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Playhouse aims for the ‘Heights’

Back in 2022, Caitlyn Santiago and Isa Foltz were working together on a show at Youngstown Playhouse and were the only two people with Hispanic backgrounds involved in the production.

"I looked at her one day and I was like, 'you know, what would be really cool? I really want to direct 'In the Heights.' I would love for you to be my stage manager,'" Santiago said.

That dream becomes a reality on Friday, when "In the Heights" opens at the Playhouse for a two-weekend run.

While "Hamilton" made Lin-Manuel Miranda a star recognized even by those who've never set foot in a New York theater, the hip hop take on American history wasn't his first hit. "In the Heights" ran for 1,184 performances on Broadway and won the 2008 Tony Award for best musical.

"I've been dreaming about doing this show since I first started doing theater," Santiago said. "I'm Puerto Rican (and) finding 'In the Heights' helped me learn more about my culture and, honestly, it was very helpful to see people like myself up on a theater stage, because you don't really see Latin and Hispanic people on stage and being able to tell their stories."

Santiago said the Playhouse was having trouble getting the rights for some of the shows it was considering for the opening slot of its 2026-27 season. She suggested "In the Heights" to Playhouse board President John Cox.

Santiago told him, "If we get the rights for the show, then put me in, coach. I’m ready to direct." She has stage managed many local productions and worked as an assistant director and co-director before, but this will be her first outing as a solo director.

Musicals that win Tonys, especially those that aren't dependent upon special effects that only Broadway can afford, usually go into heavy rotation on community and regional stages. "In the Heights" is under-performed compared to, for example, "Come from Away," which will be staged twice in Mahoning County before the end of the year, because of its predominantly Hispanic and minority cast.

Santiago didn't precast any of the roles, but she made sure certain actors were going to come to auditions, and she also reached out to local Spanish organizations to spread the word.

"Honestly, we got the response that we were looking for," she said. "I was very happy and very honored, and just thrilled to be able to cast my show appropriately with the people that we got. I thought it was going to be a lot harder."

The cast features Donovan Rubante, Malina Funes-Kendrick, Savanah Hernandez, Justin Pope, Missy Rentas, Austin Barringer, Nate Jones, Julia Stefanowicz, CJ Hall, Angie Mercado, Zavier Rubante, Joseph Campbell, Patty Carr, Kate Congo, Mekhi Dawson, Megan Delaney, Michael Gomez, Zion Hunter, Jaietta Jackson, Nikita Jones-Beacham, Logan Kaminski, Makenna Liller-Dahmen, Belita Rubante, Andy Scott, Donovan Stringer and Adriana Traficante.

They also brought in some outside talent for the production team. The choreographer is Amber Ardolino, who has appeared on Broadway in such musicals as "Hamilton," "Moulin Rouge," "Back to the Future" and "Funny Girl." Ardolino is friends with Tyler Stouffer, the Playhouse's operations manager, and was working on a show in the Pittsburgh area.

"She was so sweet and so energetic, and she was just so excited to get her hands on this project," Santiago said. "She came into town about two, three weeks ago, and we worked endlessly from Monday to Monday. It was the seven days of straight choreo, and she was fantastic.

"You always get nervous working with people who have worked in a professional setting and worked with so many great, amazing theater legends. You never know what you’re gonna get, and she was just so sweet and so genuine. She loved working with the cast, and they loved working with her, and it was a really good environment. And I’m honestly blown away with my cast too, because our choreo is not easy choreo at all."

The music director is Clay Colley, who's a member of the band Black Wolf & the Thief. Santiago is good friends with Colley and his wife, Carolyn, and she wanted someone who was familiar with the Latin-based music that influenced Miranda's score, and preferred someone who spoke Spanish. Santiago said Colley is far more fluent in Spanish than she is.

The musical is set in New York's predominantly Hispanic Washington Heights neighborhood and takes place over three days in July, telling several interwoven stories.

"It's a very heartwarming story about love and community. And what’s nice about this story is that it’s not just about Latinos and Hispanics. It’s just about people in general. You know, these stories are being told by the Latin and Hispanic community, but these are stories that could be about anyone. Anyone in the audience can look and see themselves on the stage. You just see a girl liking a boy, and you see a father willing to do what he needs to do to make sure his daughter succeeds. You see a grandmother who just loves her kids and her people with all of her being. There’s a young boy who’s dreaming of a better tomorrow. Everyone’s going to be able to see themselves on that stage, regardless of who you are."

If you go …

WHAT: The musical "In the Heights"

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday through Sept. 6

WHERE: Youngstown Playhouse, 600 Playhouse Lane, Youngstown

HOW MUCH: Tickets range from $18 to $28 for adults and $13 to $23 for children (plus fees) and are available online at youngstownplayhouse.org/boxoffice/ and by calling 330-788-8739.