Students aim for the sky in Miranda’s ‘In the Heights’

Musical opens Thursday at high school

TORRINGTON — The Torrington High School Student Theatre will perform Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “In The Heights” on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. in the THS Little Theatre.

“In the Heights,” with music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda and book by Quiara Alegría Hudes, tells of a diverse community in New York’s Washington Heights.

The neighborhood is a place where your neighbors are like family, the piragua is always served cold, and the coffee from the corner bodega is light and sweet. It’s a community driven by their hopes, dreams, and pressures; a community on the brink of change, where the biggest struggles are deciding which traditions you take with you, and which ones you leave behind.

The story takes place during the 4th of July weekend; three days in which the characters’ lives will change forever. The story is told to the beat of hip-hop, salsa, merengue and soul music.

Usnavi de la Vega, played by THS senior Justin Torres, is a bodega owner struggling to take care of his stubborn, sassy, yet intelligent younger cousin Sonny, played by senior Daovong Tyus Phengkaen, and to keep his late parents’ business alive. Sonny’s best friend, Graffiti Pete, played by sophomore Nick Maniccia, is never far behind causing trouble.

Usnavi longs to one day leave the barrio and go back home to the Dominican Republic with Abuela Claudia, played by senior Alexia Fox, who serves as the community’s loving and caring grandmother.

Meanwhile, Nina Rosario, played by sophomore Serena Rosado, has returned home from a semester at Stanford after dropping out. Afraid of disappointing the community, and most importantly her parents Kevin, played by senior Gia Hoa Lam, and Camila Rosario, played by senior Natalie Garrison, she confides in her old friend and ambitious entrepreneur, Benny, played by senior William Wilson.

Vanessa, played by junior Emily Vasquez, is a dreamer who, like Usnavi, dreams of one day leaving Washington Heights. She works at a salon run by the dramatic, bold and proud Daniela, played by senior Vivian Jimenez, and sidekick Carla, played by sophomore Ashlyn Bernard.

Featuring a talented ensemble choreographed by THS junior Aubrie Dell’Agnese, this show contains passion, emotion and hope that is not to be missed.

The show is directed by Veronica Gelormino with help from assistant student directors Sophie Fraunhofer and Gillian Hass. Musical direction is led by Danielle Colosimo with help from student music director Kaitlyn LaPierre. The set design is by Victor Leger and the show is produced by Emily Patnaude with help from student producers Gia Hoa Lam, Miles Sletner, and Bekah Smith.

Tickets are $10 for students/ seniors and $15 for adults. Reserve or advance order tickets by emailing epatnaude@torrington.org

Contributed photo Usnavi, played by Justin Torres, stands with his neighbors in Washington Heights in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “In the Heights,” opening tonight at Torrington High School.