Alex Balderas (center) plays Usnavi de la Vega, the owner of a small bodega and the main narrator of “In the Heights” by Lin Manuel Miranda, during a dress rehearsal at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on April 22, 2019. The musical will run at Pierce College in the Performing Arts Theater on April 26 and 27 at 8pm, and April 28 at 2pm. Photo by Katya Castillo.
Alex Balderas plays Usnavi de la Vega, the owner of a small bodega and the main narrator of “In the Heights” by Lin Manuel Miranda, during a dress rehearsal at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on April 22, 2019. The musical will run at Pierce College in the Performing Arts Theater on April 26 and 27 at 8pm, and April 28 at 2pm. Photo by Katya Castillo.
Brenda Garcia (right) and Jeremy Lee (left) play the parents of Nina Rosario from “In the Heights” by Lin Manuel Miranda, during a dress rehearsal at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on April 22, 2019. The musical will run at Pierce College in the Performing Arts Theater on April 26 and 27 at 8pm, and April 28 at 2pm. Photo by Katya Castillo.
(left to right) Alex Balderas, Trevor Alkazian, Janel “JJ” Javier, and Nic Escalante rehearse “In the Heights” by Lin Manuel Miranda at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on April 22, 2019. The musical will run at Pierce College in the Performing Arts Theater on April 26 and 27 at 8pm, and April 28 at 2pm. Photo by Katya Castillo.
Trevor Alkazian, who plays Benny, rehearses “In the Heights” by Lin Manuel Miranda, during a dress rehearsal at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on April 22, 2019. The musical will run at Pierce College in the Performing Arts Theater on April 26 and 27 at 8pm, and April 28 at 2pm. Photo by Katya Castillo.
The cast of the Pierce College production of “In the Heights” by Lin Manuel Miranda, rehearse at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on April 22, 2019. The musical will run at Pierce College in the Performing Arts Theater on April 26 and 27 at 8pm, and April 28 at 2pm. Photo by Katya Castillo.
April Lam (left), who plays Vanessa, and Christine Avila (right), who plays Abuela Claudia, rehearse “In the Heights” by Lin Manuel Miranda at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on April 22, 2019. The musical will run at Pierce College in the Performing Arts Theater on April 26 and 27 at 8pm, and April 28 at 2pm. Photo by Katya Castillo.
The cast of the Pierce College production of “In the Heights” by Lin Manuel Miranda, rehearse at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on April 22, 2019. The musical will run at Pierce College in the Performing Arts Theater on April 26 and 27 at 8pm, and April 28 at 2pm. Photo by Katya Castillo.
Trevor Alkazian (right), who plays Benny, and Amy Solano (left), who plays Nina Rosario, rehearse “In the Heights” by Lin Manuel Miranda at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on April 22, 2019. The musical will run at Pierce College in the Performing Arts Theater on April 26 and 27 at 8pm, and April 28 at 2pm. Photo by Katya Castillo.
Claudia Rosario Olvera plays Daniela, a dramatic salon owner from “In the Heights” by Lin Manuel Miranda, during a dress rehearsal at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on April 22, 2019. The musical will run at Pierce College in the Performing Arts Theater on April 26 and 27 at 8pm, and April 28 at 2pm. Photo by Katya Castillo.
Alex Balderas (left) and Amy Solano (right) rehearse “In the Heights” by Lin Manuel Miranda at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on April 22, 2019. The musical will run at Pierce College in the Performing Arts Theater on April 26 and 27 at 8pm, and April 28 at 2pm. Photo by Katya Castillo.
Alex Balderas (left) and April Lam (right) rehearse “In the Heights” by Lin Manuel Miranda at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on April 22, 2019. The musical will run at Pierce College in the Performing Arts Theater on April 26 and 27 at 8pm, and April 28 at 2pm. Photo by Katya Castillo.
Trevor Alkazian (left), who plays Benny, and Amy Solano (right), who plays Nina Rosario, rehearse “In the Heights” by Lin Manuel Miranda at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on April 22, 2019. The musical will run at Pierce College in the Performing Arts Theater on April 26 and 27 at 8pm, and April 28 at 2pm. Photo by Katya Castillo.
The cast of the Pierce College production of “In the Heights” by Lin Manuel Miranda, rehearse at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on April 22, 2019. The musical will run at Pierce College in the Performing Arts Theater on April 26 and 27 at 8pm, and April 28 at 2pm. Photo by Katya Castillo.
The musical “In The Heights,” by Lin Manuel-Miranda, premiered in July of 2005 and on Broadway in March of 2008. It was nominated for 13 Tony awards and won four, including Best Musical, Best Original Score and Best Choreography.
The Pierce Theatre Department had the enviable trouble of more performers than roles.
“It was almost too difficult to cast because we had so much talent,” Vaaz said. “We have a double cast because we did not want to turn the talent away.
“In the Heights” opens Friday, April 26, at 8 p.m., at the Performing Arts Building Mainstage. The play will run April 27 and 28 and May 2-5 with the times varying.
