Joseph Morales, John Herrera & More Set for Pioneer Theatre Company's IN THE HEIGHTS, 9/14-29

Pioneer Theatre Company presents the Regional Premiere of the Tony Award-winning musical In the Heights, September 14 through September 29, 2012, at Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre. In the Heights, winner of the 2008 Tonys for Best Musical and Best Score, was also a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

In Washington Heights, New York, three generations of Latino immigrants dream of succeeding in America while at the same time holding onto their culture and heritage. An uplifting and joyous celebration of life, In the Heights shows us a world that is at once exotic and different from our own but filled with the same dreams shared by us all.

"I saw In the Heights in New York City and was completely taken in by its energy, heart and soul,” says new PTC Artistic Director Karen Azenberg. “I was delighted that we were one of the first regional theatres in the country to get the rights to the show. I also knew I had the perfect artistic team to create In the Heights for PTC: Director Matt August and Choreographer Bob Richard, both of whose work I have admired for years.”

The principal cast is comprised of Joseph Morales as Usnavi, John Herrera as Kevin, JOSHUA BOONE as Benny,Emily Vasquez as Nina, Anthony Ramos MARTINEZ as Sonny, Debra Cardona as Abuela Claudia, Manoly Farrellas Vanessa, Natalie Toro as Camila, and Natalie Hill as  Daniela.

In addition to starring as Usnavi in the first national tour of In the Heights, Joseph Morales also appeared in national tours for Bombay Dreams, and Henry and Mudge, and in workshops for Broadway’s Bring it On and Rock of Ages. This is his PTC debut.

The show will play Mondays – Thursdays, 7:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays, 8:00 p.m. and Saturday matinees, 2:00 p.m. at Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre, located at 300 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City. Tickets are $38 - $59 ($5 more day of show). Children in grades K – 12 are half price on Mondays and Tuesdays. Box Office: (801) 581-6961, open 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Mon – Fri or visit www.pioneertheatre.org.

John Herrera originated the role of Kevin Rosario, Nina’s hard-working father, in In the Heights Off-Broadway. He has an impressive Broadway career including roles in The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Neville), Evita (Che), Grease, 1776, Camelot, Man of La Mancha and The Threepenny Opera. His national tours include Chess, Falsettos, Les Misérables and Angels in America. This is his PTC debut.

JOSHUA BOONE debuts at PTC playing Benny who falls in love with Nina while working at her father’s car service. He is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University, and his credits include Central Avenue Breakdown (MYMF/DIMF) and Felony Friday (NY Fringe Encores).

Emily Vasquez plays Nina Rosario, the star of the neighborhood who returns to Washington Heights humbled by the difficulty of her first year at Stanford and sees a potential future with Benny, the young man who works for her father. She most recently appeared on TV in The Glee Project. This is her PTC debut.

Anthony Ramos MARTINEZ plays Sonny, Usnavi’s cousin seeking a better life. Martinez was in the national tour of Damn Yankees.

Debra Cardona returns to PTC (Light in the Piazza) as Abuela Claudia, the guiding maternal figure who is the heart of the community of Washington Heights. She was most recently seen in SLC in the national tour of Mary Poppins (Miss Lark). Her New York productions include Madison Square Garden’s A Christmas Carol: The Musical, and Bingo (Off-Broadway). Her national tours include My Fair Lady, Guys and Dolls, Fiddler on the Roof, and Radio City Christmas Spectacular.

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