yellow Boat," "Scrooge," "Little Shop of Horrors," and "The Wiz," along with working in television and film with some of the industry's leading professionals.

Susanna Peredo Swap (Daniela) returns to San Diego REP in this production of "In the Heights." Peredo has been several REP shows including "Don Quixote," "Zoot Suit (1997)" and four community productions of "La Pastorela." She is a core member of Amigos del REP and has performed several local stages including the Old Globe Theatre, Lambs Players Theatre, Centro Cultural de la Raza, and Mayan Hall Theatre. She studied at the Royal National Theatre in London, and was mentored by local Shakespeare great Jonathan McMurtry. Peredo was an actor and teacher for the Old Globe Theatre's Teatro Meta program for four years and taught at Caroline Thomas' Total Theatre Lab in New York City. She is a professional jazz vocalist, tango dancer, and is currently a host for the television and radio show, "The Talk of San Diego."

Krista Barnes (Carla) graduated from San Diego SCPA in 2012 as a Vocal Arts major. While attending SCPA she sang in the advanced choral ensemble and starred in productions of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," "The King and I," and "Scrooge." She currently attends San Diego State University where she is majoring in Mechanical Engineering and hopes to pursue a career as a Disney Imagineer.

Spencer Smith (Graffiti Pete) has performed professionally on the stage and screen since age eight. He is thrilled to collaborate with his alma mater SCPA in this production of "In The Heights." Last season Spencer returned to San Diego REP portraying "Smiley Torres" in "Zoot Suit." As a performer in his youth, Spencer accumulated a number of television and theater credits, in addition to nationally recognized titles including: U.S National Pro/Am Latin Dance Champion, U.S Junior Swing Dance Champion and U.S. Junior Latin Champion. He continues to perform, choreograph, and teach for a number of distinguished theaters including the San Diego Opera, Los Angeles Opera, San Diego REP, and La Jolla Playhouse to name a few. He earned a BFA in Drama and Dance from the University of California Irvine.

Victor Chan (Piragua Guy) was previously seen at San Diego REP in the productions "The Who's TOMMY," "I Love You, You're Perfect..." and "Celebration Of The Lizard." Additional regional credits include "Chess" (East West Players); "Crush" in "Finding Nemo the Musical" (original cast, Disney Creative Entertainment, cast album on iTunes); "Miss Saigon" (Starlight Theatre); "Rocky Horror Show" (American Stage Theatre Co.); "Moby Dick" (San Diego Opera); and "Les Miserables in Concert" (Theatre South). Film and television credits include: "The Test"; "Platypus: The Musical"; "The Syndicate"; "Assn."; "Bent" (NBC) and "NCIS: Los Angeles."

San Diego REPertory Theatre (San Diego REP) produces intimate, exotic, provocative theatre. We promote a more inclusive community through vivid works that nourish progressive political and social values and celebrate the multiple voices of our region. Founded in 1976, San Diego REPertory Theatre is downtown San Diego's resident theatre, promoting a more inclusive community through work that nourishes progressive political and social values. The company produces and hosts over 300 events and performances year-round on its three stages at the Lyceum Theatre. Since moving to the Lyceum, the REP has produced 39 main stage productions by Latino playwrights, and more than 40 world premieres. The company has received more than 200 awards for artistic excellence from the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle, Patté Theatre Awards, NAACP, BackStage West, Dramalogue, and StageSceneLA. In 2005, the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle presented the REP with the Craig Noel Award "For 30 Years of Artistic Dedication to Downtown and Diversity." San Diego REPertory Theatre feeds the curious soul. To learn more about San Diego REPertory Theatre, to purchase tickets, or make a donation, visit www.sdrep.org. Join us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/sandiegorep) and follow us on Twitter (@SanDiegoREP).