In the Heights at Paramount Theatre

Chicago Tribune - Highly Recommended

"...Director Rachel Rockwell has found some remarkable — truly remarkable — young talent, deftly balanced between singers and dancers. And, forged away from the hierarchical world of Broadway, the company coalesces better as a true ensemble, a common story in Chicago. As Rockwell has staged the piece, you'd struggle to delineate the leads. In the lead role of Usnavi, Nick Demeris does not grab the show by the scruff of its neck and take charge. That bothered me at first, but as Rockwell's production spun on, I came to appreciate the way Usnavi melded more into the ensemble, a character whose aspirations and difficulties certainly are no greater than those faced by his neighbors."

Chicago Sun Times - Highly Recommended

"...The magic of “In the Heights,” Lin-Manuel Miranda’s 2008 Tony Award-winning musical about the Latino neighborhood of Washington Heights — the section of upper Manhattan that lies in the shadow of the George Washington Bridge — is its marvelous duality."

ChicagoCritic - Recommended

"... “In the Heights”, is an uplifting full-blown musical with a live orchestra, much energy, and a touching script.    Troublesome events are revealed, and most resolved with somewhat logical solutions.  The Paramount provides this bold and creative evening, or a total of four Broadway shows (In the Heights, Miss Saigon, 42nd Street and RENT) in a modestly-priced optional package.  It is hard to think of venues that compare to the Paramount anywhere else in the Chicago area for this type of grand production."

Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended

"...It has been only a few years since the renovated Paramount Theatre in Aurora began its Broadway Musical Series, and each production that they do continues to prove that live theater is exciting to watch and the Paramount does it right!. Under the direction of Jim Corti who has proven that the need for the suburbs is just as strong as in the city. There are many of us, who until they come to Aurora, are under the impression that this is just a western suburb-it is NOT!. Aurora is in fact, the second largest city in the State of Illinois and the Paramount Theatre is a perfect place for Broadway Musicals."

Chicago Theatre Review - Highly Recommended

"...Ms. Rockwell's ensemble cast is uniformly excellent. As Usnavi, Nick Demeris skillfully leads the audience on a tour of the Heights, seamlessly both introducing his friends and neighbors while launching their stories. Demeris is an appealing young actor inspiring audiences to wholeheartedly cheer for his success. Long-time Chicago favorite, Paula Scrofano is perfectly cast as Abuela Claudia, the lovable neighborhood elder and matriarch who's raised Usnavi and his cousin Sonny. Her two big numbers, "Paciencia Y Fe" and "Hundreds of Stories" are both sung beautifully with heartfelt sensitivity. Christina Nieves' Nina, the smart, likable young lady who's the first to leave her neighborhood to attend college, sings the roof off the theatre. Her genuineness makes her an easy match with Jonathan Butler-Duplessis as Benny, the African-American dispatcher who works for Nina's parents (Ricardo Gutierrez and a fiesty Lucina Johnston). Their duets "Sunrise" and "When You're Home" simply soar."