Hodges and Hodges Set the Stage for IN THE HEIGHTS

Hodges and Hodges Set The Stage for In The Heights!

Broadway San Jose is bringing a Broadway sensation to the Bay Area.  Winner of four Tony Awards including Best Musical, In The Heights is a magnificent new show about chasing your dreams and finding your true home. Playing April 17 - April 22, In The Heights shows us what it is to live in a urban neighborhood and the drive it takes to survive and thrive.

Nueva York’s Washington Heights

Away at college and homesick, Lin-Manuel Miranda dreamed of the tastes, textures and sounds of his Washington Heights neighborhood.  Located in the borough of Brooklyn, the neighborhood seemed like a place you only wanted to leave, but Miranda found himself longing for it and so he wrote songs about it.  And he kept writing and slowly In the Heights took shape and then it got legs that took the show all the way to Broadway.  In short, the musical tells the universal story of a community 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.  In The Heights is a musical about the importance of home, family and finding where you belong.  Experience the next chapter of the classic American musical and find out what it takes to make a living, what it costs to have a dream, and what it means to be home . . . In The Heights.

What to watch for – from Nick:

In The Heights is a story about an urban neighborhood where poverty goes hand in hand with family, love and community.  Although some may truly understand what that kind of life is like, a theatrically authentic portrayal of that urban life can be a little hard to pull off when you are singing and dancing.  I will be looking for the authenticity that comes with an urban background.

What to watch for – from Linda:

The lyrics for this show come in English, with a little bit of Spanish - and at “rap” speed.  A lot of the enjoyment of the show will depend on a very simple thing – the ability to hear it.  Listen for sound design that’s crystal clear, and balanced between instrumentation and vocal mics.  Let the rhythms wash over you and allow the barrio beats -- and the swinging feet of the performers -- to become a part of you.  In this nation of immigrants, In The Heights is a very all-American story.  Watch for the musical to bring up lots of memories of your own family’s history.

Explore the Neighborhood –

Usnavi is the central character of the show.  He’s the owner of a ‘bodega,’ which is a combination grocery story and coffee shop.  Visit Delmas Market in San Jose and while you’re there, pick up a lottery ticket (featured in the show) and dream for short while of what you’d do with the money.  Don’t forget to view the stunning graffiti mural on the side of the building! Delmas Market, 101 Delmas Ave, San Jose, CA 95110.  http://www.sharkspage.com/?p=659

Visit Stanford University where character Nina Rosario goes to school.  Take an architectural history walking tour of the School of Medicine. The tour traces the school's history from 1850s San Francisco to present-day Palo Alto, and highlights some of the artistic and design choices that have resulted in the school's current built environment. Tours begin at the flagpole. http://events.stanford.edu/byCategory/15/

Shake your booty Latin Style.  Merengue is practically the official dance of the Dominican Republic and salsa dancing is loved all over the Latin world – including San Jose.  Take a few lessons before you see the show at Alberto’s Salsa Studio and Nightclub.  On Friday nights you can learn to Salsa, Bachata or Merengue with the best of them!  If nothing else, you’ll walk away with a newfound appreciation for the energy it takes to perform these intricate moves!  http://www.albertos.com/salsa

Craving a taste of the Caribbean? Check out San Jose’s Island Grill and Bamboo Lounge.  It’s a Caribbean style restaurant that provides an ambiance of the tropics. The "shack" bar, waterfall and bamboo ceiling make for an experience of being on vacation! Live entertainment begins at 9pm Wednesday through Saturday. Call to find out who´s playing and enjoy!  www.theislandgrill.com/

Try Cuban and Brazilian dishes at Los Cubanos located at 22 North Almaden in San Jose.  They serve a delightful mix of traditional Cuban food and the best of the best in Brazilian cuisine.  http://www.loscubanosrestaurant.com/

Add some ‘Height’ (or at least highlights) to your Hair.  On the day of the performance, get your hair done at a Beauty Shop like Daniela’s salon in In the Heights.  Visit Cristina Barrolaza, a Dominican Republic trained hair stylist who has been around the business of hair for most of her adult life.  Her passion for hair started in 1990 when her education first began at Miss Kay Beauty School.  Training there gave Cristina the unique opportunity to work on ethnic hair of many different textures and types. Call Cristina for an appointment at 415-459-1888 or visit www.Hairbycristina.weebly.com.

In The Heights
April 17-22, 2012
Book by Quiara Alegría Hudes
Music and Lyrics by Lin Manuel Miranda
Broadway San Jose
www.broadwaysanjose

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