New York City Center stages 'In the Heights' revival through Nov. 15

David Mendizábal is directing a new production of Lin-Manuel Miranda's "In the Heights" at the New York City Center. The musical opens with a limited three-week run that concludes on Nov. 15. This marks the first major revival of the work since its initial debut.

The show premiered in 2008 and won four Tony Awards, including best musical and best original score. Miranda and Quiara Alegría Hudes wrote the book, music, and lyrics. The original production ran for three years on Broadway before a film adaptation released in 2021. Mendizábal described the 2008 show as his introduction to theater, noting it was the first time he saw a world that looked and sounded like his own on an American stage.

The 2026 cast includes Matte Martinez as Usnavi, Ashley De La Rosa as Vanessa, and Natalie Venetia Belcon as Abuela Claudia. Ishmael Gonzalez plays Sonny. Chris Jackson, who portrayed Benny in the original Broadway cast, has passed the role to his wife, Veronica Vazquez-Jackson, who plays Camilla. The couple met in 2003 during early off-Broadway stagings of the show.

Jenny Gersten, the vice president and artistic director of New York City Center, selected the musical for the gala presentation. She stated that the production offers pure joy and serves as a balm for the current moment. Mendizábal agreed, saying the show is vital for showing the depth and breadth of Latino communities.

The revival arrives amid federal immigration enforcement operations that have impacted Dominican and Cuban families. In Manhattan last month, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot a Dominican man in the neck while his five-year-old son watched. The incident sparked large protests and drew condemnation from local and state officials.

Gonzalez said the character of Sonny addresses gentrification, immigration, and racism in politics. They described the song "96,000" as feeling like the most present part of the show because it speaks to the current moment. Miranda said the songs still hit and that the work speaks across generations.

The story is set in Washington Heights, a neighborhood in New York City that is about a 30-minute subway ride north of the City Center. It follows three summer days in the lives of the community's residents. Miranda expressed pride that this generation is picking up the mantle of the work, calling it incredibly meaningful.