Local Production of “In the Heights” Proves As Relevant As The Broadway ShowWas
Offering a fresh take on a modern classic, Marietta’s New Theatre in the Square presents Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. The Tony Award-winning musical follows bodega-owner Usnavi and his tight-knit community of small business owners living in Washington Heights. Over the course of a few summer days, the audience is introduced to Usnavi’s friends and de facto family as well as their individual backgrounds and dreams. The action of the play kicks off when Nina, the golden child of the barrio, returns home from Stanford University and is forced to reveal to her parents that she has dropped out, while Usnavi discovers that he has sold a winning lottery ticket, though to whom he does not know.
After closing in 2012, Marietta’s New Theatre in the Square opened its doors again in 2016, under the new management of Raul Thomas, a celebrated chef and the former owner of Raul’s Latin American Café. Since Thomas decided to reopen the theatre, it has become a family affair. Thomas’s son, Emil, now the Artistic Director of the theatre, exudes passion about his newfound opportunity to build a theatre company from the ground up. Of his role as director, the younger Thomas states that his theatre will depict the world he lives in “honestly, visually, physically, religiously, sexually, politically, and lovingly.”
His dedication shows through to any who attend one of his programs, as evidenced by the theming centered around In the Heights. Though Marietta’s New Theatre in the Square is nestled in a largely suburban area in metro Atlanta, audience members are immersed in the environment of Washington Heights. Themed music sets the mood, while authentic Puerto Rican food catered by Sabores Boutique Café in Mableton is sold from a “bodega.”
Beyond the atmosphere of the theatre, the show itself is a loving recreation of the original, bolstered by a talented and diverse cast. Of the venue, theatergoer Laurynn Gorski said that “the stage looked tiny before the show started, but I quickly forgot about that when everyone started singing,” noting Abuela Claudia’s performance of “Paciencia y Fe” as a particular highlight. She then asserted that though this was her first trip to the theatre, it would not be her last.
The praise was not limited to Gorski, however. Marietta’s New Theatre in the Square boasts multiple back to back sold out performances of In the Heights across the two weekends since its opening on Sept. 13. The production has received love on social media as well, with users praising Thomas for “bringing this level of theatre to Marietta’ and expressing that “we need to see more stories like these.”
Thomas’s production of In the Heights will continue showing until Oct. 6, with seven more opportunities to enjoy a performance. After the last showing of In the Heights, Marietta’s New Theatre in the Square will be continuing its celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month by showing La Gringa by Carmen Rivera from Oct. 11 to 27.
