‘In the Heights’ @ Upright Theatre Company
Photos by Delaney Rain Photography
—Jan Farrington
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s earliest hit show—In the Heights, the first drafts written when he was still a college kid in Connecticut—can’t help itself. It’s always a delight.
Of course it is. As one of the songs says: “Tell me something I don’t know.”
By now, I’ve seen In the Heights so often I never miss a chance to share the fun—to bring someone along who's never had the experience. To Upright Theatre Company’s current production in the Mid-Cities, then, I took a young family member who was delighted by the singing and dancing that swirled around her in the theatre’s intimate venue. She copied dance moves from her chair, sighed over the love stories, joined hands to praise heaven for Abuela Claudia—and kept her head on permanent “swivel” to follow singers as they circled the audience and stopped for short scenes in every corner of this half-cafe/half-stage space.
Directed at a lively clip by Michael Childs, with choreography from Alvaro Carranza (who makes the most of every square inch of stage and side-aisle) and music direction by Julian Rodriguez, the singing is more than good (with some stellar voices sprinkled in), the lyrics nicely clear, and the sense of community created onstage is strong and moving.
Dayan Rodriguez as bodega owner Usnavi pulls us in right away with his wide smile and charming way of introducing the characters and stories. He’s paired (or at least, wants to be!) with the girl he’s loved silently for ages, Vanessa (Yleana Dara), who’d like to get out of their far-north Washington Heights neighborhood for someplace more trendy in Manhattan. Dara and Rodriguez both have a special “presence” onstage (Dara stands out among the many talented dancers of the cast) and we sense they might be a good match for one another—if Usnavi’s cousin Sonny (Chris Connor) can arrange their first date.
Another dynamic duo are Javon Tcheco as taxi dispatcher Benny and Alli Perez as his boss’s daughter Nina. We love their kids-to-grownups love story, but wonder if they can blend their different hopes and dreams. Elderly Claudia, who’s been in the Heights longer than any of them, is the “abuela” of the neighborhood, everybody’s grandma, advisor, guardian angel. Caroline Rivera has the body language just right, and a powerful voice for her songs “Paciencia y Fe (Patience and Faith)” and “Hundreds of Stories.” And though he’s often in a corner with his ice wagon, Jonathan Charles’ crystal voice is perfect for the singing “Piragua Guy” who sells his cool treats on the hot streets.
Nina’s parents both have songs that give us a feel for the generations who’ve lived and worked here, and for the family dynamics: John Sanchez with “Inutil (Useless)” and Erica Erives with “Enough” both add to our understanding of what it means to make a new life in a strange country. And let’s not forget tagger Graffiti Pete (Joshua Rodriguez), scourge of clean walls—and the tuneful beauty shop ladies (Hailey Good as Daniela and Marissa Saldana as Carla) who keep the neighborhood grapevine buzzing with the latest news in “No Me Diga (Don’t tell me).” [Dancing/singing ensemble members include Delonte Moore, Manny Garcia, Chris Medina, Megan Lemonds, Isabel Vega-Rodriguez, Gina Gwozdz, and Faith Grier.]
The song’s styles and emotions range widely, from the quietly sad “Breathe,” sung as Nina tries not to panic at feeling she’s come home a failure…to the exuberant, flag-waving “Carnaval del Barrio” that calls everyone to a street celebration. We didn’t know, back then in 2008 when In the Heights came to Broadway (music & lyrics by Miranda, book by Quiara Alegría Hudes), what Lin-Manuel would get up to in the following years.
But this show, his first big show, certainly gave us a clue.
WHEN: August 14-September 13, 2026
WHERE: 2501 N. Main Street, Euless TX
WEB: uprighttheatre.org
