‘In The Heights’ to take the stage June 26-29
Talented youth will take the stage at the Alliance for the Arts later this month to tell the story of a changing neighborhood in New York City.
“There are certain shows that you should not do unless you know you have the right people to cast it. This is one of those shows,” said Carmen Crussard, Alliance for the Arts Youth Theater director and “In The Heights” producer. “We had to really think about the talent that we know exists in the area and kind of hope they come out and audition. We are really fortunate that we had such a great turnout for it. There is truly such an amazing talent in Southwest Florida with our young people. We are excited to cast it so well.”
In 2020 she was in production with another theater for an adult cast for “In The Heights,” but COVID happened, and it shut the production down. After months of effort, they were never able to bring the show to life.
Last summer a conversation ignited with Miguel Cintron, who grew up in New York and speaks Spanish, regarding the different students they had been working with to that point. The two thought they had the right mix of kids to put on the show, and Cintron was brought on as the director.
“We have been working on it since March. We meet two, or three times a week,” Crussard said, adding that they will be going into rehearsals every day. “We assembled a cast of black and Hispanic kids that are just amazing. (We have) a great representation of students from across the district to tell this amazing story. They are fantastic. It has been a joy.”
In addition, Choreographer Kiana Cintron, and Vocal Director Lisa Clark were brought on from the different schools around the area.
The cast consists of 20 performers ranging in age from 15 to 19 and representing more than 10 cultures and ethnicities. The cast represents Cypress Lake High School Center for the Arts, North Fort Myers High School, Bishop Verot Catholic High School, Ida S. Baker High School, Oasis High School and students from Florida State University, Florida Atlantic University and Florida SouthWestern State College.
The cast is comprised of freshman in high school to freshman in college.
“There are a few students home from college, they came back to do the show,” Crussard said.
“In The Heights” shares a story about a Hispanic neighborhood in New York City, Washington Heights, where a community has grown up together. This community is dealing with changes, as several of the businesses are having to relocate because they can no longer afford the rent. Throughout the production the community continues to define what is home, and who you call family.
“There are some romances, relationships that drives the majority of the storytelling, as well as everyone having a relationship with abuela,” – a woman who is not their abuela, but at the same time is, Crussard said. “She has been in the neighborhood for 40 years and has raised all of these kids that are young adults.”
She said the story spoke to her because she is a person of color and not many stories hit so close to home. Since she is not Hispanic, she brought on Cintron as they “both are dedicated to telling diverse stories and bringing diverse communities into the art community while representing a diverse community.”
The performance also showcases a lot of dialogue and singing in Spanish, which Crussard said, as students, who speak Spanish at home, have an opportunity to represent their culture and their family.
“It’s a really good musical, a really good show. There is a hip hop element – we don’t see too much on theater stages,” she said. “It’s different, vibrant, and colorful. It’s really exciting – really good music, and a really good story.”
The show will take the stage Thursday, June 26, Friday, June 27, and Saturday, June 28, at 7:30 p.m. and again on Sunday, June 29, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $23 for general admission and $18 for members and can be purchased at www.ArtInLee.org, or at the door. The performance will take place at the Alliance for the Arts Foulds Theatre, 10091 McGregor Blvd.
Crussard is the theater director at Cypress Lake High School Center for the Arts. In 2012, she began working at the Alliance for the Arts where she launched the Youth Theater Program and has produced more than 40 shows.
Cintron is the theater director at Lehigh Senior High School.
The actors include:
North Fort Myers High School:
Jay Encalada plays Daniela, 12th grade
Tyler Scott plays Benny, 12th grade
Oasis High School:
Constantine Belis plays Ensemble, 9th grade
Zoe Belis plays Ensemble, 12th grade
Ida Baker High School
Isabela Oren plays Abuela Claudia, 10th grade
Bishop Verot High School
Hannah Cruz plays Nina Rosario, 12th grade
Gabriel Cruz plays Sonny, 10th grade
Cypress Lake High School
Mia Pimentel plays Camila Rosario, 10th grade
Delilah Mendez plays Carla, 12th grade
Oliver Anderson plays Ensemble, 10th grade
Isabela Oren plays Abuela Claudia, 10th grade
Cristian Varela plays Ensemble, 9th grade
Jayla Lawyer Pairis plays Ensemble, 10th grade
Hannah Shraiar plays Ensemble, 10th grade
Lehigh Senior High School
Ilanize Carry plays Ensemble, 12th grade
Victor Galarza plays Piragua Guy, 11th grade
D’Adrean St. Louis plays Usnavi, 12th grade
Florida Southwestern State College
Cayden Pacheco plays Kevin Rosario
Florida State University
Jamime Woolam plays Ensemble
Florida Atlantic University
Kerwin Cyriaque plays Grafitti Pete