In the Heights

As the news of her death was announced, I could hear the sobs of many around me. The Anglo woman sitting beside me quietly wept while my own eyes swelled with tears, which despite my effort to control, were slowly rolling down my cheeks. Her wisdom and kindness etched in her powerful yet gentle character, she could have been anyone’s grandmother. 

Abuela Claudia, one of the central characters of the musical “In the Heights,” anchors the story of a Cuban-Puerto Rican family as they try to find their rightful place in a new country.

But the underlying story of this Grammy and Tony Award-winning Broadway musical is not just about the Latino immigrant. With her powerful lyrics in “Paciencia y Fe,” Abuela reveals the story of the immigrant people that have, for hundreds of years, weaved the fabric of this nation.

She sings of her native country, the one she left behind as a young girl – filled with hope for a new life in the land of opportunity. She lives her life waiting patiently, never losing faith and thankful for the simple things in life and for the opportunities she has been gifted. Abuela never quite makes it though. She grows old hoping but never fully achieving. As the matriarch, she becomes the voice of wisdom in a community that is determined to hold on to its heritage while embracing the possibilities of a new beginning.

Named after a U.S. Navy vessel, Usnavi is the epitome of hard work and perseverance. A sensitive young man with a shy streak and a colorful personality, he draws his strength from Abuela Claudia and without realizing it, becomes a dynamic role model for other young men in the barrio. After a series of unfortunate events, which he believes will lead to the inevitable demise of his precious neighborhood, Usnavi finally realizes the pivotal task with which he has been entrusted, as the warden of his culture.

Nina, the other central figure in “In the Heights,” depicts the dichotomy that exists within every immigrant. Anxious to belong and to expand her wings beyond the confines of her barrio, Nina is burdened by the self-imposed need to represent her community while making them proud. As she ventures into mainstream America, she realizes that it is precisely her ways, her language, and her customs that make her an alien among the very people she once believed to be a part of.

“In the Heights” is a celebration of the rich diversity and unique collection of cultures that make this country extraordinary. It is a story of hope, inspiration, respect, and dignity. And it is the story of every immigrant that was and will continue to be.

http://www.intheheightsthemusical.com/

Follow @MariahsVU