Friday October 23, 2009

Section FRIDAY EXTRA

Page 16

City life From the barrio straight to Tampa

"In the Heights" starts its national tour here to kick off the Broadway season, bringing hip-hop attitude and a fresh take on the American dream.

By KATHY L. GREENBERG

Tribune correspondent

The Broadway hit "In the Heights" has won a slew of awards for chasing down and delivering the American dream to theatergoers. Creator Lin-Manuel Miranda's vibrant, Latino-inspired musical speaks of the familiar themes of family, opportunity and hope.

Now fresh from Broadway, the show's national tour begins Tuesday in Tampa at the Performing Arts Center.

The title refers to New York's Washington Heights neighborhood, a barrio teeming with family-owned businesses built by Hispanic immigrants and their children. Central to the story are the owners of a taxi service, who struggled to put their daughter through college - the first in her family to go. Another family owns a beauty salon and a third runs a bodega. Everyone aspires to something better, and they all know it's possible in America.

"They're all dealing with a changing financial landscape," said Quiara Alegra Hudes, who wrote the book for "Heights." "It has a ripple effect on the families. Some businesses close, some survive."

The multigenerational story is relevant to both Miranda, who grew up in Washington...