New York City Center's 2026 Gala Musical Will Be In the Heights

Mexodus' David Mendizábal will direct Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegría Hudes' musical.

March 11, 2026 By Logan Culwell-Block

Quiara Alegría Hudes and Lin-Manuel Miranda at opening night of *My Broken Language* (Getty Images for Signature Theatre)

New York City Center's 2026 gala production will be Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegría Hudes' 2008 musical In the Heights, with performances running October 28-November 1 at the Manhattan venue. The run will kick off with a gala performance October 28.

David Mendizábal (Mexodus) will direct the new staging, with further creative team members to be announced. Casting, also to be announced, will be by The Telsey Office.

The musical, which began as a college project during Miranda's time at Wesleyan University, served as the now Tony winner's debut work, playing a 2005 try-out at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center and Off-Broadway's 37 Arts Theater in 2007 before transferring to the Main Stem. The musical would go on to win four 2008 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and was a finalist for the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The work also became a spiritual predecessor for Miranda's seminal megahit Hamilton, which reunited director Thomas Kail, choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler, and music supervisor Alex Lacamoire on the creative team, along with much of the cast (Christopher Jackson, Jon Rua, Javier Muñoz, Mandy Gonzalez, and KO—formerly Karen Olivo—are all Heights and Hamilton alum, amongst others).

Look Back at In the Heights on Broadway

By: Joan Marcus

The musical—which features music and lyrics by Miranda and a book by Hudes—centers on New York City's Washington Heights neighborhood and its citizens, a vibrant immigrant community trying to get the American Dream while navigating a rapidly changing world. Miranda starred as bodega owner Usnavi, the ensemble musical's protagonist, in the original company. Following the musical's Broadway success, a film version was released in 2020, directed by Jon M. Chu and featuring performances from Anthony Ramos, Corey Hawkins, Melissa Barrera, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Jimmy Smits, and more.

"I'm so happy that New York City Center gets to bring In The Heights back for New Yorkers, since it's a show that is very much about and for New Yorkers,” says City Center Musical Theatre VP and Artistic Director Jenny Gersten in a statement. "The musical captures the rhythms, resilience, and richness of the communities that define this city, and David is the perfect artist to bring this beloved show back to life."

“City Center’s Annual Gala Presentations are an opportunity to celebrate the power of musical theatre while raising vital funds that support everything we do,” adds President and CEO Michael S. Rosenberg "In the Heights is a thrilling, vibrant work that speaks to audiences across generations, and we’re proud to share this extraordinary production as part of our mission to make great art accessible to all.”

Tickets for City Center Patrons are currently on sale at NYCityCenter.org. Members gain access to tickets beginning May 7 at noon ET, with access for Encores! subscribers added May 20, also at noon ET. General sales will begin May 21 at noon ET.