Viewing Log April 16, 2012

PBS Series - Great Performances

Chasing Broadway Dreams: In the Heights, Part One
Name: __________________________________________

Before Watching the Clip

This week, we will be watching a PBS documentary that will take us behind the scenes at the creation, production, rehearsal and opening of the
Broadway musical, In The Heights. In The Heights is a Tony-Award winning original musical (one genre of drama) that was dreamt up by Lin Manuel
Miranda during his sophomore year of college in 2000. It took eight years for In The Heights to go from an idea to a fully staged Broadway show.
During those eight years, the story, characters, setting, script (also called a book) and songs (also called the libretto) were finalized. Auditions
for the characters were held, choreographers worked to create the dances, and producers were brought in to oversee the production of the whole
show. In The Heights tells the story of three days in the life of a community of immigrants who live in New York City trying to find out what it means
to be home and chase their own dreams.
In this first clip, we will be introduced to Lin Manuel Miranda and the actors who play the roles of some of the characters in In The Heights. Three
weeks before the shows opening night, we will get to see what rehearsals look like.
Vocabulary

Tony Awards: awards that recognize achievements on Broadway (like the Grammy Awards for music)

book: the script for a musical, which contains all the words and the stage direction

choreographer: creates the series of movements and dances for the actors

blocking: the actors place and position on stage (determined by the director)

lyricist: the individual who develops the words for the songs

composer: the individual who creates the music that will go along with the lyrics

producer: oversees all parts of the show, especially the budget

Viewing Log April 16, 2012

PBS Series - Great Performances
Chasing Broadway Dreams: In the Heights, Part One

During (or after) Watching the Clip

What does home mean to you?
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Name two characters from In The Heights that we were introduced to in the video.
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Name at least one thing that the actors need to do while in rehearsals to prepare for opening night.
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