Director’s Note and Welcome

Dearest friends,

With immense joy and heartfelt appreciation, I welcome you to the first musical at Long Beach City College in the last 18 years. This production is a collective work between all departments of theatre, dance and music. We remain deeply moved by our student’s call for diversity productions and remain steadfast in telling stories that represent our community, evoke emotions, and transcend boundaries.

Tonight, we gather under the Bob and Barbara Ellis auditorium to experience a Tony-Award winning, revolutionary musical production of Lin-Manuel’s Miranda In the Heights. This master work, which has moved countless of audience goers since its opening on Broadway in 2008, and most recently on film in 2021, captures the immigrant story in America where one strives to chase the American dream while staying true to their cultural identity.

From the universal recognition of the clave to the vibrant colors of Latinx fashion, along with the explosive poetry of rap, get ready to experience a celebration of Latino/Latina/Latinx culture in the span of three days in Washington Heights, Manhattan.

For me, this is a story about a community who are desperately trying to find their place of belonging while experiencing gentrification, discrimination, and a heatwave.

What I find most humbling about this story; is the resiliency of the characters spirit. Confronted with gentrification, being displaced, our characters continue to press forward to chase the American dream. It brings up the notion of home and re-defines a physical location to a relationship status. Meaning, home is not a physical place, but whom we decided to surround ourselves with such as family, friends, and loved ones.

To add, I stand with all immigrants. From the very streets I walked, to places across our country, families are being separated and displace. I hope this story, in a positive fashion, resurfaces our integrity in the nation, and propels us to equality.

Finally, I would like to take a moment and say what you’ll see tonight is an expression of my upbringing in East LA and the life experiences I’ve had to date. There is a fusion I ask that you entertain for tonight. From Chicano expressionism in costuming, Afro-Cuban dance styles, and indigenous hair charms. I present to you a hybridity visual representation of both 2000s and modern pop cultures in this musical.

Muschísimas gracias y salud to an unforgettable night of remarkable music, dazzling performances and celebrating the art of live theatre.