In the Heights: Corbin Bleu leaves on 17 Aug
Corbin Bleu as extended his run as 'Usnavi' by an additional three weeks and will play his final performance as 'Usnavi' on 17 Aug 2010 in the 2008 Tony Award-winning Best Musical In The Heights, just two days before American Idol winner Jordin Sparks joins the cast as 'Nina' on 19 Aug 2010.
In further casting news, original cast member Seth Stewart will return as 'Graffiti Pete' from 7 Jun - 3 Jul.
Bleu made his Broadway debut when he joined the cast of In The Heights on 25 Jan 2010 for what was originally to be a limited 13 week engagement through to 25 Apr 2010.
Corbin Bleu became a household name as 'Chad Danforth' in the Emmy-award winning Disney Channel Original Movie 'High School Musical,' its sequel 'High School Musical 2' (the highest rated Disney Channel Original Movie in history and overall highest rated program in cable history), and the 2008 feature film 'High School Musical 3: Senior Year.' Most recently Bleu was seen on the CW's 'The Beautiful Life' starring opposite Elle Macpherson, Mischa Barton and Sara Paxton.
Seth Stewart credits include 'Sweet Charity' on Broadway and Off Broadway's 'Red Hot Broadway' and 'In the Heights.'
In The Heights currently stars Andrea Burns (Daniela), David Del Rio (Sonny), Janet Dacal (Nina), Marcy Harriell (Vanessa), Christopher Jackson (Benny), Priscilla Lopez (Camila), Olga Merediz (Abuela Claudia), Corbin Bleu (Usnavi), Rick Negrón (Kevin), Courtney Reed (Carla) and Willian B. Wingfield (Graffiti Pete)..
In The Heights opened at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on 9 Mar 2008, following previews from 14 Feb 2008, and is currently selling tickets through to 21 Nov 2010.
The show opened on Broadway to mostly good to luke-warm reviews: "There is no more joyful musical to see this season." (New York Theatre Guide); "What it lacks in story and believability it makes up for in a vibrant rap- and salsa-flavored score." (NY Daily News); "Delivers a festive time that plenty of people will enjoy." (Star-Ledger); "Not a great musical. But it's about as impossible to dislike as an adorable puppy." (USA Today); "Deeply flawed and deeply pleasurable." (NY Sun) and "an uncalculated charmer. (Variety).
In The Heights: A quintessential New York musical about a vibrant and tight-knit community at the top of the island of Manhattan. The music pulses with the hopes and dreams of three generations as they struggle to forge an identity in a neighborhood on the brink of transition.
The musical is directed by Thomas Kail, with choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler, scene design by Anna Louizos, costumes by Paul Tazewell, lighting by Howell Binkley and sound by Acme Sound Partners.
In The Heights is the winner of four 2008 Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Original Score, Best Choreography and Best Orchestrations.
In The Heights is produced on Broadway by Kevin McCollum, Jeffrey Seller and Jill Furman, who also produced the Off Broadway production.
The show began life off Broadway at 37 Arts Theatre, where it ran from 8 Feb - 15 Jul 2007, playing 33 preview and 182 regular performances. That production won the 2007 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Musical and Outstanding Choreographer, the 2007 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography and Outstanding Ensemble Performance, Outer Critics' Circle Award for Outstanding Musical and Outstanding Choreography, Obie Award for Outstanding Music and Lyrics, and finally a Theatre World Award for Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Corbin Bleu as 'Usnavi'Originally published on