Sarah Marie Dickerson, Joshua Sherman and More Set for Artes de la Rosa's IN THE HEIGHTS, Beg. Tonight

Artes de la Rosa presents the Fort Worth Premiere of the Tony award winning musical, In the Heights. Directed by artistic director Adam Adolfo, the Lin Manuel Miranda musical will run tonight, May 17 - June 9 at The Rose Marine Theatre. Previously announced star, Matthew Ransdell, who will play Usnavi, will be joined by costars Sarah Marie Dickerson as Vanessa, Joshua Sherman as Benny, and Lorens Portalatin as Nina. Also starring as Grafitti Pete is Michael Anthony Sylvester and Rashaun Sibley as Sonny, both of whom are making their Artes de la Rosa debut.

The company includes Pilar Ortiz (Abuela Claudia), Amanda Williams (Daniela), Natalie Coca (Carla), Michael Alonzo (Piagua Guy), Pamela Garcia Langton (Camila) and Martin Antonio Guerra (Kevin). The ensemble features Kevin Acosta, Austin Ray Beck, Jeremy Coca, Jordan Ghanbari, Benicka Grant, Gina Gwozdz, Courtney Harris, Aigner Mathis, Darren McElroy, Addie Morales, Mark Quach, Rebekah Ruiz, Maegan Stewart, and Rashard Turley.

Sarah Dickerson most recently starred as Millie in Thoroughly Modern Millie at Artisan Centre Theatre. Previous credits include High School Musical at Casa Manana and Sunset Boulevard at Greater Lewisville Theatre. She received the Betty Lynn Buckley Award in 2006 for Best Actress. Joshua Sherman most recently was seen on the Rose Marine stage as the General in the political bio-play of Oscar Romero's life, The Fifth Sun which was also seen on stage at the Latino Cultural Center of Dallas. He just stared in the QLive! production of Standing On Ceremony at the WaterTower Theatre Out of the Loop Fringe Festival. Lorens Portalatin is most notably remembered to Artes de la Rosa audiences for starring as the precocious Dora The Explorer in Dora's Pirate Adventure and has been seen throughout the region onstage with Theatre Arlington, Jubilee Theatre, DVA Productions, QLive!, Creative Arts Theatre and School, and Artisan Centre Theatre.

Michael Anthony Sylvester makes his ADLR debut having been seen throughout the DFW metroplex including Dallas Theatre Center's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat with Broadways Liz Mikel and Sydney James Harcourt. Other Regional Credits include Casa Manana productions of Damn Yankees (Starring Richard Kind) The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (Starring Ruta Lee), and the World Premiere of Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer. Rashaun Sibley is currently pursuing his B.F.A in Theatre with an emphasis in Musical Theatre at Texas Christian University being seen on stage at Casa Mañana and the Trinity Shakespeare Festival.

The production will feature musical direction by Kristin Spires who conducts the 9-piece orchestra featuring the original tour orchestration. Production design includes lighting & projections by Aaron Sanchez, costumes by Marcus Lopez, sound by Jordana Abrenica, and choreography by associate director Elise Lavalle. Cheyney Coles stage manages.

The musical, according to earlier press notes, tells the universal story of a vibrant community in New York's Washington Heights neighborhood - a place where the coffee from the corner bodega is light and sweet, the windows are always open and the breeze carries the rhythm of three generations of music. It's a community on the brink of change, full of hopes, dreams and pressures, where the biggest struggles can be deciding which traditions you take with you, and which ones you leave behind. In the Heights is the winner of the 2008 Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Score, Best Choreography and Best Orchestrations. The hip hop infused Latin score features such tunes as "Carnival del Barrio," "Breathe," "No Me Diga" and the title tune, "In the Heights". Production begins tonight, May 17th at the Rose Marine Theater in Fort Worth for a strictly limited 4 week engagement.

In the Heights opens tonight, May 17th and plays Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Sunday Matinees at 2:30 pm through Sunday June 9^th. Opening Night Gala Tickets are $25 which includes the Carnaval del Barrio: Private Gala after Party with the cast, staff, and donors of Artes de la Rosa. General Admission tickets for the rest of the run are $18 for adults and $15 for students and seniors. Tickets will go on sale on in April. For tickets or more information, call the Rose Marine Theater Box Office at (817) 624-8333. Special ticket prices are available for groups of 10 or more. For more information, visit www.artesdelarosa.org.

Artes de la Rosa is dedicated to preserving, promoting, and interpreting the art, lives, and history of Latino culture for all.

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