Sydney Opera House Announces Lin-Manuel Miranda's IN THE HEIGHTS

This summer, the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall will be transformed into a vibrant Manhattan street corner for the long-awaited Sydney return of In the Heights, the four-time Tony Award-winning musical from one of America's most acclaimed writers and producers, Lin-Manuel Miranda (Moana, Hamilton).

Combining the sounds and rhythms of salsa, soul, hip-hop and merengue with explosive street dance and rap, this revolutionary musical has been a Broadway smash hit since its debut in 2008. Uplifting and energising, In the Heights takes audiences on a journey into the lives of the residents of Washington Heights - a New York City neighbourhood on the brink of change - and in the process poignantly captures what it means to chase your dreams while staying connected to your community.

The characters of Washington Heights grapple with love, lust, identity and ambition - from Usnavi: the first generation Dominican-American kiosk owner facing rising rents and gentrification, to Nina: forced by poverty to drop out of her Ivy-league school, and Benny: the ambitious wannabe entrepreneur. All the while, the promise of a life-changing lottery ticket hangs in the air.

Sydney Opera House Head of Contemporary Performance, Olivia Ansell, says: "In the Heights will thrill audiences this summer. The wit of Lin-Manuel Miranda's lyrics and playful dexterity of a Grammy Award-winning, rap-infused Latin score, together with an all-Australian cast, shows us what a real modern musical should be. This exhilarating production filled with heart, energy and a melting pot of cultures will take over the Concert Hall with enough salsa-fuelled sass to leave you begging for more."

These Sydney Opera House performances as part of Sydney Festival follow a hugely popular sell-out season at the Hayes Theatre Co. earlier this year, which saw tickets disappear before the opening night. Directed by Luke Joslin and produced by Blue Saint Productions in association with Neil Gooding, In the Heights at the Sydney Opera House features a diverse cast of exceptional Australian performers who deliver an exhilarating and moving production.

Featured Artists: Stephen Lopez (Usnavi), Joe Kalou (Benny), Olivia Vasquez (Vanessa) and Luisa Scrofani (Nina).

Performing Company: Marty Alix, Monique Montez, Libby Asciak, Alexander Palacio, Ana Maria Belo, Margi de Ferranti, Richard Valdez, Stephen Tannos, Will Centurion, Michelle Rozario, Samantha Bruzzese, Romina Villafranca, Keanu Gonzales, Romina Villafranca and Dayton Tavares.

Nominated for an impressive 13 Tony Awards in 2008, In the Heights is an unique musical experience that will leave audiences uplifted and tapping their toes.

Contemporary Performance at the Sydney Opera House
Contemporary Performance at the Opera House champions modern storytellers, pop-culture visionaries and work that is bold, entertaining and genre-defying. The program presents the best Australian and international productions spanning theatre, contemporary dance, circus, magic, comedy, musicals and cabaret. It has featured Hannah Gadsby's comedy phenomenon Nanette, the Australian premiere screening of cult Netflix series Stranger Things 2, John Cameron Mitchell's The Origin of Love, award-winning musical such as Assassins, American Idiot, Heathers and Sweet Charity, boundary-breaking Hot Brown Honey, Ballet Preljocaj's contemporary retelling of Snow White and Jakop Ahlbom's chilling production of Horror. Up next is a dazzling dance display from The Tap Pack and opulent and cheeky circus-cabaret in Blanc de Blanc Encore.

Blue Saint Productions

Blue Saint Productions strive toward producing existing theatre pieces and also developing original and unique new works. The company was started in 2014 by Joshua Robson and Damien Bermingham with the hope of creating high quality and professionally operated productions, large and small.

Sydney Festival
Every January, Sydney Festival enlivens Sydney with a city-wide multi-art form cultural celebration. Sydney Festival 2019 takes place 9-27 January and sees Festival Director, Wesley Enoch in his third year with a program of performances across theatre, dance, music, circus and art. Inclusive programming, a broad range of free events and accessible pricing policies for the ticketed shows, means that Sydney Festival is open to all, welcoming both Sydneysiders and visitors alike.

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