I love In the Heights. Even a stripped down concert staging is phenomenal. My only criticism is I wish there was a bit more set. But the choreography is high energy and exquisite. Everyone is off book. The music is so good. The wordplay is so clever. And the overlapping melodies are brilliant. On this twentieth anniversary, In the Heights remains relevant as ever. The first act is so strong, even if the second act maybe doesn't quite live up to the first. It's just a fuller show than the movie is. There isn't so much plot in act two; but they quickly tie in a bow everyone's storyline. Everyone gets their song and they're all bangers. And they're all emotionally evocative. I've always loved Nina's storyline-- Breathe always gets me. And When You're Home is so good. And the big ensemble numbers! Yes, in 96000 they change the lyric to Tiger Woods. Oh and Abuela Claudia is played by Natalie Venetia Belcon fresh off a Tony win for Buena Vista Social Club, another show celebrating the Latino experience, and now on hiatus to do a 2.5 week stint at City Center. She nails Paciencia y Fe! The fireworks lighting effects light up the beautiful City Center. Very loud engaged crowd, maybe the most vigorous cheering I've ever heard at City Center.
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