"In The Heights" Draws Record Crowds, Rave Reviews
The recent production of "In The Heights" was a smash hit! Outstanding performances by ECC Theatre Department students brought resounding ovations each night of the run. In addition, ticket sales for this collaborative effort of both the Theatre Department and the Center for the Arts was record-breaking, making "In The Heights" the best-selling Theatre show in the last several years. One audience member's feedback declared the show a resounding success, with specific praise to the attention to detail evident in the set design, dancing, costumes, and talented cast. "We thought it was absolutely amazing!" he added. "We enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. My spine tingled as often and as strongly during this show as when I saw 'Hamilton' at the Pantages two years ago."
The Tony Award-winning show by Lin-Manuel Miranda opened on Broadway in 2008 to rave reviews. Fast forward 10 years and the show almost didn't happen at El Camino College. In 2018, "In The Heights" was selected as the 2019 ECC musical for many reasons, including the connection many students might make to the character Nina, a first-generation college student. A glitch occurred in the process when the publisher decided to pull all royalties due to the upcoming "In The Heights" movie currently in production. Undeterred, Center for the Arts Production Manager Nancy Adler contacted the publishers daily, until they relented and allowed ECC to stage the production.
Directed by Bill Georges, the show also featured the work of faculty members such as choreographer Liz Hoefner Adamis and musical director Anthony Moreno, both talented artists/educators and also first-generation college students. Moreno is a 2010 ECC grad and last year received his doctorate from USC. The entire cast, production staff and directors quickly formed a tight-knit family much like the community of characters in the show's New York City setting of Washington Heights.
