Lin-Manuel Miranda's “In the Heights” hits the Jordan-Matthews stage on November 16-18

SILER CITY, N.C. — Lin-Manuel Miranda’s first Tony Award-winning musical, “In the Heights,” will fill the Jordan-Matthews High School stage with vibrant Latin music and a large student cast for three performances later this month.

Performances at the Jordan-Matthews Auditorium are Thursday, Nov. 16, at 7 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 17, at 7 p.m.; and Saturday, Nov. 18, at 4 p.m.

Tickets are $5 each and now available online at JMArtsTickets.com. Remaining tickets will be sold at the door and child care will be provided by student clubs with a suggested donation of $5 per child.

“In the Heights” won 2008 Tony Awards for Best Musical and Best Original Score, as well as a Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album and Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music. Miranda, a Pulitzer Prize winner for his most recent musical, “Hamilton,” wrote the music and lyrics for “In the Heights,” collaborating with book writer Quiara Alegría Hudes.

It follows residents of the Washington Heights neighborhood during three hot days in New York City. Often funny, at times heartbreaking, immigrant neighbors push to get ahead in life and grapple with what is home.

“'In the Heights' is about family, home and dreams for a better life,” said Rose Pate, who is producing the musical. "It's the story, not just of America now, but America since its beginning. With situations like struggling to send children to college, trying to move out of poverty and falling in love for the first time, everyone can identify with something in this show.”

Because of its themes, the musical is appropriate for middle school and up. Pate describes it as “PG-13” — much like the production of “Grease” performed at Jordan-Matthews a couple of years ago, which also included some drinking, brief discussions about sex and mild profanity. 

Matt Fry, the choral music teacher and musical director for “In the Heights,” says the contemporary musical presents an artistic challenge for young actors. “Just as an example, we made the decision to use recorded music instead of live instruments this year,” Fry said. “It was really for a couple of reasons. First, because of the complexity of the orchestration, but also because the kids can now practice on their own with the actual music they will use in the show. This gives us more time to focus on the rich vocal parts, which are also demanding.

“Based on what we’ve seen so far, the students are going to give an amazing performance."

Director Jessica Nunn agrees. She said that students began rehearsals knowing almost nothing about the show, but have united to put an inspiring story on stage for the entire community. “They have gone on an amazing journey together,” she said. "Each year I'm so proud when I see young actors reach the point where they truly inhabit the characters, and I especially appreciate the leadership shown by Orlando Balderas as the main character, Usnavi."

To make it easier for families to attend the production, child care will be provided again this year for families with small children. Pate said producers want every member of the family to have a great evening, so students from the school’s HOSA and LEO clubs — with adult supervision — will provide babysitting during the show. Clubs are requesting a donation of $5 per child, the same price as a show ticket. Care will be provided in the media center, near the auditorium, so parents can check on their children during intermission.

Jordan-Matthews's creative team has wanted to produce “In the Heights” for several years. But getting students ready to stage such a challenging musical took some time — not just for actors, but set designers as well. Rahkie Mateen-Mason's art students in the stage design class and carpentry students built the neighborhood of Washington Heights in what Pate describes as a “tremendous team effort constructing the most ambitious set we've ever had.” 

With everyone ready, the time was right. “Lin-Manuel Miranda is so well-known after ‘Hamilton' that it seemed like the perfect year,” Pate said. “We know that everyone who comes will end up loving this music just as our students do. They can't stop singing it whenever they are together.”

More information about the production and other events scheduled for this season are available online at jmarts.org.

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Carnaval del Barrio brings music, juried art exhibition to Siler City

SILER CITY, N.C. — A vibrant celebration of Latino culture — complete with music, food and a juried art exhibition — will energize downtown when Carnaval del Barrio arrives on Friday, October 20, in Siler City.

Carnaval del Barrio, or Neighborhood Carnival, draws its title from a song in the Broadway musical, “In the Heights.” That Tony Award-winning show by Lin-Manuel Miranda will be performed next month at Jordan-Matthews High School.

The free community celebration from 6 to 9 p.m. highlights the upcoming musical and is part of the popular Downtown Music Series. It will be hosted at the corner of South Chatham Avenue and W. Second Street by Courtyard Coffee and Soda and the NC Arts Incubator. The event also will be sponsored by JMArts, the Jordan-Matthews Arts Foundation.

Live Caribbean and Latin American music will be provided by Saludos Compay, a band based in the Research Triangle featuring lead vocalist and guitarist Pablo Valencia, a native of Chile known for drawing on a variety of musical styles. Also scheduled to perform are Erich Lieth on keyboards, Jeff Brown on saxophone and Robert Cantrell on timbales.

Before Saludos Compay takes the stage at 7 p.m., cast members now in rehearsal at Jordan-Matthews will perform a number from “In the Heights.”

Music isn’t the evening’s only headline event.

“Prelude to The Heights,” a free, juried art exhibition by Jordan-Matthews artists, highlights works inspired by the Washington Heights neighborhood in New York City, where the musical is set. Professional artists will judge the show, which is expected to draw between 50 and 100 works of art. First prize is $100; second prize is $50. Other works will be recognized as well.

“Students studied the Washington Heights neighborhood, including street scenes, people and graffiti, and chose images to inspire their work,” said art teacher Rahkie Mateen-Mason, who is a board member for JMArts. “They also were encouraged to showcase at least one of their own original designs that represents them as an artist.”

While music and art headline Carnaval del Barrio, there will be many more activities tied to the high school musical.

“Living in the Heights,” a 10-minute documentary about Washington Heights by multimedia journalist Kirby Pate, will be screening all evening. A graduate of Jordan-Matthews High School and New York University, Pate currently works in New York City as editor-producer for Backyard Media and producer of American Theatre’s “Three On the Aisle,” a new podcast featuring leading theater critics from the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post.

Courtyard Coffee will be adding a special beverage to its menu for the celebration. The Vanessa, a light and sweet coffee with a touch of cinnamon, draws its name from a character and its inspiration from a lyric in the musical.

Tickets will be on sale for the Big Apple Raffle to raise money for the New York Arts Adventure, a spring break trip to New York City introducing JM artists to the world’s best theater, music and visual arts while providing new perspectives for their work.

One pair of tickets to “In the Heights” will be given away, and food trucks will be on hand selling local specialties.

“We are very excited to have JMArts participate in our Downtown Music Series,” said Joan Underwood, owner of Courtyard Coffee and one of the event organizers. “We always enjoy having young people involved in our events, especially when they are showcasing what they are doing in theater, music, painting and other arts-related projects.”

JMArts is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. More about the foundation, including how to become a member, is available online at JMArts.org.

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JMArts holds barbecue supper to raise money for school arts

SILER CITY, N.C. — Home-cooked barbecue plates will provide much-needed support for student artists when Pig Out for JMArts is held on Friday, September 29, at Jordan-Matthews High School in Siler City.

The inaugural event raises money to help musicians, actors and visual artists throughout the year.

All proceeds will be used by JMArts, the nonprofit Jordan-Matthews Arts Foundation, for a range of projects. They include scholarships for student artists to study on college campuses during the summer, funding for the school’s November production of “In the Heights,” world-class performances for students traveling on the first-ever New York Arts Adventure and supplies for visual artists.

Gary Lamach is preparing this year’s barbecue. In addition to serving as the head of technology and testing at Jordan-Matthews, Lamach is a chef with years of experience in restaurants and catering.

Plates are $8 each and include chopped pork barbecue, slaw, bread, drink and dessert. They are available from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. for “eat-in” at the JM Cafeteria or “take out” in a drive-through line beginning near the school’s main entrance.

Anyone attending the home football game with Eastern Randolph that night may take plates into the stadium. Even the game has an artistic twist: It is Chatham County Band Night, with marching bands from Chatham Central, Jordan-Matthews and Northwood high schools performing after the game.

“This is a real community project, with students, staff, parents and others working to make Pig Out for JMArts a success,” said foundation president Rose Pate. “We have some extremely talented artists and are working hard to give them what they need to thrive. Memberships and fundraisers like these are a key to their success, so what could be better than enjoying some great barbecue for a great cause?"

JMArts is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. More about the foundation, including how to become a member, is available online at JMArts.org.

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