Completed unit 2 production arts workshop - in the heights (1) (1)
1. In the Heights
By: Lin-Manuel Miranda & Thomas Kail
On Broadway : February 8th 2007 to July
15 2007
2. Synopsis
In the Heights tells the universal story of a
vibrant community in New York’s Washington
Heights neighbourhood- a place 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. It’s a community on the
brink of change, full of hopes, dreams and
pressures, where the biggest struggles can be
deciding which traditions you take with you
and which ones you leave behind.
3. Synopsis: Act 1
O Usnavi introduces all the main characters. Last to appear is
Nina. She struggles at college and readies herself to give
her parents the bad news.
O Nina’s parents seek an emergency loam to keep their
struggling taxi dispatched a float.
O Meanwhile, at the hair salon, Vanessa wants a studio
apartment.
O Nina reveals how she has lost her academic scholarship.
Her dad is devastated. Nina seeks comfort from Vanessa
but nine ends up having a make-over.
O Usnavi discovers he sold a lottery ticket for $96,000.
everyone dreams about what they would do with that
amount of money
O Abuela Claudie reflects on her childhood journey from Cube
to New York in 1943 and reveals to the audience that she
has the winning lottery ticket.
4. O Nina and Benny share romantic feelings.
Kevin sells the car to pay for Ninas tuition.
Vanessa and Usnavi enter a club for their
date whilst attempting to make each other
jealous .
O Entire club breaks out into a huge fight then
the neighbourhood breaks out into chaos
because it looses power.
5. Synopsis: Act 2
O Benny and Nina have spent the night together.
O Abuela Claudie convinces Usnavi they should use their lottery
winnings to move to Usnavi homeland: Dominican Republic.
O Ninas parents find out she’s been with Benny and her dad is furious
and says he can not be part of the family because he is not Latino.
All are frustrated by the extreme heat and the power lost
O Usnavi tells everyone the news of him leaving and they all celebrate
though Vanessa is heartbroken.
O Abuela Claudie suddenly dies
O Daniella closes up her hair salon and decides to help get Vanessa
the apartment
O Vanessa kisses Usnavi then leaves
O Giant memorial graffiti art of Abuela Claudia- he is stunned and
decides to stay- pursue Vanessa and realises this block is his true
home.
6. Contextual Understanding
Geographical Context:
This play is set in vibrant upper Manhatten, a neighbourhood
characterised by it’s predominantly Hispanic population and a lively
mix of cultural traditions as they take shape in the context of life in
New York City where 36% is foreign born. The sights, smells and
sounds came like waves from around the world and settled here.
Washington Heights spans 35 blocks at the northern end of Manhattan
and was originally settled by “old immigrant” populations, primarily
of European descent. A large Jewish community with roots in an
earlier immigrant influx still inhabits the Hudson Heights area. The
dominant population in the neighbourhood today is
Hispanic, comprised largely of Dominicans, but also of other
Spanish speaking populations including Puerto Ricans and Cubans.
The ethnic atmosphere they create here is still very much alive with
the sounds of Merengue, Salsa and conversations in rapid Spanish
mixed with English; the aromas of empanadas and sweet plantains;
and the colourful storefronts of small family-run businesses that line
the streets.
7. Historical Context
O “Old Immigrant” neighbourhoods retain some of their
original character and culture but economy changed in
which small neighbourhoods buisness have way to
corporate entities when the rents becomes to high which
ended in it being a very poor community.
O After WW11 it seemed the whole world was on the
doorstep hoping to escape the post-war economic
hardship.
O Mid-Twentieth century gave way to the “Great Migration”.
O The first Puerto Rican Day was in 1958.
O Today their are roughly 1 million Puerto Ricans living in
New York City.
O Washington Heights is home to the largest concentration
of Dominicans.
O Civil rights movement was in 1960s. And discrimination
was the cause of: lower wages, poor education and
many other issues.
8. Social Context
Immigrant have brought the language of:
music, food, art, beliefs and pride and is
responsible for the vibrant and varied
neighbourhoods around the city.
Phenomenon of Rap and Hip Hop music could
be described as the creation of both language
and art form. Rap and Hip Hop was born in the
1970’s and was called Disco Rap in the early
80’s. Which is a huge influence within this
play. But new technology of time allowed for
more sophisticated musical accompaniment.
9. Main Characters
Usnavi De La Vega:
24 year old owner of De La Vega’s Bodega,
his parents emigrated from the
Dominican Republic and have since
passed away. He lives with Abuela
Claudia (Grandmother Claudia), who
isn’t actually his grandmother but they
are as close as family. Usnavi is in love
with Vanessa and remains the eyes and
ears of his Washington Heights
neighbourhood.
10. Nina Rosario
19 year old Nina has just finished
her freshman year at Stanford
University. She is the daughter
of Kevin and Camilia Rosario.
Nina is the only member of her
family and friends who made it
to college. She is best friends
with Vanessa and a beacon of
hope and inspiration to all who
know her; she represents the
opportunity outside of “the
Heights.”
Kevin Rosario
In his forties and owner of Rosario Car
and Limousine, Kevin is a husband to
Camila and father to Nina. While Kevin
was born and raised in Arecibo, Puerto
Rico, he immigrated to New York City
with Camila. Kevin immediately started
working to provide a better life for his
newly-arrived family. He is stubborn, hot
tempered at times and can be quick to
act without thoughts of repercussions.
11. Camila Rosario
Also in her forties, she is the
co-owner of Rosario Car
and Limousine with her
husband Kevin. Also from
Arecibo, Puerto Rico, she
fell in love with Kevin at 19
and immigrated with him to
New York City. She is cool-
headed yet keeps a subtle
but strong leash on Kevin.
Her daughter Nina has just
returned for the summer
from her first year at
Stanford.
Benny
Now a 24 year old cab driver for
Rosario Car and Limousine, he
once was a street punk and
hoodlum, often finding himself
in trouble. Kevin saw promise in
Benny and helped shape him
into a responsible, hard-
working young man. Benny has
enormous respect for Kevin
and sees him as a father figure.
Eventually falling in love with
Nina, Benny sees a future for
them by becoming a
businessman. He and Usnavi
are best friends.
12. Vanessa
A 19 year old shampoo girl
at Daniela’s Salon,
Vanessa is strong,
intelligent and grew up
with Benny and Usnavi.
Though Usnavi would
like to be something
more than Vanessa’s
“friend”, he has never
made any attempt.
Vanessa dreams of
leaving to create her own
life away from her
alcoholic mother.
Sonny
15 years old and Usnavi’s
cousin, Sonny is spending
the summer working for
Usnavi at the bodega. He
usually hangs out on the
street with his friend Graffiti
Pete but avoids trouble. He is
an extremely intelligent
young man who strives to
emulate Usnavi. Passionate
to solve the social and
economic problems of the
city, he is someone that
needs guidance or risks
ending up a street punk.
13. Abuela Claudia
In her late 60’s, she raised
Usnavi after his parents
passed away and continues
to live with him. She
emigrated from Cuba when
she was very young. Of all
the characters, Abuela
Claudia has been in “The
Heights” the longest. She
struggled to learn
English, struggled to find
work and in turn has helped
others who have followed in
her path. She is clearly the
matriarch of the
neighborhood.
Daniella
In her thirties, she is the owner of
Daniela’s Salon. Savvy to say the
least, she is quick witted, brassy
and outspoken. While she retains
a motherly relationship with
Vanessa, she remains the gossip
queen of the neighborhood. No-
nonsense, she has built a
successful business but is being
forced out the neighborhood
because of the rent hikes.
14. Carla
In her mid-twenties, she is
a hairdresser at
Daniela’s salon. Born
and raised in
Queens, she is a
pure, sweet, innocent
and loving young
woman who is devoted
to her family and friends
though she is easily
taken advantage of
because of her naivety.
She and Daniela are
best friends.
Grafiti Pete
An18-year old graffiti artist
and the nemesis of
Usnavi, he is always
hanging out on the
streets, dancing to his
boom box music,
spraying any surface he
can. Usnavi is unhappy
that Sonny and Graffiti
Pete are friends because
Graffiti Pete epitomizes
everything that Usnavi
hopes that Sonny will not
grow up to be.
15. Creative ideas
Scenery:
Backdrops, hangings, furnishings, and other accessories on a stage
that represent the location of a scene. For example: The set designer
Anna Louizos' love for New York City — and her eye for detail —
helped bring a touch of authenticity to the new Broadway musical, In
the Heights. In her neighbourhood-streetscape design of the
Washington Heights-set musical, note the battered storefront
signage, the stickers on doors, the knobby fireplug, the joyless
streetlamp, the general greyness of the canvas. Her set serves as a
neutral canvas for the real vibrancy of the world — the people.
16. Props:
A prop is a small object such as a book, weapon etc, used by actors in a play or film. For
Example within the Broadway Musical “In the Heights” their could be use of a spray can
for the characters of Graffiti Pete to use or different hair products or the dressing table
for Daniella to use within her Hair Salon.
Costume:
Costume within a production is the different outfits for all the different characters. The
costume Designer for In the Heights in Paul Tazewell.
Sound:
The Sound Designer is by Acme Sound
Partners and Nevin Steinberg.
Music: by Lin-Manuel Miranda
Music Director: Alex Lacamoire
Music Arranged: Alex Lacamoire and Bill
Sherman. Within the Musical there are
many different sound effects and also
musical numbers throughout.
17. MY IDEAS!
O Abuela Claudia Memorial Graffiti Art.
: either a piece of cloth or a plywood board where either
the sheet with drop down or curtains will cover the graffiti
art to show the memorial on stage.
Actually Broadway
Memorial
This I think is very plain compared
to how, I think Manhattans vibrant
colour would be so I think I'm
going to do mine more colourful
and detailed to reflect the
atmosphere of Manhattan.
