Pioneer Theatre Company continues its popular "Concert Version" series with Lin-Manuel Miranda's In the Heights, running for three performances only, March 16 & March 17, 2018, at Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre. Before there was Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda won his first Tony Award for Best Musical with this innovative, uplifting and joyous story depicting life in Washington Heights, New York.
A run of In the Heights on our main stage in 2012 introduced many in our audience to Miranda for the first time.
What is a "Concert Version"? This is the entire show, fully cast, minimal set, with scripts-in-hand and an on-stage orchestra. The concert's Equity cast includes Enrique Acevedo, MELISSA BLATHERWICK, Carleton Bluford, LATOYA CAMERON, Ariana Escalante, David Guy Holmes, DIEGO KLOCK-PÉREZ, Tito Livas, JAYNE LUKE, TOMAS JOAQUIN MATOS and Christopher Michael McLamb.
Diego Klock-Pérez Plays Usnavi, The Musical's Lead Dreamer. Klock-pérez's Credits Include Oscar In The Odd Couple, Jacob In La Cage Aux Folles And Zach In A Chorus Line At Summer Repertory Theatre, As Well As Usnavi At Numerous Theatres Across The Country.
Enrique Acevedo returns for his fourth PTC production, as Kevin Rosario. Previously, he has been seen in Paint Your Wagon, Man of La Mancha and West Side Story. Off-Broadway, he has performed in Giantden, The Countess of Storyville, Zapata! The Musical, Zorba, Latin Heat and Petunia.
MELISSA BLATHERWICK plays Camila Rosario in her PTC debut. Some of her regional credits include In the Heights, Suessical, Crazy for You, Damn Yankees and 42nd Street.
Carleton Bluford, a Utah native, returns to the PTC stage as Benny after It Happened One Christmas, The Count of Monte Cristo, The Rocky Horror Show, In the Heights (Graffiti Pete) and the Play-by-Play reading of Alabama Story. His other Utah credits include work with Plan-B Theatre Company, the Egyptian Theatre, Hale Centre Theatre and Salt Lake Acting Company. Recently, he has played the role of Benny for the Moonlight Amphitheater and Musical Theatre West.
LATOYA CAMERON, returning to PTC in the role of Daniela, has appeared in PTC's Rent, Elf - The Musical, The Rocky Horror Show (2014 and 2015), The Music Man and the Play-by-Play reading of Mr. Wheeler's. Regionally, she has also worked with Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Salt Lake Acting Company, Good Company Theatre and others.
Ariana Escalante returns to play Vanessa. She last performed at PTC in the main stage production of In the Heights and has since performed in venues throughout the U.S. Now based in Los Angeles, she is also frequently seen in television shows on ABC, Bravo, CBS and NBC.
JAYNE LUKE has worked with PTC for 30 years, last appearing in The Producers and is returning to PTC as Abuela Claudia. Previous roles in Utah include Amanda in The Glass Menagerie, Carrie Watts in Trip to Bountiful, Grandma Addams in The Addams Family, Kimberly in Kimberly Akimbo and Daisy in Driving Miss Daisy.
University of Utah student MICKI MARTINEZ makes her PTC debut as Nina Rosario. She is currently studying in the Musical Theatre Program, and most recently appeared in the U.S. Premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Beautiful Game.
TOMAS JOAQUIN MATOS was last seen as Elmer in December's Newsies and returns as Sonny in his first Equity role. He will also performing in the upcoming Mamma Mia!. His other credits include Miss Understanding in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Bernardo in West Side Story, Angel in Rent and Lumière in Beauty and the Beast.
Christopher Michael McLamb plays Piragua Guy in his first PTC production. Off-Broadway, he has appeared in Ragtime on Ellis Island, Welcome to Saudi Arabia, A.W.O.L. and Trouble in Shameland. He has worked extensively in regional theatres, including the Fulton Opera House, where he also played Piragua Guy.
MILA SANTOS, also a student in the MTP program, plays Carla in her PTC debut. She can also be seen in the University Theatre Department's upcoming production of Our Country's Good this April.
The ensemble is completed by Equity actors David Guy Holmes and Tito Livas, as well as ISMAEL "IZZY" ARRIETA, LANCE BARKER, Ashley Gardner CARLSON, MONICA GOFF, SKY KAWAI, MARY C. NIKOLS.
Pioneer Theatre Company Artistic Director Karen Azenberg directs and choreographs this production. Azenberg is in her sixth year as Artistic Director and directed the Regional Premiere of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time to open the 2017-2018 season. Last season, she directed Sting's The Last Ship, Oliver!, Women in Jeopardy! and Chess. Originally from New York, Azenberg's work there includes Lyrics and Lyricists (92nd St. Y), Blocks (a collaboration with Jonathan Larson), Prom Queens Unchained and choreography for Richard Greenberg's The Dazzle (Roundabout).
Helen Gregory, musical director, returns to PTC for her ninth production. Previously at PTC, she has been involved with Rent, In the Heights, Something's Afoot, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, The Rocky Horror Show (2014 and 2015), Fiddler on the Roof and The Last Ship. Off-Broadway, she has worked with Vineyard Theatre, The Public Theater and NY Theatre Workshop. Regional theatres include Asolo Repertory Theatre, Paper Mill Playhouse, Laguna Playhouse and others.
Lenny Daniel returns as associate director/choreographer after Newsies and numerous other PTC productions. His credits include choreographing for Utah Shakespeare Festival, Geva Theatre Center and Arkansas Repertory Theatre, and he has also appeared as an actor on Broadway in productions such as Cats and The Wizard of Oz.
Costume designer BRENDA VAN DER WIEL designs for the production. A member of the design faculty at the University of Utah and head of the Peforming Arts Design Program, she has designed numerous shows for PTC, including last season's Fences and Chess. Some of her favorite PTC projects are Outside Mullingar, Alabama Story, Rent, Emma and A Christmas Story. In addition to her work here and at the university, she has designed for the Alabama and Utah Shakespeare Festivals.
Lighting design is by Kirk Bookman. Bookman's New York credits include Charles Busch's The Tribute Artist and The Divine Sister. He most recently designed at PTC for Newsies and will also be designing the upcoming production of Twelfth Night.
Sound design is by PTC resident designer KATE WECKER. Hair and makeup design is by PTC resident designer AMANDA FRENCH.
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