Hayes Theatre Co, Sydney
March 21, 2018

Demand for tickets to In the Heights at the Hayes Theatre Co was such that it had sold out before opening night. A large part of the appeal is doubtless the fact that Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote the music and lyrics (and starred in the original production) subsequently went on to write Hamilton, the phenomenally successful hip-hop musical about US founding father Alexander Hamilton – still one of the hottest tickets on Broadway after opening there in August 2015. But In the Heights is a delightful show in its own right, showcasing Miranda’s winning way with rap lyrics and catchy melodies, and bursting with exuberant life and heart. What’s more, this production from Blue Saint Productions is a bobby-dazzler, firing on all fronts.

The cast of In The Heights. Photograph © Grant Leslie Photography

Written by Miranda, with a book by Quiara Alegría Hudes, In the Heights first saw the light of day in Connecticut in 2005. It then moved to off-Broadway in 2007 and from there transferred to Broadway the following year, where it was nominated for 13 Tony Awards, winning four including Best...