Austin’s ZACH Theatre recently announced the cast for Hamilton composer/playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tony Award winning Broadway musical In the Heights. With music and lyrics by Miranda and book by Quiara Alegría Hudes, In the Heights will take the stage in the Topfer Theatre May 31 – July 2, 2017 and is directed by Michael Balderrama, San Antonio-native and original Broadway cast member and dance captain of In the Heights.

Michael has been with the show from its inception at the workshop production, Off-Broadway, Broadway, and directed the first and second national tours. In the Heights is a collaboration between ZACH Theatre and Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma (Oklahoma City, OK) using the same cast and creatives for both engagements. Once In the Heights closes in the Topfer Theatre, it will play on stage at the Civic Center Music Hall with the Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City August 8 – 12, 2017.

Currently Resident Choreographer for the groundbreaking musical Hamilton, Balderrama is an American Director/Choreographer, Dancer and Producer, who has taught and choreographed for more than 20 years, in over 30 states, and around the world. Michael’s notable Broadway credits include Ghost, In the Heights, Hot Feet, Movin’ Out, Urban Cowboy, and Saturday Night Fever. Michael can also be see on film in Rock of Ages, Across the Universe, and Michael Jackson’s Ghost. Michael has had the privilege of working with Gloria Estefan, Bruno Mars, Michael Jackson, Sutton Foster, Vanessa Williams, Brian Adams, Mariah Carey, and Jay Sean.

This groundbreaking, vibrant musical won the Tony Award for Best Musical for Lin-Manuel Miranda and the same dynamic creative team behind Broadway’s breakout hit Hamilton. Set in NYC’s Washington Heights, this “Upper West Side Story” dazzles with sizzling song and dance, hip hop, salsa, merengue, all as the hopes, romances, and dreams of a community ignite over the July 4th weekend. The show is a joyous, infectious, and moving musical perfect for ages 10 and up.

“I’m looking forward to our summer collaborations with the fantastic ZACH Theatre in Austin,” Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma Producing Artistic Director, Michael Baron exclaims. “I’ve had the pleasure of directing Spring Awakening and Peter and the Starcatcher there and Dave Steakley, ZACH’s Producing Artistic Director recently directed the hit comedy, Fully Committed, here at Lyric. It just made sense to share the amazing talents, creative teams, and resources of OKC and Austin when putting together Million Dollar Quartet and In the Heights. Dave is directing Million Dollar Quartet and we’re both excited to host Michael Balderrama, resident choreographer for Hamilton in Chicago, to direct In the Heights. I think audiences in both cities are going to have a blast celebrating the music of Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins as well as experience Lin Manuel Miranda’s infectiously joyous musical, In the Heights. But don’t worry, while our theaters might get along, the football rivalry is still strong across the Red River!”

Tickets for ZACH’s production start at $25 and are available online at zachtheatre.org, by phone at 512-476-0541 x1, or in person at the ZACH Theatre Box Office, in the Topfer Theatre.

In the Heights Cast & Crew