Photo Flash: Meet the Cast of Paramount Theatre's IN THE HEIGHTS in Aurora

Aurora's Paramount Theatre will launch its third Broadway subscription series this September with the first local professional staging of In the Heights, one of Broadway's most acclaimed contemporary musicals, a potent reminder of the importance of chasing one's dreams, and the show all of Chicago will be talking about this fall. Performances are September 11 through October 6, 2013. Press opening is Saturday, September 14 at 8 p.m. Scroll down for a first look at the cast!

Conceived and featuring music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, with a book by Pulitzer Prize- winner Quiara Alegría Hudes, In the Heights transports audiences to a Latino enclave on 183rd Street in New York City where family bonds are strong and neighborhood ties are equally as binding. But change is in the air that will impact everyone. In the Heights is a story of dreams and sacrifices, loyalties and love, all taking place in one city block surrounded by millions. The pure energy of the barrio pulses with the poetry of rap, soaring ballads and powerful Latin-inspired grooves resulting in one of the most original scores to hit Broadway in years. In a community on the brink of change, full of hopes and dreams, the biggest struggles can be deciding which traditions you take with you and which you leave In the Heights. Rated PG.

As always, top theater artists from Chicago and all over the country have been tapped to reward Paramount audiences with a breathtaking production of In the Heights. Rachel Rockwell, named "2012 Chicagoan of the Year in Theatre" by the Chicago Tribune, and director of Paramount's wildly acclaimed productions of Hair, Annie and The Music Man, will direct. The cast features Nick Demeris (Usnavi), Paula Scrofano (Abuela Claudia), Lillian Castillo (Carla), Keely Vasquez (Daniela), Ricardo Gutierrez (Kevin), Lucinda Johnston (Camila), Luis Herrera (Sonny), Jonathan Butler-Duplessis (Benny), Caitlainne Rose Gurreri (Vanessa), Christina Nieves (Nina), Kris Santiago (Graffiti Pete) and David Baida (Piragua Guy). Ensemble members are Missy Aguilar, Kasey Alfonso, William Carlos Angulo, Mary Joe Duggan, Courtney Landwerlen, Rachel Marie LaPorte, Eric Lewis, Yando Lopez, Terrance Martin, Tommy Rivera-Vega, Daniel Spagnuolo and Lauren Villegas.

The set is a beauty, a replica of the original Broadway design by Tony nominee Anna Louizos. Tom Vendafreddo (music director/conductor) will lead the Paramount Theatre Orchestra with live, lush renditions of the play's rich musical score. Paramount's In the Heights production team also includes Katie Spelman (choreographer), Elizabeth Flauto (costumes), Jesse Klug (lights), Jeff Dublinske (sound), Sarah Ross (props), DiAnne Morrisette (wigs), Rose Marie Packer (stage manager) and Beth Ellen Spencer (assistant stage manager).

Rachel Rockwell (director) returns to Paramount following her smash hit stagings of The Music Man, Annie and Hair. Her Chicago directing/choreography credits include Xanadu, The Sound of Music (Equity Jeff nomination - Musical and Director), Sweeney Todd (Equity Jeff nomination - Musical and Director), Ragtime (Equity Jeff Awards - Musical and Director), Miss Saigon (Equity Jeff nomination - Musical and Director) and The King and I (Equity Jeff nomination - Choreography) at Drury Lane Oakbrook; 42nd Street (Equity Jeff nomination - Director), A Chorus Line (Equity Jeff nomination - Choreography) and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Equity Jeff nomination - Musical) at Marriott Theatre; Shrek The Musical, Beauty and the Beast, The Emperor's New Clothes and The Adventures of Pinocchio at Chicago Shakespeare Theater; The Taming of the Shrew for Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks; Enron at TimeLine; It's A Wonderful Life, A Live Radio Play and Leaving Iowa at Fox Valley Repertory and John and Jen at Apple Tree. In summer 2014, Rockwell will make her Goodman Theatre directing debut with Brigadoon. No wonder she was named 2012 Chicagoan of the Year in Theatre by the Chicago Tribune and Best Director of 2010 by Chicago Magazine!

Tom Vendafreddo (music director/conductor) makes his Paramount debut with In the Heights. Recent credits include Shrek the Musical (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre), Sweet Charity (Writers' Theatre), The Wedding Singer (Red Mountain Theatre Company), Gifts of the Magi (Porchlight Music Theatre), The Spitfire Grill (Jeff Nomination: Musical and Music Direction - Bohemian Theatre Ensemble), Pump Boys and Dinettes (Metropolis Performing Arts Centre), Into the Woods (Stage 48 Productions) and Urinetown: The Musical (Harper Theatre Ensemble). Other regional credits include Odyssey (Old Globe Theatre), RENT (San Diego Musical Theatre), It's a Wonderful Life: A Radio Play (Cygnet Theatre) and Zanna, Don't! (San Diego State University).

Cast member Nick Demeris (Usnavi), originally from Champaign, is now New York-based and a Hip Hop Shakespeare expert. Multi-Jeff Award winner Paula Scrofano (Abuela Claudia), one of the great stars of Chicago's musical theater scene, appeared in Paramount's My Fair Lady. Keely Vasquez (Daniela) sang with Barry Manilow in Las Vegas and on tour for many years. Ricardo Gutierrez (Kevin) is artistic director and Christina Nieves (Nina) is an ensemble member with Teatro Vista, Chicago's most acclaimed Latino theater company. Caitlainne Rose Gurreri (Vanessa) is a New York musical theater veteran, recently cast in The Online Network's All My Children. Lillian Castillo (Carla) was Jeff Nominated for Best Actress as Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray at Drury Lane Oakbrook. David Baida (Piragua Guy) played the same role on the national tour of In the Heights. Lucinda Johnston (Camila) has performed for Chicago theaters including Stage Left, A Red Orchid, Northlight and American Theatre Company. Luis Herrera (Sonny) has performed at Chicago Shakespeare Theater and Stage 773. Jonathan Butler-Duplessis (Benny) appeared in Paramount's Hair.

Single tickets to In the Heights are on sale for $36.90 to $49.90. For renewals, new subscriptions, single tickets and information, go to ParamountAurora.com, call (630) 896-6666, or visit the Paramount box office Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and 2 hours prior to evening performances.

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