5 Things You Should Know Before Watching "In the Heights"
June 10, 2021
"In The Heights" Premiere is HERE!
It's finally here! One of the most highly anticipated movie releases of the year "In the Heights" is in theaters TODAY, June 10th, and will be released on HBOMax, tomorrow, June 11th!! This movie musical, from the creator of "Hamilton" Lin-Manuel Miranda, is a heartfelt story about community, culture, and following your dreams.
Synopsis:
The story takes place over three summer days in the Washington Heights neighborhood in Manhattan. Usnavi, a young bodega owner, is at a crossroads after he receives a large inheritance, and has to decide whether to close up shop and move to the Dominican Republic or stay in the community that raised him. His friends and neighbors also struggle to find their way in the world as they deal with relationships, family obligations, and cultural differences.
Addict Insider:
The original stage production of "In the Heights" (that was premiered as an off-Broadway musical) won four TONY Awards in 2008 for Best Musical, Best Score, Best Choreography, and Best Orchestration. Lin-Manuel Miranda is actually from Washington Heights Miranda and said his own life journey is inseparable from In the Heights, which includes childhood memories and family experiences from growing up in Washington Heights in the 1980s.
A scene to look out for is the musical number "96,000"! It was filmed at the Highbridge Pool featuring synchronized swimming and shot over two days with 500 extras! This is going to be a film that we will talk about for years to come.
5 Fun Facts You Should Know Before Watching "In the Heights":
1) "In the Heights" has had a special place in Miranda's heart since he started working on it in college. In 1999, as a sophomore at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, Miranda drafted the first pages of the musical.
2) Lin-Manuel will be releasing a new book, "In The Heights: Finding Home," about the making of the musical and film on June 15th! This was truly the musical that made Lin-Manuel's career prior to even his incredible success of "Hamilton".
3) Anthony Ramos, who plays Usnavi in the movie, originated the roles of John Laurens/Philip Hamilton in Miranda's second musical "Hamilton" on Broadway.
4) Lin-Manuel Miranda originally played Usnavi on Broadway. In the movie, you can spot him as the Piragua Guy.
5) Steven Spielberg's reimagining of "West Side Story" is scheduled to premiere in December. Both movies filmed within blocks of each other during the summer of 2019. In fact, the sets were so close, you can even spot a "West Side Story" catering carts in one of Chu's "Heights" shots!
Click below to watch the exciting opening number and see if you can stop your feet from dancing... We dare you!
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