April 6, 2017

DIAMOND BAR, CA--The Diamond Bar High School Theater Company opens up its spring season with the performance of the musical In the Heights with music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda and book by Quiara Algeria Hudes.

In the Heights is showing April 20- 22 and April 27-29 at 7 p.m. in the school’s theater.

Tickets are $18 for adults and $15 for students and may be purchased online at seatyourself.biz/dbhsdrama.

A special $2 discount is available for opening weekend presale tickets purchased on or before April 15. This discount is available only by contacting theatre director Beatrice Casagran at [email protected].

In the Heights, takes a course of three days in Washington Heights, a largely Dominican neighborhood in New York. The musical revolves around various characters who are struggling with internal and external conflicts relating to the immigrant experience in America. Usnavi is a bodega owner who is infatuated with a beautiful girl named Vanessa, who works next-door in a hair salon and yearns to leave the “barrio” for the lures of more affluent areas of the city. 

With an energetic, electrifying score featuring Latin rhythms, spoken word, and soulful ballads, In the Heights gives a new and challenging opportunity for the DBHS Grammy Award winning orchestra to display the talent of its students who rise to the occasion with impressive performances by their brass and rhythm sections under music director Steve Acciani. 

Lin Manuel Miranda’s first musical also challenges DBHS actors many of whom have had to learn Spanish for the show.  Others have expanded their dance skills in this kinetic production. 

“I never thought of myself as a dancer.  I’m primarily an actor.  But this show has so much amazing choreography throughout and working with Michael Rodriguez has been wonderful.  We’ve all learned to express ourselves through movement as well as through words.  Music is such an important part of the Latin communities and it unites people in immigrant neighborhoods,” explained senior Julianna King. 

“I chose this show because I feel it speaks eloquently about the American Dream and of the historical and continuing experience of immigrants who come here in search of a better life and work hard to provide a better life for the next generation” Casagran stated.

Shown:

Diamond Bar High School will stage “In the Heights” on April 20,21, 22,27, 28, and 29. Tickets are available at seatyourself.biz/dbhsdrama.