The Playbill - Walnut Street Theatre

Who’s Who in the cast
Tikki Tavi, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Classical
Theatre of Harlem), Trouble (NYMF).
Matthew is also a frequent Hip Hop Choreographer
and Teacher. matthewjharris.net
JULIA HUNTER (Nina) is thrilled to join the
cast of In the Heights as her regional theatre debut.
After graduating from the American Musical and
Dramatic Academy, she performed with Norwegian
Cruise Lines as a principal production
singer. “I would like to thank my family, friends
and agency for their love and support.”
GIZEL JIMENEZ (Vanessa) Credits include:
First National Tour: West Side Story (Rosalia).
Film/TV: Timmy Two Chins (Lead/Jenifer);
Law & Order: SVU (Guest star/Angelica).
Commercials: Comedy Central and Funny Or
Die Productions. B.F.A. New World School of
the Arts, Miami, FL. Special thanks to: Walnut
Street Theatre, Heather, my family, and my
Hero, Dad. I love you always.
JOSHUA KEITH (Ensemble/Benny u/s)
is thrilled to make his WST debut. Originally
from Winston-Salem, North Carolina and seen
in the New York Stock Exchange commercial.
Credits include: A Christmas Carol (NSMT),
All Shook Up (NSMT), A Chorus Line
(MSMT), CUTMAN (Goodspeed Musicals),
OMAN OMAN! (Debbie Allen/The Kennedy
Center Opera House), The All Night Strut (Ira
Aldridge Theatre). Joshua 1:8-9.
MARIA KONSTANTINIDIS (Carla/Nina
u/s) is thrilled to be joining the Walnut again
for In the Heights! Recent Philadelphia credits:
Uncle Tom’s Cabin (Eliza), Buddy: The Buddy
Holly Story (Maria Elena u/s), ELFuego (Euki),
The Assassination of Jesse James (Billy).
Much love and thanks to Brian and the Walnut
Family! Paciencia y Fe.
CARLOS LOPEZ (Piragua Guy/Ensemble/
Kevin u/s) Walnut debut. Broadway: Man of
La Mancha (Barber), Grease (Sonny), Annie
Get Your Gun (Tommy Keeler), Wonderful
Town (Speedy), A Chorus Line (Mike and
Paul), The Pajama Game, Grand Hotel,
and Guys and Dolls. For additional credits,
QUIARA ALEGRÍA HUDES (Book) won
including world tours, national tours, tv and
PLAYBILL.COM the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for her play
film, visit iamcarloslopez.com.
Water by the Spoonful. She had previously
GABRIELLA SORRENTINO (Ensemble/ been a finalist for the Pulitzer two times: in
PLAYBILLVAULT.COM
Vanessa u/s) is a graduate from Point Park
University (B.F.A., dance). Recent credits: In
PLAYBILLVAULT.COM
the Heights Westchester and Pittsburgh Civic
Light Opera 2012 Summer Season. She trained
at Alvin Ailey in NYC for six years. She is also
trained in Salsa and Latin partnering. So happy to
be a part of this experience: No Para Sigue Sigue!
MICHAEL ANTHONY SYLVESTER
(Ensemble/Graffiti Pete u/s) is thrilled to be
returning to the Heights after recently closing
the Texas regional premiere! Tour: Todrick Hall’s
Oz the Musical. Regional: Joseph…Dreamcoat,
Hairspray, Whorehouse, Damn Yankees. Favorite
roles: Footloose (Ren), West Side Story (Chino),
and Joseph..Dreamcoat (Asher)! Film: Rising
Stars now available on Netflix and in stores!
PERRY YOUNG (Usnavi) is thrilled to reprise
his dream role at WST! Previous credits:
Usnavi, In The Heights (national tour), Sonny
LaTierri, Grease (Gateway Playhouse), and
Bernardo, West Side Story (Irvine Barclay
Theater). Originally from California, he sends
his love to his family on the West Coast for their
love and support.
LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA (Music and
Lyrics; Original Concept) won the 2008 Tony
Award for Best Original Score for In the
Heights. He wrote the first incarnation of In the
Heights during his sophomore year at Wesleyan
University, CT. Off-Broadway: In the Heights:
nine Drama Desk nominations, including Best
Music, Best Lyrics and won the award for
Outstanding Ensemble Performance; the Lucille
Lortel Award and Outer Critics Circle Award for
Best Musical; the Obie Award for Outstanding
Music and Lyrics; a Theatre World Award for
Outstanding Debut Performance and the Clarence
Derwent Award, both for Mr. Miranda’s
performance. He is the recipient of the 2007
ASCAP Richard Rodgers New Horizons
Award. TV/film: The Sopranos, Sex and the
City, House, and Sesame Street. A co-founding
member of Freestyle Love Supreme, a hip-hop
comedy group that tours comedy festivals all
over the world. Love and gratitude to Luz, Luis,
Lucecita y Mundi. He dedicates In the Heights
to the memory of Abuela Eva.
2007 for her play Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue and
in 2009 for In the Heights, for which she was