“Hamilton” is without a doubt the most well-known and influential musical of the twenty-first century.
When a stage performance of the Broadway musical was filmed and released on Disney+ in the summer of 2020, its fame skyrocketed. People who would not have otherwise been able to see the show in its entirety were able to do so thanks to Lin-Manuel Miranda’s brilliant mind. However, many people are unaware that “Hamilton” is not Miranda’s first musical.
Miranda created a different storey of a man doing whatever he can to be remembered and live a better life years before “Hamilton” ever graced the stage. “In the Heights” first premiered on Broadway in 2008, and although it was scheduled to open in theatres in 2020, it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thankfully, the musical appears to be back on the schedule with a new teaser to promote its imminent release, and viewers will be able to see it in all of its glory very soon.
When will In the Heights be released?
Many movies, including “In the Heights,” which was set to debut on June 26, 2020, had to postpone their release dates in 2020 after nearly all theatres were forced to close at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fortunately, it doesn’t appear that the film will face another setback, as its latest release date is almost a year after the original. If all goes according to plan, everyone will be able to watch “In the Heights” on June 11, 2021.
“In the Heights” is a Warner Bros. film, and it’s part of the studio’s ambitious new release plan for all of its films in 2021.
The musical will not only be released in theatres on June 11, but it will also be available to HBO Max subscribers on that date and for the next 30 days. If you’re still unsure about going to the theatre at this time, you can watch “In the Heights” with your entire family from the comfort of your own home.
Who’s in the In the Heights cast?
Anthony Ramos, who plays John Laurens and Philip Hamilton in Disney+’s “Hamilton,” will certainly be recognised as the lead actor in “In the Heights.”He plays protagonist Usnavi de la Vega in “In the Heights,” which was originally performed on Broadway by Lin-Manuel Miranda; however, according to Variety’s in-depth examination of the musical, Miranda felt he was too old when it came time to do the film adaptation. But don’t worry: Miranda appears in “In the Heights” as Piraguero, the Piragua Man, in a cameo role.
Corey Hawkins (“Straight Outta Compton”), Gregory Diaz IV (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”), Stephanie Beatriz (“Brooklyn Nine-Nine”), and Jimmy Smits (“Brooklyn Nine-Nine”) are among the talented actors in the cast (“NYPD Blue”). The film will also feature some serious Latin musical talent, with Marc Anthony, Leslie Grace, and Melissa Barrera all joining the cast.
In the Heights has a story, but what is it?
If you haven’t seen “In the Heights” on stage, the musical follows Usnavi, a bodega owner who dreams of one day making enough money to return to his homeland of the Dominican Republic. As he goes about his daily routine, he looks after his elderly neighbour and fantasises about the lovely girl who works at the nearby beauty salon.
Meanwhile, Nina (Grace) returns to the neighbourhood where she grew up after her first year of college, and although she longs to be in a relationship with Benny (Hawkins) and abandon her college ambitions, her parents are adamant that she pursue a good career. They’re also willing to go bankrupt in order to do so.
Even if you’ve seen the musical before, there are bound to be a few surprises in store, particularly because Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote a new song specifically for the film (via Broadway World). Keep an eye out for it when the film hits theatres on June 11th, and be prepared for it to become just as famous as “Hamilton.”
