Arielle Jacobs, JJ Caruncho, Shea Gomez and More Tapped for IN THE HEIGHTS at Virginia Rep; Cast Announced!

Virginia Repertory Theatre announces the opening of In the Heights on Friday June 23, 2017 at the November Theatre/Arenstein Stage, 114 West Broad Street. The show will run through July 30, 2017. Previews will run for two nights on Wednesday, June 21 and Thursday, June 22, 2017.

With a book by Quiara Alegría Hudes and music and lyrics by Hamilton creator, Lin-Manuel Miranda, this groundbreaking musical features spirited characters, pulsing choreography, and an award-winning Latin hip-hop-infused score. Celebrating the vibrant, largely Hispanic neighborhood of New York's Washington Heights, In the Heights won 4 Tony Awards in 2008, including Best Musical, and was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2009.

Virginia Rep is remounting the original Broadway design, by Anna Louizos, created for the Richard Rodgers Theatre in 2008. Louizos has numerous Broadway credits including School of Rock: The Musical, Dames At Sea, It Shoulda Been You, Honeymoon In Vegas, Cinderella, The Performers, Irving Berlin's White Christmas, and Avenue Q.

Choreographer, Karla Garcia, comes to Richmond from New York, where she is currently in the Broadway cast of Hamilton. Other Broadway performing credits include Hot Feet, and the revivals of West Side Story and Gigi. Garcia was a top finalist on So You Think You Can Dance Season 5 and a principal dancer in NBC's Smash Season 2.

Arielle Jacobs returns to In the Heights in the role of Vanessa after starring as Nina in the Broadway production with Lin-Manuel Miranda and in the first national tour. She recently starred as Jasmine in the original Australian company of Disney's Broadway hit musical Aladdin. Other credits include Nessarose in Wicked on Broadway and the first national tour of High School Musical.

Virginia Rep Artistic Director, Nathaniel Shaw, will direct his second show of Virginia Rep's 2016/17 season, following the success of the World Premiere production of The End of War and last season's Peter and the Starcatcher. Shaw previously served as Artistic Director for The Active Theatre and Associate Choreographer for both the Broadway and First National Tour of Once.

Ben Miller will serve as Music Director. Recent music directing credits include A Christmas Story and The Color Purple for Virginia Rep.

Joe Doran will serve as lighting designer. Recent credits include Assistant Lighting Designer for Doctor Zhivago and Magic/Bird on Broadway and Lighting Designer for the National Tours of Joseph... Dreamcoat, Anything Goes, West Side Story, Flashdance the Musical, In the Heights. Recent Virginia Rep credits include A Christmas Story and Dreamgirls. Virginia Rep's Assistant Costume Director, Sarah Grady, will design costumes. Her work was last seen in the summer hit musical, Dreamgirls, at Virginia Rep.

JJ Caruncho makes his Virginia Rep debut as Usnavi, a role he has played at New Hazlett in Pittsburgh. Other credits include the title role in Hamlet in London & Stratford Upon Avon, The Dreamer in The Suicide Notes, Arnold Wiggins in The Boys Next Door, and Bond in the indie film Shaken.

Shea Gomez makes her Virginia Rep debut in the role of Nina. Recent credits include the National Tour of Joseph...Dreamcoat (directed and choreographed by Andy Blankenbuehler), Moisés Kaufman's Carmen at Tectonic Theatre Project, iLLA at the New York Musical Theatre Festival, Clubland at ART and original cast of Sam Willmott's Standardized Testing: The Musical.

Josh Marin returns to the Virginia Rep stage as Benny after most recently appearing in Buffalo Soldier, The Color Purple, and Violet, a co-production with Cadence Theatre Company.

Vilma Gill (Beehive and Swingtime Cantina for Virginia Rep) returns in the role of Camilla Rosario.

The full cast and creative lists are below!

For tickets, contact the Box Office at 804-282-2620 or go online at www.virginiarep.org. Full Price Tickets: $48 - $60. Discounted Group Rates and Rush tickets available. U-Tix for college and high school students $15. Available by phone or in person, day of show only. Valid Student ID required.

Performance Schedule: Evening performances at 7:00 p.m. on select Wednesdays and every Thursday; Evening performances at 8:00 p.m. every Friday and Saturday; Matinee performances at 2:00 p.m. on select Wednesdays and Saturdays and every Sunday.

The Sara Belle and Neil November Theatre is equipped with a state-of the-art induction loop hearing system that is compatible with all telecoil-equipped hearing aids and cochlear implants. A handheld receiver and headphone system is also available free of charge for anyone who is hearing impaired.

Valet parking is available for $8 at all performances and free self-park is available for patrons within blocks of the theatre. Valet is complimentary for patrons who dine at Max's on Broad, before or after the show.

Direction & Design:

Director Nathaniel Shaw

Choreographer Karla Garcia

Music Director Ben Miller

Set Designer Anna Louizos

Lighting Designer Joe Doran+

Sound Designer Derek Dumais

Costume Designer Sarah Grady

Associate Director Kikau Alvaro

Associate Music Director Carson Eubank

Production Stage Manager Christi B. Spann*

Asst. Stage Manager Luke Robinson*

Cast List:

Usnavi JJ Caruncho*

Vanessa Arielle Jacobs*

Nina Shea Gomez

Benny Josh Marin*

Kevin Rosario TBA

Camilla Rosario Vilma Gill

Carla Kita Grayson

Daniela Melissa Vasquez Cartwright

Abuela Yvonne Strumecki*

Sonny James Schoppe

Piragua Guy Fernando Rivadeneira

Graffiti Pete Roberto Whitaker

Ensemble LaWanda Raines, Dia Davis, Makenzie Mercer, Diontey Michael, Joshua James Crawford, Alana Thomas, Savannah George, Ira White, Edgar Cavazos, Gabi Campo

* Member of Actors' Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the U.S.A.

+ Member of USA United Scenic Artists: local 829

Virginia Repertory Theatre is the regional professional theatre in Richmond, Virginia. With a budget of $5 million, four distinct venues, an educational touring arm, and an annual audience over 530,000, Virginia Rep is one of the largest performing arts organizations in Central Virginia. Virginia Rep stages four seasons annually: the Signature Season at the Sara Belle and Neil November Theatre, Theatre Gym Season in partnership with Cadence Theatre Company, Virginia Rep's Children's Season at Willow Lawn, and the Hanover Tavern Season.

To post a comment, you must register and login.