Weekend Showcase: “In The Heights” Debuts at Park Center High School
Park Center High School is ready to debut their newly renovated theater with their spring musical “In the Heights.” The story transports the audience away from anything familiar in Minnesota to the hottest day of the year in the Hispanic barrio of Washington Heights in the New York borough of Manhattan.
“It basically tells the story about a Latino community and Usnavi de la Vega and his bodega, and how he connects to the rest of the community,” said Alyssa Nelson, who plays Vanessa.
“All of a sudden this huge thing happens and the entire neighborhood is sorta like thrown in the way,” said Noah Drake, who plays Benny.
The huge thing is that the lottery hits $96,000 and jackpot fever sweeps the barrio.
Junior Stella Mboma plays the beloved neighbor Abuela Claudia.
“I think she’s a very special character because she wins the lottery and she’s had this dream of getting out of her more suffering life and getting to really experience her dreams since she was a kid. And she finally gets to do that,” said Mboma.
Many of the characters want to leave the barrio although some have come back to what they know.
“You want to go off and be on your own, but you want come back to the place you came from and like how that defines you as a person and as a community,” summed up Drake.
“In the Heights” will be on stage at Park Center High School through March 10. For more information and showtimes go to Park Center Musical.
Park Center Senior High School
