Atlantis stages 'In The Heights'

MANILA, Philippines - Atlantis Productions, which just closed its critical and commercial hit musical Aida, now gears up for the highly anticipated staging of the Tony Award winning musical In The Heights featuring one of the most star-studded cast to grace a musical theater stage. Directed by Bobby Garcia, who recently directed the smash hit musical Next to Normal, In The Heights runs from Sept. 2 to 18 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati.

In The Heights, with it’s hip-hop, salsa, merengue and soul music infused score by Lin-Manuel Miranda, took Broadway by storm when it opened in 2008 garnering an astounding thirteen Tony Award nominations and winning four Tony Awards including the Tony Award for Best Musical.

In The Heights is a quintessential New York musical about a vibrant and tight-knit community at the top of the island of Manhattan. The music pulses with the hopes and dreams of three generations as they struggle to forge an identity in a neighborhood on the brink of transition.

Leading the star studded cast is acoustic balladeer and songwriter Nyoy Volante as Usnavi, the bodega owner who dreams of returning to his homeland Puerto Rico. Nyoy has received critical acclaim on the stage in Atlantis Productions’ stagings of Legally Blonde, Hairspray, Dreamgirls and The Rocky Horror Show.

Star Power finalist K -La Rivera makes her professional musical theater debut as Nina, the Stanford student who returns to her old neighborhood with some surprising news. The young Fil-Canadian singer is touted by many to become a major player in the Philippine entertainment industry. 

One of the country’s finest dramatic film actresses, Jackie Lou Blanco, makes her English language musical theatre debut as Camila, Nina’s loving and supportive mother. Jackie Lou has won critical acclaim in numerous films and TV shows and is thrilled to be a part of the cast of In The Heights.

Award-winning pop singer and Miss Saigon star Ima Castro takes on the role of Vanessa, Usnavi’s love interest who works at the Salon with Daniela. Ima recently earned rave reviews in the title role of Aida, also for Atlantis Productions.

Powerhouse singer Tex Ordonez plays Daniela, the owner of the Salon who might have to close her salon because of skyrocketing rent. Tex was last seen on the Atlantis stage as Lorell Robinson in Dreamgirls. She was also a part of Hong Kong Disneyland’s opening cast and is thrilled to be back on stage.

Calvin Millado returns to the the musical theatre stage as Kevin, Camila’s husband, who runs’s Rosario’s Car Service. Calvin is most famous for his critically-acclaimed performance as Roger in the Manila and Singapore productions of Rent. He has also appeared in Jesus Christ Superstar, The Rocky Horror Show, Dreamgirls, Disney’s Beauty & The Beast, Avenue Q and Legally Blonde.

Philippine theatre’s Golden Boy, Felix Rivera, who received critical acclaim as Gabe in Next to Normal, returns to the stage as Benny, the dispatch driver who work’s at Rosario’s Car Service, and finds himself falling in love with Nina. Felix has appeared in some of the finest roles in Avenue Q, Spelling Bee, Legally Blonde, Xanadu, and A Little Night Music. 

Star in a Million finalist Jimmy Marquez joins the cast as the neighborhood Piraguero, who walks the streets selling the coolest ice shavings. The soul balladeer placed second in Star in a Million and went on to win the silver medal at the Shanghai MusicFest.

Also featured in the cast are Jay Glorioso, who received critical acclaim as Mdme. Armfeldt in A Little Night Music in Manila and Singapore, as Abuela Claudia, Bibbo Reyes as Sonny, Tanya Manalang as Carla, and Jerald Napoles as Graffiti Pete. Joining them in the ensemble are Alys Serdenia, Johann dela Fuente, Japs Treopaldo, Carlos Canlas, Delphine Buencamino and Stanley Canete.

Director Bobby Garcia, fresh off the critical and commercial success of Next to Normal, says, “In The Heights is a musical with a whole lot of heart. I look forward to coming into rehearsals every day and embracing the joy and exuberance of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s words and music. We have assembled a fantastic cast that will bring this award winning musical to vibrant life each night. I can’t wait to begin.”

In The Heights has choreography by Cecile Martinez, set design by Mio Infante, lighting design by Jay Aranda, costumes by Twinkle Zamora, musical direction by Ceejay Javier and vocal coaching by ManMan Angsico. The Manila premiere of In The Heights is the first officially licensed production after the New York and US Tour. It is made possible through a special licensing agreement with Broadway Asia Entertainment.

A limited number of shows are also now available for show-buying and fundraising opportunities.

For information contact Atlantis Productions at 892-7078 or visit www.atlantisproductionsinc.com.