In The Heights sweeps the stage at the Ordway. This deep, compelling story attracts members of the Latinx community as well as a variety of theater enthusiasts to its St. Paul stage.

Creator Lin Manuel Miranda does not disappoint audiences with his lesser known musical, written long before his smash hit Hamilton, called In the Heights. The shows actors and musicians excel at telling a cutting edge story that still holds meaning for viewers. Humor, rap and dancing come together to make this show exceptional.

The musical is set in modern day Washington Heights, a burrow of New York City. It focuses on a tight knit Latinx community living in a poor ‘barrio’ – a Spanish slang word for neighborhood.

In this layered narrative, gossipy hair stylists, college dropouts and even the neighborhood matriarch wish that they could win the lottery. Woes caused by love and poverty drive the plot. These themes create an authentic story all can enjoy.

Every aspect of music incorporated in this drama is superior. The band’s consistency allowed listeners to enjoy the singing and plot. The singers poured emotion into their solos which produced both laughter and tears. The modernized songs and rap appealed to the new wave of theatre attendees. Given Lin Manuel Miranda’s success, many new musicals may include the hip-hop genre in the near future.

Although the plot contains dramatic aspects, the show should be classified as a comedy. Sassy comments and relatable embarrassment induce laughter from the audience. Unfortunately, witty lines were sometimes missed in the fast paced rap numbers.

The show also included many quips that were in Spanish. English-only speakers were left clueless while bilingual audience members laughed at exclusively Spanish jokes. These moments are well deserved, since Latinx people do not receive as much representation in entertainment.

The costumes were beautiful, however characters changed outfits too often and it was difficult to keep the intricate story lines straight. Actors made up for this by staying true to their characters and singing with unique voices.

Everyone can enjoy this musical, especially those who enjoy music with hip-hop or Latinx influence. However, tickets can be expensive, ranging from $37 to $95. In The Heights can be seen until Sunday, Sept. 24 at the Ordway in St. Paul.

4.5/5