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Smile Store - In The Heights
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List Price: $21.98
Our Price: $16.99
Your Save: $ 4.99 ( 23% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Ghostlight
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: Audio CD
EAN: 0791558442823
Format: Cast Recording
Label: Ghostlight
Manufacturer: Ghostlight
Number Of Discs: 2
Publisher: Ghostlight
Release Date: 2008-06-03
Studio: Ghostlight
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Editorial Reviews:
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Get ready to experience an exhilarating journey into one of Manhattan's most vibrant communities, named "BEST MUSICAL OF THE YEAR" by NewYork Magazine and "BEST OF 2007" by The New York Times. With an amazing cast, incredible dancing and a gripping story of hope and self discovery, In The Heights is your ticket into a world where the coffee from the corner bodega is light and sweet, the windows are always open, and the breeze carries the rhythm of three generations of music. Find out what it takes to make a living, what it costs to have a dream, and what it means to be home...In The Heights.
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating: 
Summary: Latino Music Hits Broadway in a Huge way!
Comment: very exciting score. Blends Latino and Rap in a very stylized and unigue way. It is exciting to listen to and makes you desire to see it on the satge!
Customer Rating:
Summary: In the Heights of my musical theatre favourites..
Comment: I haven't seen this musical until today, but my sister recommend me this CD, I bought it and I never thought it could become one of my favourite soundtracks of a musical. The music is amazing, Lin Miranda has a tremendous talent composing every single letter of this play.
The latin influence in the music make it different, happy, fresh and enjoyable. 96,000 is one of my favourite songs as well as Blackout, but I think the best song is Sunrise!!!
You won't regret buying this CD. Highly recommended!!!
Customer Rating:
Summary: A Breath of Fresh Air
Comment: I have to admit to being a bit cynical about the future of the Broadway musical. The Great White Way has become increasingly dominated by revivals, gimmicky star casting, and uninspired musicals based on movies that seemingly came out last year.
But "In the Heights" has renewed my faith in musical theatre's future. Here is a show that tells an original tale (hooray!) about a group of Latinos living in Washington Heights as they struggle to find their "home" in the world. Firstly, I applaud the show for helping to diversify the musical theatre scene. Secondly, it has been a long time since I have seen a show so singularly committed to a central theme (this theme being "home"), which I think lends "In the Heights" a cohesion other new works lack.
The Tony-winning score on this recording manages to be fresh and pop-influenced without being repetitive. Each song furthers the plot or character developement (a must in modern musicals), while the Latino flair and modern setting allow for sounds not often heard in the theatre. There's also some excellent dance music interspersed throughout.
The young and energetic cast performs these songs expertly, lead by composer Lin-Manuel Miranda as the rapping narrator/protagonist Usnavi. Miranda's raps (and indeed, his lyrics for the entire show) are sophisticated and clever while remaining authentic to the characters and situations, and he performs them admirably.
But he leaves the heavy vocal lifting to a trio of very talented women: Mandy Gonzalez, Karen Olivo, and Olga Merediz. As college drop-out Nina, Gonzalez has the most singing, which she handles well despite some strain heard in the upper range of her belt. Olivo - who plays Vanessa, a woman who desperately wants out of Washington Heights - has the best voice of the bunch, which is showcased especially well in the descant she sings during "96,000" and "Alabanza." And as Abuelo Claudia, the neighborhood matriarch, Merediz absolutely nails her showstopping "Paciencia y Fe," which is easily the best track on the CD.
From beginning to end, "In the Heights" is an entertaining show that manages to get you involved with the characters and their struggles without seeming heavy-handed or forced. Although "Spring Awakening" seems to be this decade's "Rent," I believe "In the Heights" will do the most to get younger and more diverse audiences into the theatre. It's honest and heartfelt message speaks to everyone.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Fresh and New
Comment: I saw this show in it's off Broadway debut and loved it! And I'm happy to say the CD was a breath of fresh air as well, the way Lin-Manuel's lyrics and prose take you to the Heights; literally!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Can't wait to see the musical!
Comment: I heard about this award-winning musical after the Tonys and was intrigued about a show about Washington Heights. It is a lively album with original music sung by the cast and the show's writer. A delightful blend of hip hop and latin beats sung by a very talented cast of musicians. I was skeptical at first, but now realize its Tony was well-deserved. It can bring new fans to Broadway and give the stodgy older musical fans a new perspective about "high" culture. The Dominican community in NYC never sounded so wonderful. This is a ground-breaking musical... its success may well be compared to "West Side Story" in a few years. Definitely the most original musical idea I have heard about it in many years. I can't wait to see the musical!
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