Clarksburg HS Performs In The Heights Musical

From Clarksburg HS: Clarksburg High School's outstanding production of In the Heights explores the diversity of the greatest city in the world.Originating on Broadway in 2008 with music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the production won the Tony Award for Best Musical as well as a Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album.The modern musical follows the story of the residents of the Latin-American neighborhood of Washington Heights in New York City.

The show opens on Usnavi, a bodega owner who one day hopes to return to the Dominican Republic. Down the block, Nina Rosario has returned after dropping out of her first year of college to the surprise of her struggling parents.Usnavi (Carlos Hernandez) introduced us to the scene and was our guide throughout the show. His rap skills were matched only with his acting, adding profound and intense emotions during the turmoil of his experiences. His dynamic with Mateo Ferro as Usnavi's younger cousin Sonny showed great family bond that stretched throughout the entire cast. Nina (Griffin Hellebuyck) displayed powerful vocals proved fitting for the intensity of the subject. Her connection with her parents, especially her mother Camila (Olivia Luzquinos) was impressively realistic, with Luzquinos stunning number "Enough", where she lamented against the miscommunication in her family.Daniela (Maddi Bard) as the sassy hairstylist was vivacious, hitting every beat, nailing hilarious quips at the expense of her counterpart Carla (Sydney Fennington) as well as using her physicality to enhance her character. Bard had one of the most consistent accents of the night, which brought authenticity to numbers like "Carnaval Del Barrio". Ricky Cardenas, playing the Piragua Guy, was an instant crowd favorite.

His effortless vocals combined with the genuine innocence of his persona made his few appearances onstage standout.The ensemble tackled the challenging vocal harmonies of the score. Singing various voice parts on top of each other, the large cast also executed complex choreography by JeanPaul Grimes, Noah Abrams, Abby Thomas, and Krishma Patel. Simran Virk, Adero Key, and Jacqueline Nguyen constructed an engaging set of a neighborhood in New York. Graffiti lined the outer edges of the set which influenced the neighborhood feel of the stage.The students of Clarksburg High School performed the show with impeccable comedy as well as a rich appreciation for Latin American culture.

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