Spotlight on In the Heights
Stevie Lopez stars as Usnavi in StageArt’s return season of In The Heights, next week at The National Theatre, St Kilda. The Tony Award winning musical is written by the same composer/writer as the current Broadway smash Hamilton. David Spicer spoke to Stevie about his latest role and his recent experiences of working on Pirates of the Caribbean and Here Come The Habibs.
David Spicer: For those who nothing about In The Heights how would you describe it?
Stevie Lopez: In The Heights tells the story of a vibrant community in New York’s Washington Heights, a place where the coffee from the corner bodega is light and sweet, the windows are always open and the breeze carries the rhythm of three generations of music. It’s a community on the brink of change, full of hopes, dreams and pressures, where the biggest struggles can be deciding which traditions you take with you, and which ones you leave behind. It will make you Laugh, cry and dance in your seat!
DS: Where does your character fit in the story?
SL: Usnavi is always right at the centre of this story, his bodega (corner store) is a place that everyone in the neighbourhood passes through, for gossip, advice or just a sweet cup of coffee. At times doubling as the narrator, he’s the Shakespeare of El Barrio; a sidewalk philosopher; a streetlight illuminating the stories of the people. He raps his way through the day while bringing good coffee and good advice to all.
DS: How parochial is the story to the suburb it was written for?
SL: I believe the story is very relevant and true to the area its from; Washington Heights like many neighbourhoods in New York has been a melting pot of diverse cultures from all around the world who are united by the streets they live on and communities they belong too.
DS: The composer/writer has shot to even greater fame due to the theatre world going troppo about his new work Hamilton. What are the similarities in style between the two musicals?
SL: Like in In The Heights Lin-Manuel Miranda has once again successfully used hip-hop / beat poetry to tell the story of Alexander Hamilton, one of for the Founding Fathers of the United States. Both shows have a very ethnically diverse cast which is even more impressive in Hamilton considering the period it is set in.
DS: Do you think hip hop will become common in music theatre?
SL: I think the door is firmly open and I hope to see more different styles of music incorporated into musicals in the future.
DS: You have had a swashbuckling time of late. Tell us about your experience filming Pirates of the Caribbean?
SL: I had a extremely wonderful time working on Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. To be part of such a iconic franchise in Pirates of the Caribbean is something I'm really proud of, but the opportunity to work along side Oscar winners Javier Bardem and Geoffrey Rush, and of course Johnny Depp, was something very special and I'm grateful for the time I got spend on set with actors of their calibre.
DS: Did you meet Johnny Depp’s pet dog?
SL: Unfortunately Pistol and Boo never made it on to set. But lucky for us we had “Jack” the Monkey on set, who kept us all very entertained.
DS: What about Johnny Depp?
SL: I did have the pleasure of working with Johnny, who was always extremely funny and down to earth on set.
DS: You have also been in Here Come The Habibs; do you think it has pandered to racial stereotypes?
SL: I hope that the show has opened the door for more multicultural and diverse programs on the big commercial stations. Apart from this one, there hasn't been a series like this on any major network since Acropolis Now in the early 90’s. Hopefully Here Come The Habibs can serve as the first steps in the right direction to more equality and diversity in the Australian a film and television industry.
DS: Do you prefer working in musicals or TV/movies?
SL: I love story telling and I'm always looking for great parts and stories to tell, so I really have no preference between the two. Although I do think there is something special about sharing the same oxygen as your audience does when you perform in theatre.
DS: Where does In The Heights rank in your view?
SL: Personally I love In the Heights, coming from a Spanish back ground myself and from a migrant family, so many of the themes and stories in the show resonate with me. It is a ground breaking piece and a story I’m truly honoured to tell.
Photographer: Belinda Strodder.
There are four performances of In the Heights at the National Theatre St Kilda on March 11 and 12, 2016.
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