In The Heights

UNIT 2: PRODUCTION WORKSHOP

TITLE OF PLAY, NAME OF PLAYWRIGHT AND PREMIER DATE:• Title: In The Heights

• Playwright: Quiara Alegría Hudes

• Lyricist and Composer: Lin- Manuel Miranda

• Premier Date: April 20th, 1999

DETAILED SYNOPSIS OF THE PLAY: ACT 1The musical opens with Usnavi chasing away a graffiti artist in Washington Heights. He then opens the store, and introduces the main characters which features the song “In The Heights”. The last to appear is Nina Rosario, who has returned from Stanford Univeristy. She then goes into the musical number “Breathe” as she worries about telling her parents bad news about college.

Nina’s parents run a taxi dispatch which they are struggling to keep going and are seeking an emergency loan, which leaves Benny, Nina’s friend in charge. ("Benny's Dispatch").

Usnavi's potential love interest, Vanessa works in a salon across the street, but dreams of escaping to a studio apartment in the West Village, despite her financial insecurtiy. ("It Won't Be Long Now"). Usnavi's younger cousin Sonny asks her out to a romantic evening on Usnavi's behalf, and she accepts.

When Nina's parents return, she tells them how she has lost her scholarship and has dropped out of University. Nina's father is devastated that he won’t be able to provide for her. ("Inútil"). Salon owner and local gossip, Daniela, sits Nina down for a makeover, forcing Vanessa into admitting that she cares about Usnavi's sexual decisions; Nina then reveals to the salon that she has dropped out of university. ("No Me Diga").

After Usnavi finds out that he sold a winning lottery ticket worth $96,000, everyone dreams of how they would each spend the money ("96,000"). Abuela Claudia who "practically raised" Usnavi as a young orphan reflects on her childhood journey from Cuba to New York in 1943, showing the audience that she secretly holds the winning lottery ticket ("Paciencia y Fé").

Nina and Benny take a tour of the neighborhood and reminisce, sharing romantic feelings towards each other. (“When You’re Home”). Nina’s father then reveals he has sold his business to pay for Nina’s education. Vanessa and Usnavi enter a dance club for their date, followed by a furious Benny, who is now out of work, and an apologetic Nina. Tension begins to rise through jealousy and then the entire club is thrown into a fight when Benny drunkenly hits a man whilst dancing with Nina. ("The Club"). The entire club breaks out into a huge fight when, suddenly, the power goes out throughout the city, probably due to the intense summer heat. The neighborhood is thrown into chaos and Usnavi, Vanessa, Nina and Benny all look for each other in the darkness. Meanwhile, Sonny and his mischievous friend from the opening of the show, Graffiti Pete, attempt to distract the neighbourhood from any potential looters by setting off fireworks. At this point, Abuela Claudia reveals to Usnavi that she won the lottery, while Nina and Benny find each other, argue, and then kiss ("Blackout").

DETAILED SYNOPSIS OF THE PLAY: ACT 2Benny and Nina have spent the night together and, the next morning Benny confesses his worry of what Nina’s father will think. ("Sunrise"). Down on the street, Usnavi's bodega has been looted. Abuela Claudia persuades Usnavi they should use her lottery winnings to move to the Dominican Republic, which is Usnavi’s homeland. Usnavi finally agrees, as it is his lifelong dream to return. ("Hundreds of Stories").

Nina's parents have been searching for her all night, and when they learn that she has been with Benny, her father is furious. He vows that Benny will never be a part of the Rosario family because he is not Latino, but Camila ends the family fight ("Enough"). The locals, led by Daniela, have a celebration before the bodega, salon, and dispatch shut their doors forever. Usnavi announces that Abuela Claudia won the lottery, and they will soon leave for the Dominican Republic. The neighborhood celebrates, though Vanessa is heartbroken ("Carnaval del Barrio"). Nina’s father Kevin then makes an announcement over the taxi radios, that Abuela Claudia has suddenly died ("Atención"). The neighborhood holds a vigil for Claudia, while Usnavi makes an unplanned tribute ("Alabanza"). Usnavi and Nina search through boxes of Claudia's keepsakes ("Everything I Know"). As Nina finds photographs from her own high school graduation, she decides to accept her father's sacrifice and return to Stanford.

As Daniela closes her salon, she reveals that she will co-sign on Vanessa's dream apartment in the West Village, thanks to a little convincing from Usnavi ("No Me Diga" – Reprise). Vanessa flirts with him, but he is so flustered by Claudia's death that he is unable to appreciate Vanessa's attempts. Vanessa finally kisses him and leaves ("Champagne"). Meanwhile, Benny worries about his relationship with Nina, since her decision to go back west, and they stand together while the sun sets, uncertain of their futures. ("When the Sun Goes Down").

The next morning, Usnavi wakes up early to begin closing up shop. In just a few weeks, Usnavi imagines that the block will be completely changed but Sonny has ordered Graffiti Pete to paint a mural of Abuela Claudia on the bodega's grate. Sonny now rolls down the bodega grate in front of Usnavi, revealing the memorial. He tells Sonny to spread the news that he has changed his mind to stay, promises to pursue Vanessa, and realizes that this block is his true home ("Finale").

HISTORICAL, GEOGRAPHICAL AND SOCIAL CONTEXT• In The Heights is set in Washington Heights, Manhattan.

• In The Heights is set in the 90’s, and this is evident through the show’s use of set and clothing.

• The social context of this musical is lower working class, and this is presented through Nina’s father and how he has to sacrifice his whole business to pay for his daughter’s future.

MAIN CHARACTER ANAYLYSIS: USNAVI AND NINA• Usnavi is the narrator of the play's exposition and a major character throughout; he is the

owner of a small bodega in Washington Heights. He was named after one of the first sights his parents saw when they arrived in America: a US Navy ship. He dreams of returning to the Dominican Republic, the place he was born but too young to remember. Abuela Claudia, the neighborhood matriarch, "practically raised" him when his parents both died during his early childhood. He is in love with Vanessa.

• Nina is the first in her family to go to college and everyone in the barrio admires her as the "one who made it out." However, she returns home from school for the summer to reluctantly tell her parents that she has become overburdened and dropped out. She is the typical "good girl" and always got along with her parents. Now, though, she loses patience constantly over her father's overprotectiveness and his refusal to accept Benny. After Abuela Claudia’s death, she is inspired to accept her Father’s sacrifices and return to University.

INITIAL CREATIVE IDEAS• Back cloth – Brooklyn Bridge and night sky, possibly combined with lights.

• Soundscape of city, distant traffic, talking etc.

• Shop front, either salon, taxi depot etc.

• Shop fronts that can be easily turned on stage quickly to form dance club towards the end of act 1.

• Projections for back drop (projector used backstage so no overlap on set) of bridge, night and day sky, club scenes etc. Combined with fairy lights in particular places that can be turned off and on to suit specific scene, e.g lights placed across bridge projection for night scene, turned off for day scene.

• Street lamps

• Posters

• Above shop balcony built with stage blocks and additional apartment fronts.

• Flags

• Salon chairs

• Graffiti Pete - graffiti style embroidered clothing.

• Spanish style costume – dance scene.