If there’s one American musical theater composer who could pull off a Broadway trifecta, it’d be Lin-Manuel Miranda. New York City Center’s gala presentation of In the Heights, his 2008 love letter to upper Manhattan, not only holds up; it’s ripened like a sweet mango you want to sink your teeth into.
Directed by David Mendizábal and choreographed by Mayte Natalio, the limited three-week engagement could use a bit more time to settle into its rhythm. But the bones of In the Heights are as strong as ever, a reminder of Miranda’s exceptional storytelling and musical composition.
It wants better content.
Set against scenic designer Riw Rakkulchon’s dramatic forced perspective of the George Washington Bridge, the musical’s momentum launches from the first downbeat, offering the audience a pulsating portrayal of the Latine community that calls the Heights home.
Usnavi (a nimble Matte Martinez) runs a bodega with his younger cousin Sonny (a scene-stealing Ishmael Gonzalez) and struggles to make ends meet, much like Daniela (Linedy Genao), who owns a local salon.
Financial independence becomes a running theme in the musical’s interwoven narratives. One follows Nina (Jaci Calderon), the first in her family to go to college, who can’t keep up with Stanford’s costs. Another belongs to Abuela Claudia (a powerhouse Natalie Venetia Belcon), the block’s surrogate grandmother, whose unexpected windfall could jumpstart the community’s economic viability.
Lottery logic requires some suspension of disbelief, since $96,000 wouldn’t stretch far on this block even by 2008 standards. But why dwell on the details when Alex Lacamoire and Bill Sherman’s percussive arrangements and orchestrations drive the story forward under the sharp baton of music director Alejandro Senior?
If In the Heights manages a Broadway transfer, Miranda will have three Broadway productions running simultaneously, including Hamilton, which has been playing at capacity for over a decade, and the hotly anticipated Warriors, opening this spring.
Unlike Abuela Claudia’s lottery ticket, Miranda’s run of Broadway success has never been a matter of luck. Paciencia y fe (patience and faith) has served him pretty well so far.
Is ‘In the Heights’ worth seeing?
New York City Center’s In the Heights could use a little more time on the block, but with Miranda’s sturdy score and Natalie Venetia Belcon’s commanding Abuela Claudia, the neighborhood feels as alive as ever.
- New York City Center, 131 W. 55th St., New York, NY
- Notable performers: Matte Martinez, Natalie Venetia Belcon, Linedy Genao, Ishmael Gonzalez, Jaci Calderon, Ashley De La Rosa
- Running time: 2 hours and 30 minutes, with one intermission
- Performances through Nov. 15, 2026
Have another minute?
