SEE THIS: In The Heights At The Cadillac Palace Theatre

By Suzy Evans in Arts & Entertainment on Dec 23, 2009 8:30PM

We haven’t been thrilled with the recent touring productions in Chicago. Even though a lot of pre-Broadway engagements and national tours come through the Windy City, this year didn’t work out so well. However, In the Heights makes up for everything negative we said before. Almost. (We’re still not sure about The 101 Dalmatians Musical.)

The show, which won the 2008 Tony for Best Musical, centers on a tight-knit Puerto Rican community in Washington Heights. For those unfamiliar with Manhattan geography, it’s as far north as you can go before you hit the Bronx. Three family-owned businesses - a car company, a general store and a salon - sit on a crowded street corner, and the owners struggle to make ends meet. Then someone on the block wins the lottery. Cue salsa dancing.

Composer Lin-Manuel Miranda, one of the most promising new artists around today, also received the 2008 Tony for best score, and his highly deserving arrangements are unlike anything else in musical theater. From hip-hop to ballads to pure Latin music, In the Heights fuses many influences for a broad appeal. Each character sings with a different rhythm and style, and they all come together in the show-stopping 96,000. You might not remember the lyrics, but you’ll remember how the songs made you feel.

This production was a little slow to start, and we didn’t feel the energy pick up until about halfway through Act 1. The actors seemed a little hesitant at first, and as Usnavi, the convenience store owner, Kyle Beltran struggled to find his confidence. However, he warmed up slowly, and breezed through his speedy lyrics, which would be incomprehensible without Beltran’s strong enunciation. He has large footsteps to follow in - Miranda originated the role - but we won’t play the comparing game.

We related most to Nina, the conflicted college student who’s home for the summer. Maybe it’s because we’re going through our own quarter life crisis or maybe it’s that Arielle Jacobs could sing her way to world peace. Seriously. Her mellifluous and angelic voice held the web of distraught characters together and drew the audience in with sweetness and grace.

All the actors shared a palpable chemistry, and the incredibly choreographed dance numbers balanced the show’s heartfelt moments. So, go see In the Heights. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry and you might even sign up for salsa classes.

In the Heights plays through January 3, 2010 at the Cadillac Palace Theatre. Tickets are available here.