Dramatiques, the Parker School theater group, will present its production of “In the Heights,” a four-time Tony Award-winning play which “tells the universal story of a vibrant community in New York’s Washington Heights neighborhood,” April 26 through May 5, playing
Dramatiques, the Parker School theater group, will present its production of “In the Heights,” a four-time Tony Award-winning play which “tells the universal story of a vibrant community in New York’s Washington Heights neighborhood,” April 26 through May 5, playing Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. at the historic Parker School Theatre in Waimea.
There will be no show Friday, May 3. Tickets are $10 for general admission and $5 for students and will be available at the door. Or, call 885-7933, ext. 7128, or email aalforque@parkerschool.net to purchase tickets in advance. For more information please visit www.parkerschool.net.
The community in the play is described as “a place where the coffee from the corner bodega is light and sweet, the windows are always open and the breeze carries the rhythm of three generations of music. It’s a community on the brink of change, full of hopes, dreams and pressures, where the biggest struggles can be deciding which traditions you take with you, and which ones you leave behind.”
The play is directed by Parker School drama and dance teacher Angela Alforque and presented through special arrangement with R & H Theatricals.
It will feature plenty of lively Latin-flavored singing and dancing.
Alforque said, “One of my favorite aspects about directing this production is having the opportunity to teach our students about the social and cultural aspects that inform the musical. African-Caribbean dance cultures, in particular, are close to my heart, as well as the history of immigrant families here in the U.S.; these are important inspirations for the show. With In the Heights, we’re bringing a New York City neighborhood to Parker School and featuring urban Latino-American culture through music, dance, storytelling, and various styles of street art. I wanted the students to feel the dance and music from the inside out and I think we’ve achieved that to a great extent. It’s been really special to me to see the students discover the connections between their own life stories and what is happening in the play.”
There are several lead roles in the play. Usnavi De La Vega will be played by Paul Gregg; Nina, Kevin and Camila Rosario will be played by Maddy Nelson, Elliott Jacobson and Mariko Langevin respectively; Benny by Aidan Wharton; Vanessa by Nondi Lampkin; Sonny by Majdi Mariano; Abuela Claudia by Savannah Harriman-Pote; and Daniela by Megan Yost.
“I am proud of and grateful for the student leadership in this production,” Alforque said. “We could not have done a musical of this scale and difficulty if not for their extraordinary talent and willingness to step up to the challenge of such a difficult show.”
: our musical director, assistant director, four choreographers, costume designer, lighting and sound supervisors, and stage managers all are upper school students. They mentor their peers and our middle school students, so that as older students graduate, others are able to follow in their footsteps. My predecessor, Maren Oom, put this structure in place and these artist-leaders have gone above and beyond their duties, putting their time and energy and heart into everything they do.
We could not have done a musical of this scale and difficulty if not for their extraordinary talent and willingness to step up to the challenge of such a difficult show,” said Alforque.
