Theatre In The Park Indoor To Present IN THE HEIGHTS

Before Lin Manuel Miranda's star soared with HAMILTON, he wrote and starred in an amazing musical about community and family called IN THE HEIGHTS. This 2008 Tony-Award winner for Best Musical will be presented by Theatre in the Park INDOOR Oct. 5-21 at the Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center located in Overland Park. This show is rated PG.

"I'm thrilled that we are able to bring this story of family and community to our stage," said Tim Bair, TTIP's Producing Artistic Director.

IN THE HEIGHTS 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 addition to winning the Tony Award for Best Musical, IN THE HEIGHTS grabbed honors for Best Original Score, Best Score and best Choreography.

TTIP's production stars an all-local cast of talented performers under the direction of Bill Christie with music direction by James Levy.

"In this show, we are able to live and breathe life into a strong community of people with a great deal of passion and warmth," Christie said. "It is such an honor to work with a company who cares so deeply about this story and their journey."

In conjunction with IN THE HEIGHTS, TTIP and the Fine Arts Program of Johnson County Park & Recreation District will host an art installation titled "Respira. Just breathe". One of the songs from IN THE HEIGHTS shares the notion of "just breathe" when life gets too stressful. This site-responsive exhibition by the Johnson County Developmental Supports (JCDS) Emerging Artists program, which provides opportunities for individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities to work as artists. This site-responsive exhibit highlights diversity present in the city streets of New York. Through an innovative collaboration with a unique perspective, visitors will see, hear, and feel what it means to finally exhale. A grant from the National Endowment of the Arts supports this exhibit.

The idea for the exhibit came about following a conversation between Bair and JCPRD Fine Arts Coordinator Devin Graham.

"IN THE HEIGHTS is a story of home, family, and finding where you belong...a concept which can be echoed by all who identify as different," Graham said. "We acknowledge these differences in celebration. This musical's story is full of passion and global application. It is my hope that viewers will be inspired to inquire further, ask questions, and consider their role within their own community."

The completed exhibit will be open to the public Oct. 5-Nov. 11. For more details, please visit www.jcprd.com.

Tickets for IN THE HEIGHTS are $16.50 for adults, $14.85 for seniors (60+) and $14.50 children (10 and under). Tickets for Sunday matinee performances are 20 percent off the regular price. Tickets for TTIP INDOOR productions may be purchased online at www.theatreinthepark.org or at the theatre box office the nights/afternoons of performance.

TTIP INDOOR is also the home for Academy productions and the return of holiday favorite, THE HAPPY ELF, a main stage production, running Dec. 7-23. The Winter Academy production this season is ZOMBIE PROM, Dec. 28 & 29; the show is rated PG. Tickets are now available for both productions through the TTIP web site.

A program of the Johnson County Park & Recreation District, Theatre in the Park is the largest outdoor community theater in the country, and has been providing quality theatre entertainment in the community for 49 years!

For more information about TTIP and its productions and programs, please visit www.theatreinthepark.org.

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