“In the Heights” has jumped the shark.
Already.
The 2008 Tony winner for Best Musical, which brought hip hop to Broadway and New York’s Washington Heights neighborhood into the spotlight, is already, I fear, nearing the end of its run.
Corbin Bleu, who portrayed basketball player Chad Danforth in the “High School Musical” series of movies,was announced as the new lead in December, a fact the show’s producer didn’t really promote until after his debut last night.
Now, I’ve seen all the “High School Musical” movies — yes, I’m 14 years old — and Bleu can definitely dance (and maybe sing — the series has a history of dubbing). But “In the Heights” is Lin-Manuel Miranda. He wrote the music and lyrics. I personally cannot imagine anyone else in the role.
It reminds me a bit of “The Drowsy Chaperone,” which opened on Broadway in 2007. Bob Martin was the show’s creator and star as the Man in the Chair. But after he left the Broadway cast, it closed after 674 performances. “The Drowsy Chaperone” was Bob Martin.
“In the Heights”, I fear, is not Corbin Bleu. And I am saddened for those theatergoers who missed the original.
Perhaps it is a good thing that this hip-hop musical skips on out to sea.
Actually Corbin took over the role last night (Jan. 25) not in December and Lin left the show last February so it’s been almost a year without Lin and the show seems to be doing fine…
Good point, Sam. I should have said it was announced in December, but not promoted very heavily. My bad. I do think, though, that his casting is not good for the show.
I agree, I dont think that was a very good choice to put Corbin Bleu in that role. I personally dont think that he fits the picture of the show. But that is just my opinion.