In the Heights

I went last Sunday and it was more than 3/4 full. I spoke to one of the cast afterwards and he said they are hoping it'll pick up more soon. Weekdays seem to be especially quiet (Tuesday matinees are dead).

It is a shame, the show deserves to sell out all the time in my opinion.

This is a show that has really grown on me. First viewing wasn't great, but it's easy to take to the music and the energy once you realise that nothing much of consequence will happen during the show.

I saw both the Friday 12th and Sunday 14th evening shows this week, and the cast was decimated both times. As far as I can tell, this was due to illness (and Jade Ewen's injury).


Friday, the theatre was pretty full with a few empty seats dotted around.

Jocasta Almgill was on as Camila (there was a tweet from Jade Ewan that Jocasta would be covering Vanessa, so this must have been a late change - Jocasta was strong vocally, but young looking for someone meant to have a daughter in college)
Courtney Mae Briggs was on as Vanessa
Alexzandra Sarmiento was on as Carla - and also in the ensemble

That left the dance ensemble very unbalanced, with four males and two females. A little bit of order confusion and some cut down numbers, but generally worked well.


Sunday was where cast availability really fell apart.

The show had to go on as the theatre was packed (a lot of seats gone from a Today Tix lottery as far as I can tell).

The start was delayed from 20:30 until 20:45 - looked like there were still staging arrangements being sorted.

Jocasta Almgill was on as Camila again
This time, Sarah Naudi was on as Vanessa
Alexzandra Sarmiento again did the double duty as Carla and the ensemble

As well as all the female ensemble being off or covering other roles, all the male ensemble and swings were off as well (including the three who were fine on Friday)

Poor Cleve September (Sonny) was doubling up in the ensemble, working along with Antoine Murray-Straughan (Graffiti Pete) who usually shares the ensemble as well. For the first half, Cleve had to keep checking his script in the shop and there were various discussions going on (quietly) around the cast. Even Piragua Guy was on stage more than usual.

It went remarkably well considering, although the big numbers lost something with the shortage of people, and the nightclub scene was difficult. There were some logistical issues, like getting the scenery on and off stage and the stairs being moved around looked a bit unsafe (with only one person per set of stairs at one point instead of the usual two people).

So, this was at most an ensemble of two males and two females - and often less than that (compared with four males and four females early in the run before illness/accidents/pregnancies/holidays etc happened).

Must only be one step away from David Badella joining in with the ensemble!

Well done to any of the cast reading this for being able to go ahead and making this look smooth. Most people wouldn't have noticed the difference.

Will be interesting to see what happens over the coming weeks.

When I went in January they had "at this performance the role of x will be played by y" notices on the video screens outside in the 'waiting room'.

Can someone explain how they can get so short staffed? I'd have thought they'd be able to cope using swings and/or parachuting people in to be ensemble members - given the unemployment rate among theatre actors I can't imagine it's hard to find someone capable.

First time I saw the understudy list on screen was in January I think. In December the screen only said Philippa Stefani would be playing Daniella (so just the long term cover on the screen) but they made an announcement in the foyer pre show with all other understudies.

I can't even remember an announcement in December, and we definitely had Nathan Amzi as Piragua Guy (who isn't even "officially" in the cast"). 
And I'm also pretty sure that Philippa Stefani wasn't mentioned on the screen.

But maybe I shouldn't rush right in the theatre when they open up.

Still odd to not have the announcement in the actual theatre right before "curtain up" though.

Hmmm, I've booked to see this on a Tuesday afternoon in May. By the sounds of it, I can expect a deserted theatre and several absent members of cast!

I did try Twitter, but this isn't one of the shows that gets reported on much there (and most of the cast don't comment - although one of them did say he was ill and tucked up in bed, which was a giveaway). Right now, it's turn up and see.

There's one video screen, by platform 2. It rotates a few different pieces of information, but the cast changes for the leads shows every so often.

Sunday, they also announced the changes over the loudspeaker (didn't notice that on Friday, but I got there quite close to starting time due to tube delays).

No mention anywhere regarding the ensemble. I just worked that out based on knowing who normally performs (and the cast list on the website).

I'm there tomorrow matinee too (Tues). Just had a quick look on the ATG tickets website and there aren't a huge number left at all, only a handful. Maybe half term means bigger audiences.
I'm really looking forward to catching the show as it's not often I see something I'm unfamiliar with.

Hope you have entered our competition to win the free tickets dan!

I'm here too, 30 minute delay and a few understudies but having seen it in October in previews it hasn't lost anything and is still one of my current faves.

It's odd seeing the amount of role swapping though, recognising them from who they should be to who they are currently playing although I do enjoy that Graffiti Pete has become Graffiti Paula.

Bring on the 2nd half!

Did you grab a list of who was on today?

Graffiti Paula is a new one on me. That actually sounds like it would work well, but would need a few changes in tracks and interactions.

Wish they'd announce cast updates through @westendcovers though. Still hoping to catch a show with Michael Cortez on as Usnavi.