The highly anticipated movie In The Heights will premiere this week, spotlighting Latinos in the U.S. who represent a culturally, demographically, and geographically diverse group.
Directed by Jon M. Chu and written by Lin-Manuel Miranda in 1999, the film stars a primarily Latino cast that includes Miranda, Anthony Ramos, Stephanie Beatriz, Melissa Barrera, and Leslie Grace’s acting debut, to name a few.
“It was, in many ways, an attempt to write what I saw was missing, both in terms of representation and in terms of stories about [Latinos] in popular culture,” Miranda previously told Billboard.
On release week, actors Leslie Grace and Melissa Barrera revealed their ultimate Broadway favorites in an interview with Billboard’s Leila Cobo.
“I think we both agree that it’s Rent,” Grace says.
“I think Rent is incredible. But for me, I have to say it’s a tie amongst Rent, Spring Awakening, and Wicked,” Barrera adds.
As for favorite musicals, excluding songs from In The Heights, Barrera shares her “really obscure” answer, sharing it’s “Wonder” from The Lord of the Rings musical.
“Wow, that’s deep!” Grace responds. “I’ve been singing ‘take me out tonight’ by our beloved Mimi, Daphne,” she says, referring to Daphne Rubin-Vega’s number “Out Tonight” from Rent.
In The Heights, which is an adaptation of the Broadway show that ran from 2008 to 2-11, will hit theaters and HBO Max on June 11.
