The Kennedy Center's inaugural season of Broadway Center Stage concerts, which begins February 14 with Chess, will continue in March with the Tony-winning In the Heights.
Directed and choreographed by Stephanie Klemons, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegría Hudes' acclaimed musical, set in Washington Heights, will be presented in semi-staged concerts March 21-25 in the Eisenhower Theater.
The cast will be headed by Gigi's Vanessa Hudgens as Vanessa, with newcomer Joshua Grosso as Usnavi, Ana Villafañe (On Your Feet!) as Nina, Mateo Ferro as Sonny, Eden Espinosa (Wicked) as Daniela, J. Quinton Johnson (Hamilton) as Benny, original Broadway cast member Blanca Camacho as Camila, Saundra Santiago (Nine) as Abuela Claudia, Broadway cast member Rick Negron returning to the role of Kevin, Virgil Gadson (After Midnight) as Graffiti Pete, Arianna Rosario (On Your Feet!) as Carla, and original Broadway cast member Eliseo Roman reprising the role of Piragua Guy.
The ensemble includes David Baida, Nico DeJesus, John Edwards, Hope Easterbrook, Rosie Fiedelman, Henry Gainza, Carlos Gonzalez, Morgan Marcell, April Ortiz, Khori Petinaud, and Voltaire Wade-Greene.
“When planning the first Broadway Center Stage season, I knew that In the Heights had to be a part of the series,” said Jeffrey Finn, Vice President of Theater Producing and Programming at the Kennedy Center, in a statement. “With Lin-Manuel Miranda’s electrifying score and moving story about home and family, this Tony Award–winning musical is timeless. Plus, I’m elated that Lin personally chose Stephanie Klemons to helm the production and put together this brilliant team.”
In the Heights, which opened on Broadway in March 2008, earned Tony Awards for Best Musical and Best Original Score, as well as Best Choreography (Andy Blankenbuehler) and Best Orchestrations (Alex Lacamoire and Bill Sherman).
Following In the Heights, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying will be presented June 6–8.
