By John Moore
When: Sept. 13-Nov. 11
Conceived by: Lin-Manuel Miranda
Written by: Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegría Hudes
The story: The 2008 Tony Award winner for best musical integrates beat poetry, hip-hop and spoken word into the traditional musical-theater form to tell the story of a gentrifying Upper Manhattan barrio, a place where “the coffee is light and sweet, the windows are always open, and the breeze carries the rhythm of three generations of music.” It’s a story about what it takes to make a living, and what it costs to have a dream.
Why it made the list: Midtown Arts Center has made scoring the first Colorado stagings of big-time Broadway musicals part of its mission. Previous firsts include “Cats,” “Miss Saigon,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Altar Boyz,” “The Producers,” “Rent,” “Next to Normal” and “Avenue Q.” For this staging, Rogelio Douglas Jr., a member of original Broadway cast
and a member of the first national touring production, is serving as director and choreographer.
My review of the 2010 national touring production: “In the Heights” is a “Fiddler” for modern America http://www.denverpost.com/entertainment/ci_14986331
Cast list:
Where: 3750 S. Mason St., Fort Collins
Performance times: 7:15 p.m. select Thursdays through Saturdays; 1:15 p.m. Sundays (dinner service 90 minutes before).
Tickets: Starting at $49 (more for dessert, drinks and menu upgrades)
Contact: 970-225-2555 or midtown’s home page
Additional comments: “ ‘In The Heights’ is a beautiful piece of theater that speaks to generations of Americans. Coming from a Cuban family, this show has a special place in my heart and is dedicated to my grandmother, Abuela Regina.” Actor Tim Olivar
“ ‘In the Heights is the next chapter in the story of the American family. It’s timely considering the ever-present immigration debate. The themes of hope, change, and the struggles of the middle class that frame this election season play out in this energetic, positive and powerful state premiere.” Artistic director Kurt Terrio
No. 1: Curious Theatre’s “The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity”
No. 2: Ben Dicke Presents’ “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson”
No. 3: Abster Productions’ “August: Osage County”
No. 4: Midtown Arts Center’s “In the Heights”
No. 5: Denver Center Theatre Company’s “The Giver”
No. 6: Local Theater Company’s “Elijah: An Adventure”
No. 7: Vintage Theatre’s “The Cider House Rules”
No. 8: Miners Alley Playhouse’s “The Three Penny Opera”
No. 9: Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center’s “Make Sure It’s Me”
No 10: Creede Rep’s “Is He Dead?” at the Arvada Center
No. 11: Theatre Or’s “The Value of Names”
Among the many other shows to watch:
Sept. 1-16, 2012: Ami Dayan Presents “A Happy End,” at Buntport Theater Read my interview with playwright Iddo Netanyahu
Sept. 4-16, 2012: National touring production of “La Cage Aux Folles,” at the Buell Theatre
Sept. 7-Nov. 3, 2012: Boulder’s Dinner Theatre’s “Avenue Q”
Sept. 7-22, 2012: Germinal Stage-Denver’s “A Kind of Alaska”
Sept. 7-Oct. 6, 2012: Spark Theater’s “Rebecca” (note new address: 985 Santa Fe Drive)
Sept. 11-30, 2012: Arvada Center’s “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” (and Oct. 4-14 at the Lone Tree Arts Center)
Sept. 13-16, 2012: PACE Center’s “Scarlet Letter, The Musical” (Parker)
Sept. 14-Oct. 14, 2012: Town Hall Arts Center’s “Sweet Charity” (Littleton)
Sept. 14-Nov. 10, 2012: The Avenue’s “Murder Most Fowl”
Sept. 14-Oct. 14, 2012: Ashton Entertainment’s “Picasso at the Lapin Agile,” at the Aurora Fox
Sept. 15-Oct. 14, 2012: Bas Bleu’s “The Love of the Nightingale” (Fort Collins)
Sept. 20-Oct. 14, 2012: Denver Center Theatre Company’s “Fences” (Space Theatre
Sept. 21-Oct. 21, 2012: The Edge’s “Boom” (Lakewood)
Sept. 27-Oct 21, 2012: Denver Center Theatre Company’s “The Three Musketeers” (Stage Theatre)
Oct. 2-24, 2012: And Toto Too’s “Pardon My Dust” (at Laundry on Lawrence)
Complete Denver Post theater listings:
Capsules of all currently running productions
