AUDITIONS: IN THE HEIGHTS

AUDITION NOTICE:

TITLE: IN THE HEIGHTS

AUTHOR: Music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Book by Quiara Alegría Hudes

DIRECTOR: Miguel Cardenas

MUSICAL DIRECTOR: Gabrielle Maldonado and Stephen Olear

CHOREOGRAPHER: Anthony Tuason

RUN:  July 1 – Aug. 12, 2023

Fridays & Saturdays 8pm, Sundays at 2pm. Special performances on Thursday and Sunday nights may be added for private parties and special events.

This is a volunteer community theater production.  Non-Equity.  There is no pay. 

At this time, all volunteers including actors must be fully vaccinated to participate in shows.

AUDITION DATES:

Open Call:

Dates: Tuesday, May 2 and Wednesday, May 3, 2023

Times: 7pm – 9pm

Location: Long Beach Playhouse  

Callbacks:

Date and Time: Thursday, May 4, 7pm – 11pm, by invitation only.

REHEARSALS:

First Read-Through: May 6, 2023, Noon – 4pm

Regular Rehearsal: Starting May 8, Mon. – Thur., 7pm – 10pm; Saturdays 10am – 5pm.

(See Beginning Rehearsal Schedule BELOW for specific dates and times as well as tech schedule.)

Location: Long Beach Playhouse

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS:

Bring your headshot and resume and your sheet music.

Open Call: Prepare and bring sheet music for 16-32 bars of a song from or in the style of the show (contemporary, pop, R & B, Hip Hop) Please no traditional/Golden Age musical theater.  An accompanist will be provided. A movement/dance section will be seen, so be prepared to move.

CallBacks: Songs from the show will be learned and sung, sides from the show will be read. 

PLEASE NOTE: All roles listed as Latin/a/o/e/x will be cast with that ethnicity regardless of race. If you are called back for one of those roles, you are attesting that you are part of that ethnic group.

Please bring your vaccination card as written proof of full vaccination to the auditions. Masks will be required at the auditions.

SHORT SYNOPSIS:  

In The Heights is the story of three days in the tightly knit Latine community of Washington Heights, on the island of Manhattan. In the heat of the summer as the 4th of July approaches, we are introduced to the neighborhood, its people and the interwoven stories of faith, hope and love. It’s a community on the brink of change, full of hopes, dreams and pressures, where the biggest struggle can be deciding what traditions to keep and what to leave behind. From the Tony Award winning writers and creators of the Broadway smash Hamilton, comes a beautiful, touching, vibrant and timely immigrant story.

CASTING THE FOLLOWING ROLES:

PLEASE NOTE: All roles listed as Latin/a/o/e/x will be cast with that ethnicity regardless of race. If you are called back for one of those roles, you are attesting that you are part of that ethnic group.

USNAVI DE LA VEGA (M, 20-30, Latino) Youthful, awkward, sincere Dominican owner of a convenience store. Urban, articulate, funny, harbors a crush on the local salon beauty. Not a “cool stud.” Narrator.
SINGS, RAPS VERY WELL, DANCES, High Baritone/Tenor (to G4)

SONNY (M, 20-30, Latino) Young, smart-alecky, wise and dry cousin to Usnavi. Tough and smart Dominican, has big plans for himself and his neighborhood. Great comedy chops.
SINGS UPPER RANGE, RAPS VERY WELL, DANCES, Tenor (to Bb4)

NINA ROSARIO (F, 20-30, Latina) Fresh, smart college student. Brave and strong Puerto Rican girl, but has to tell her parents that she quit school months ago. Emotional and conflicted, but still the “star” of the neighborhood. Demanding role, lots of singing.
VERY STRONG SINGER, DANCES, STRONG ACTRESS, Soprano High Belter (to F5)

VANESSA (F, 20-30, Latina) Sexy, hardened, stylist at the local salon. Has a troubled home life, wishes to get out and into something better. Tired of all the whistles and catcalls, looking for a true love. Ethnic, but definitely American.
STRONG BELT SINGER, STRONG DANCER, Mezzo Soprano High Belter (to E5)

BENNY (M, 20-30, Black, White, Asian, MENA, or any other non-Latin)
Strong, smart, masculine worker at the Rosario Taxi dispatch. Very ambitious, urban, and full of big dreams. Handsome, bright, and harbors a crush on the “boss’ daughter”.
VERY STRONG SINGER, GOOD DANCER, STRONG ACTOR/RAPPER, Tenor (to Ab4)

ABUELA CLAUDIA (F, 50-60 Latina) Sweet, caring, and supportive Cuban matriarch of the neighborhood. Takes care of all the young people, and regularly plays the lottery. A wise character with strength, passion, and a long memory. A powerful actress, singer and story‐teller.
STRONG SINGER, STRONG ACTRESS, Alto Belter (F#3 to C5)

KEVIN ROSARIO (M, 40-50, Latino) Puerto Rican born father to Nina. Owns and runs a taxi dispatch with his wife, Camila. Traditional, hard‐working Latin father, over‐protective, loving, but also has a temper.
STRONG SINGER, STRONG ACTOR. Baritone (to E)

CAMILA ROSARIO (F, 40-50, Latina) The smart, caring “business” half of the Rosarios. She takes care of the bills and business, but usually holds her tongue in the presence of her husband. Dynamic Puerto Rican woman, with a powerful voice and presence that gets unleashed when she’s had “ENOUGH”!!!
STRONG SINGER, STRONG ACTRESS, Mezzo Soprano Belter (G3 to B4)

DANIELA (F, 35-50, Latina) Sassy Puerto Rican owner of the local hair and nail salon. Loves to gossip, has a tough exterior, but enjoys being “The Boss”. Her salon rent keeps going up, so, sadly she is moving to the Bronx. Great comedy chops and timing. Think Miranda Priestly meets Sofia Vergara.
VERY STRONG SINGER, STRONG COMIC ACTRESS, Alto Belter (G3 to C5)

CARLA (F, 20-30, Latina) Bubbly, funny, side-kick to Daniela. Very sweet and religious. Supportive friend to the salon trio. Good at playing “dizzy or bird-brained”. STRONG SINGER, GOOD AT COMEDY, Soprano

GRAFFITI PETE  (M/F/Non-Bi, 20-30, Any ethnicity/Gender) Young, urban, slick graffiti artist of the neighborhood. Slightly shady, but with a good heart. They doesn’t see their “art” as a bad thing, wants to make a difference while making a living. Need an excellent hip-hop or break dancer.
VERY STRONG DANCER, RAPS WELL

PIRAGUA GUY (M, 30-50, Latino) The town-crier. Sells shaved ice from a cart, has a soaring tenor voice, reflects on how the people in the neighborhood “keep scraping by”. Charismatic and important role. SINGS VERY WELL, DANCES SOME, Tenor (Substainable A4)

MEN AND WOMEN OF WASHINGTON HEIGHTS (20-50, Any Ethnicity) Interesting, diverse and well rounded people of the community. All shapes and sizes. As important as any of the principals, these people have stories of their own.

VIDEO SUBMISSIONS:

Video submissions will be accepted from those who cannot attend open call auditions in person.  However, all auditioners invited to Callbacks will be asked to come in person, and priority in casting will be given to those who can attend in person.  

LINK TO VIDEO AUDITION SUBMISSION FORM

Video Submission Deadline has past.  

BEGINNING REHEARSAL SCHEDULE:

Please check the beginning rehearsal schedule to check your availability to attend rehearsals and performances: