Education

See the return of high school musicals with ‘In the Heights,’ delayed by COVID, in Natomas

By Hector Amezcua

Natomas Charter School’s Benvenuti Performing Arts Center was once again filled with a student audience that laughed, screamed and cried on Wednesday.

After a two-year hiatus because of the coronavirus pandemic, the school’s students have returned to the stage with a production of Lin-Mauel Miranda’s “In the Heights.” The show, which opened March 25, is set in Washington Heights, a New York neighborhood full of immigrants pursuing their dreams.

“This show for me is a revival of something that I think I lost during the quarantine period,” said Matthew Smith, 18, who plays Benny. He will attend UCLA in the fall.

“Between that time and now I definitely lost something in myself in terms of what art I loved and how it allowed me to express myself. Being able to finally put on this show to really do it justice. It has allowed me to find that this is something that I want to keep doing,” he said.

Many of the original cast members graduated before being able to participate in the performance, said Genesis Crowly, 17, who plays Vanessa.

“The cultural aspect of ‘In the Heights’ is really important because I’m a Black actor and I’ve never been in a show that is just like this – so celebratory of culture and it’s really beautiful to see,’ said Crowly, who has been accepted into Howard University, a historically Black college that recently named its College of Fine Arts after iconic alumnus Chadwick A. Boseman.

The musical’s run continues Friday and concludes with two performances Saturday at the Benvenuti Performing Arts Center in Natomas. Tickets are $15 for general admission, $12 for students and seniors.

Natomas Charter School students Genesis Crowly, 17, and Ali Qadiri, 18, perform a scene Wednesday in their school’s production of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “In the Heights.” Qadiri, who plays lead Usnavi, said his character resonates with him. “Both my parents are immigrants. My father is a refugee from Afghanistan and my mother is an immigrant from Mexico. All of my family always refers to Afghanistan and Mexico as home, as in ‘when I go back home’ … ‘when I die bury me in my home.’ It’s so interesting to be able to see that connection on stage,” he said.
Natomas Charter School students Genesis Crowly, 17, and Ali Qadiri, 18, perform a scene Wednesday in their school’s production of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “In the Heights.” Qadiri, who plays lead Usnavi, said his character resonates with him. “Both my parents are immigrants. My father is a refugee from Afghanistan and my mother is an immigrant from Mexico. All of my family always refers to Afghanistan and Mexico as home, as in ‘when I go back home’ … ‘when I die bury me in my home.’ It’s so interesting to be able to see that connection on stage,” he said. Hector Amezcua hamezcua@sacbee.com
Natomas Charter School students Ali Qadiri and Matthew Smith, both 18, perform a scene from their school’s production of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “In the Heights” on Wednesday.
Natomas Charter School students Ali Qadiri and Matthew Smith, both 18, perform a scene from their school’s production of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “In the Heights” on Wednesday. Hector Amezcua hamezcua@sacbee.com
Natomas Charter School students Ali Qadiri, 18, and Genesis Crowly, 17, perform a scene from their school’s production of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical “In the Heights” on Wednesday.
Natomas Charter School students Ali Qadiri, 18, and Genesis Crowly, 17, perform a scene from their school’s production of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical “In the Heights” on Wednesday. Hector Amezcua hamezcua@sacbee.com
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