Cast confirmed for In The Heights at Hayes Theatre Co

Blue Saint Productions has confirmed the full cast of their upcoming production the Tony Award winning musical In The Heights.

Ryan Gonzalez, Olivia Vasquez, Tim 'Timomatic' Omaji will star in In The Heights
Ryan Gonzalez, Olivia Vasquez, Tim ‘Timomatic’ Omaji will star in In The Heights

Set to open at Hayes Theatre Co from 16 March 2018, the production will be the Sydney premiere of this musical, created by the genius behind the Hamilton phenomenon, Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Playing the role of Usnavi De La Vega (played by Miranda in the Broadway production) is Ryan Gonzalez. Fresh from treading the boards in Kinky Boots, Ryan no stranger to the Hayes Theatre Co stage, having performed in Violet and his hit one-man show Hispanic Attack! in Sydney’s most popular independent musical theatre venue. Ryan is also playing the role of Freddy in the upcoming Hayes Theatre Co production of The View Upstairs.

Returning to the musical theatre stage to play the role of Benny will be Tim ‘Timomatic’ Omaji. Initially rising to fame as a contestant in the Australian series So You Think You Can Dance in 2009, Tim cemented his place as a household name as a top three finalist in Australia’s Got Talent in 2011. He appeared in a principal role in the hit musical Fame and has since become a successful recording artist and songwriter with a string of hits including the 4-x platinum, ARIA nominated single ‘Set It Off’.

Olivia Vasquez (The Bodyguard) will play Vanessa, Usnavi’s beautiful love interest, while in the role of Usnavi’s cousin, Sonny de la Vega, is recent VCA graduate Marty Alix.

Luisa Scrofani (Violet, Spring Awakening) will play Nina Rosario,  Margi De Ferranti (Les Miserables, Mamma Mia!) will play the matriarch Abuela Claudia and Monique Montez and Libby Asciak will take on the feisty and funny roles of Daniela and Carla.

Ana Maria Belo, Alexander Palacio, Stephen Tannos and Richard Valdez will all feature in supporting roles and the ensemble will comprise of  Will Centurion (Aladdin, King Kong), Michelle Rozario (The King and I) and Samantha Bruzzese (The Bodyguard).

In The Heights tells the story of a vibrant Cuban, Dominican, and Puerto Rican community in New York City’s Washington Heights neighbourhood — a place where the coffee from the bodega is light and sweet, the windows are always open, and the streets explode with the songs and rhythms of three generations. It’s a community on the brink of change, full of hopes, dreams, and pressures, where the biggest struggle can be deciding which traditions you take with you, and which ones you leave behind.

Produced by the award-winning team behind Violet and Songs for A New World, In the Heights boasts a stellar Australian creative team with Director Luke Joslin (Songs for a New World), Musical Direction by dual Sydney Theatre Award winning Lucy Bermingham (Violet, Spring Awakening) and Choreography by Amy Campbell (So You Think You Can Dance, Hispanic Attack).

Tickets for In The Heights are now available online at hayestheatre.com.au or by calling the Hayes Theatre Co box office during business hours on (02) 8065 7337.

Erin James

Erin James is AussieTheatre.com's former Editor in Chief and a performer on both stage and screen. Credits include My Fair Lady, South Pacific and The King and I (Opera Australia), Love Never Dies and Cats (Really Useful Group), Blood Brothers (Enda Markey Presents), A Place To Call Home (Foxtel/Channel 7) and the feature film The Little Death (written and directed by Josh Lawson).

Erin James

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