IN THE HEIGHTS opened Saturday night, raised the roof and the raves from the press and our audience are tremendously gratifying! (Notes taken on sound and solved, apologies to those who experienced rough spots)! It is an exceptional feat bringing one of Broadway’s newest, hottest, best musicals to you and congratulations and thanks are in order to this first rate cast and to our audience for taking this adventure with us! This show has heart! And there’s just as much heart behind the scenes! From Production Stage Management Rose & Beth backstage with Lou Ann & her amazing running crew, Front of House Manager Jenna, Audience Services Audra and Jillian and everyone in the Box Office and more goodness in the Paramount Office Staff and Production and Company Management, Michelle & Jennette! It’s head spinning, the team work that also goes into the show from Marketing, Jarvis & Jamie, the Scene Shop’s Jason & Kelly & crew and the Costume Shop’s Matt and his crew. Thanks to this dedicated company! I can’t praise enough the work of Director Rachel Rockwell who immersed herself into every nuance of the words and music as did her brilliant Choreographer Katie Spelman and Conductor/Music Director, Tommy Vendafreddo. They galvanized this remarkable cast! And Tim Rater! Thanks for bringing us all together and taking such good care of us and our audience!
And right now, I’ve got to get back to work on MISS SAIGON which goes into rehearsal in three weeks! And there are more auditions for RENT ahead!
Hope you get to catch IN THE HEIGHTS before closing October 6! I’d like to share with you my Facebook post from Sunday night:
Just in from seeing the eighth show of the first week of the run of Paramount’s IN THE HEIGHTS…after a long week of tech and run-throughs and rehearsing notes and an explosive Opening Night last night, this performance was clearer, brighter, more definitive and grounded and soared emotionally all the more for it. The cast had to be feeling a drain on their energy but the grooves, and dynamics, and the spirit of the work found a release tonight, an adding up, that was extraordinary and dazzling. This company is an Ensemble in every sense of the word, and the simply “being there” for each other, totally present for each other, buoyed this performance in a way I had never seen. They play off each other, moved to speak and sing and dance. And last night’s opening was through the roof! It was one of those rare, singularly stunning nights in the theatre. I’m tellin’ ya, the crowd partied, sobbed, reveled and roared with this cast. Everyone’s performance took on a brilliance that belongs only to that intangible magic and electricity that is Opening Night! And then tonight it was better. And every performance from here on out until the end of the run will grow in nuance and power.
I’ll be checking in with you next week!
My love & thanks,
Jim