The show is set in a mostly Dominican-American neighbourhood of Washington Heights, New York. The story begins at first light on the hottest day of the year. Usnavi, the play’s central character opens his store and introduces the neighbourhood (“In the Heights”). Usnavi longs to return to his birth place; the Dominican Republic. Nina Rosario, a local success story, has just returned from her first year at Stanford and prepares to give her parents some news they won’t want to hear (“Breathe.”)

Nina’s parents Kevin and Camila are forced to seek a lone to keep their business afloat, leaving Benny, a friend of Nina’s, temporarily in charge (“Benny’s Dispatch.”) Across the street Vanessa, the object of Usnavi’s desire, dreams of leaving the neighbourhood behind her and escaping to a studio apartment in the West Village (“It Won’t Be Long Now.”) When Vanessa calls into Usnavi’s bodega, his younger cousin Sonny ask her out on a date on Usnavi’s behalf, which she accepts.

When Nina’s parents return she informs them that she lost her academic scholarship and dropped out of college. Nina’s father Kevin is upset that he cannot provide for his daughter (“Inútil Useless.”) Nina turns to her friend Vanessa but Vanessa’s boss, the gossiping salon owner Daniela, turns the conversation to Vanessa’s relationship with Usnavi. Daniela informs them that the salon will have to relocate to the Bronx due to rent increases in the neighbourhood. Nina then reveals to the salon that she has dropped out of university (“No Me Diga.”)

Usnavi discovers that he sold a winning lottery ticket worth $96,000 from his store. The cast dream of what they would do with the money (“96,000”). Abuela Claudia the matriarch of the neighbourhood, who looked after Usnavi after his parents died, reflects on her past and the journey from Cuba to New York in 1943 and discloses to the audience that she holds the winning lottery ticket (“Paciencia y Fé Patience and Faith.”)

Nina and Benny reminisce about the neighbourhood and share their feelings for one another (“When You’re Home.”) Nina’s father announces at a family party that he has sold the business to pay for Nina’s tuition. Vanessa and Usnavi go to a club on their date, they are joined by an angry Benny who has now lost his job, and Nina who is trying to console him. Tensions rise and the club erupts into a fight (“The Club”) before the power goes out. Chaos ensues as Usnavi, Vanessa, Nina and Benny all hunt for each other in the darkness. Sonny and Graffitti Pete attempt to distract any looters from the store by setting off fireworks, Abuela Claudia reveals to Usnavi that she is in possession of the winning lottery ticket. Nina and Benny eventually locate one another and what starts as an argument ends with a kiss (“Blackout”).

Benny and Nina spend the night together. The following morning Nina teaches Benny some Spanish while he worries about what her father will say when he finds out about their relationship (“Sunrise.”) Despite Sonny and Pete’s efforts the store has been looted. Abuela Claudia convinces Usnavi they should use her lottery winnings to move to his homeland, the Dominican Republic (“Hundred’s of Stories”). Nina’s parents have been looking for her all night. When her father finds out she has been with Benny he is extremely angry, he vows that Benny will never be a part of the Rosario family because he is not Latino however Camila steps in and ends the fight (“Enough.”)

The power cut and heat continue but the community are lead by Daniela in one last celebration before the closing of the salon and the Rosario’s car service. Usnavi announces his and Abuela Claudia’s plan to use the money to depart for the Dominican Republic which leaves Vanessa heart broken (“Carnaval del Barrio Neighborhood Carnival.”) Then Kevin announces over the taxi radio the shocking news that Abuela Claudia has died (“Atención Attention”) The neighbourhood holds a vigil for her while Usnavi performs a eulogy (“Alabanza Praise.”)  Usnavi and Nina rummage through a box of Claudia’s keepsakes (“Everything I Know.”) Nina decides to accept the money from her father and return to Stanford. (“No Me Diga Reprise.”)

Daniela reveals that she will co-sign on Vanessa’s dream apartment, after being persuaded by Usnavi (“Piragua Reprise”). Vanessa takes a bottle of champagne to Usnavi to thank him for his efforts but finds him too upset by the death of Abuela Claudia, she kisses him and departs (“Champagne.”) With Nina having decided to return to college Benny is uncertain about the future of their relationship “(When the Sun Goes Down.”) The following morning Usnavi prepares to close up shop when Sonny reveals a mural of Abuela Claudia he commissioned Graffiti Pete to paint on the bodega’s gate. Touched by the gesture Usnavi tells Sonny he’s changed his mind and promises to stay and pursue Vanessa as the block is his true home. (“Finale”)

Act I

• In the Heights
• Breathe
• Benny’s Dispatch
• It Won’t Be Long Now
• Inútil (Useless)
• No Me Diga (Don’t Tell Me)
• 96,000
• Paciencia y Fé (Patience and Faith)
• When You’re Home
• Piragua
• The Club
• Blackout

Act II

• Sunrise
• Hundreds of Stories
• Enough
• Carnaval del Barrio (Neighborhood Carnival)
• Atención (Attention)
• Alabanza (Praise)
• Everything I Know
• No Me Diga (Reprise)
• Piragua (Reprise)
• Champagne
• When the Sun Goes Down
• Finale

2008 Tony Awards: Best Musical, Best Original Score (Lin Manuel Miranda), Best Choreography (Andy Blankenbuehler), Best Orchestrations  (Alex Lacamoire and Bill Sherman)

Nominated for a 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Drama

USA: R & H Theatricals

The Narrator begins the show introducing the characters of Cinderella, Jack, and The Baker and his Wife who all wish for different things. In an extended “Prologue” we meet each of the characters and understand why they want to journey “Into the Woods” to get their wish. Cinderella is taunted by her Stepmother and sister Lucinda and Florinda. She calls on the help of the birds with her chores, and is inspired to visit the grave of her mother to pray, so she can make her way to the Festival. Jack is made to journey into the woods by his Mother to sell his cow for whatever they can make. Despite it being his only friend in the world, his mother is in desperate need of money. The Baker and his wife are desperate to have a child, but cannot conceive. The Witch appears and tells them that she laid a curse on their house after the Baker’s father stole from her garden which means they will never have children. To reverse the spell they must journey into the woods to find three items; the slipper as pure as gold, the cow as white as milk, the cape as red as blood and the hair as yellow as corn. The Baker sets off to get these items and is followed by his wife. Red Riding Hood journey’s into the woods to visit her granny who is sick in bed.

Cinderella prays at the grave of her mother for her wish to be granted. A gown and golden slippers fall from the sky and she rushes off to get her wish. A mysterious Man mocks Jack for selling his cow and tries to warn him about the dangers of the woods. Little Red Riding Hood is stopped on her journey by the Wolf who teases her, before she dashes off (“Hello Little Girl”). The Baker spots her cape and runs after her. Jack and his cow enter and The Baker’s Wife convinces him that he must sell his cow to them for 5 beans. She lies and tells him they are magic beans and they have their first item on the list, (“I Guess This is Goodbye/Maybe They’re Magic”). The Witch goes to visit her daughter Rapunzel who she has locked away in a tower to preserve her youth and beauty. As she calls up to her to climb her hair, they share a moment together, (“Our Little World”).

At Grandmother’s House, Little Red finds the Wolf instead of her granny. She is eaten up, but saved by the Baker who kills the Wolf. In return she gives him her red cape. Little Red sings about her experience (“I Know Things Now”). Jack’s mother scolds her son and angrily throws the beans away. Cinderella flees from the Festival, running from the Prince and his Steward. The Baker’s Wife spots her slippers and quizzes her about the ball, (“A Very Nice Prince”) before chasing after her to get the slippers, letting go of the cow at the same time. As “The First Midnight” chimes, everyone delivers their philosophy lost in the woods, as time begins to tick by for the Baker and his Wife.

Jack has climbed the beanstalk to the land of the Giants and describes his experience, telling his mother about the “Giant’s in the Sky”. He tries to buy back his cow from the Baker but he realises it is now lost. Cinderella’s Prince and Rapunzel’s Prince meet in the woods to compare notes on their relevant princesses and the “Agony” their love presents. The Baker’s Wife fools Rapunzel to let down her hair which is as yellow as corn, as the Mysterious Man gives the Baker the cow back.

The Baker’s Wife meets Cinderella again and misses out on the slippers once again. The Baker and his Wife discuss how the quest has brought them closer together and admit they need to work together to find the items (“It Takes Two”). Jack tries to exchange a hen that lays a golden egg for his cow, but just as the “Second Midnight” chimes, the cow dies. The Witch realises that Rapunzel has been visited by a Prince and punishes her by cutting off her hair (“Stay With Me”). Cinderella has smeared pitch on the steps of the palace to stop her now nightly pursuit as she flees from the Festival (“On the Steps of the Palace”). The Baker’s Wife tries to give her magic beans for her shoes but Cinderella throws them away. An almighty crash is heard and Jack’s Mother screams that a dead giant has fallen from the sky. The Baker and his Wife assemble with the items to give the Witch, with a fake cow covered in flower. As the potion fails, she brings the original cow back to life and feeds all the items to the cow. Jack milks his cow and gives the Witch the potion, and she becomes young and beautiful once again.

Cinderella’s Prince travels across the land to find the girl whose foot fits the slipper. Arriving at Cinderella’s house her Stepmother forces it on Lucinda and Florinda’s feet by chopping off their toe and heel. As the Prince notices the blood, and with some help from Cinderella’s Mother at the grave, he realises it is Cinderella who he fell in love with. At their wedding, birds fly down and peck out the stepsister’s eyes, making them blind. Rapunzel’s Prince falls from the tower into a patch of thorns and is blinded, and Rapunzel meets him whilst wandering through the desert with twins. Her tears cure his blindness and they live happily together. As the whole cast come together to celebrate their “Ever After”, the narrator warns that the story is to be continued, as a beanstalk grows into the sky.

Act Two opens with a similar Prologue to the first, where we see each of the characters after their ‘happily ever after’. Cinderella is fed up of being married to a Prince, Jack misses his kingdom in the sky despite his riches and The Baker and his Wife are stressed by the arrival of their child and the lack of room. Everyone is knocked over by a large crash and everyone heads into the woods to investigate. (“So Happy/Act II Prologue”). The woods have now become a much scarier place thanks to the Giant which is now on the loose. The Princes are both bored with their lives and have fallen in love with Snow White and Sleeping Beauty respectively, who bring them a similar level of “Agony (reprise)”.

As everyone comes together lost in the woods, the voice of the female giant booms down as she is looking for Jack who killed her husband. The group begin to regret their actions and offer the Narrator as a sacrifice. The giant realises she has been tricked and promises to return and destroy the kingdom. As she leaves, she steps on Rapunzel and the Witch is distraught, (“Witch’s Lament”). The Witch goes off in search of Jack.
The Baker finds Cinderella at the now ruined grave of her mother. They decide to stay together for comfort, along with Little Red and the baby.

The Baker’s Wife runs into Cinderella’s Prince who charms her and they enjoy a “Moment in the Woods”. As the Prince leaves her, she reflects on her decision and as she faces the moral dilemma, she is stood on by the Giant. The Witch finds Jack and they all argue about whose fault it is that the Giant is here, (“Your Fault”). The Witch is furious and throws away all the remaining magic beans and vanishes, (“Last Midnight”).

The Baker is upset at losing his wife, but the spirit of his father visits him and they agree to have “No More” trouble in the woods. Together they all hatch a plan to bring down the Giant by using the birds to peck out her eyes. The Baker and Cinderella comfort Jack and Little Red, who are scared by the happenings in the woods, (“No One is Alone”). The Giant falls for their trap and crashes to earth.

All the characters re enter and tell what they have learnt, and The Baker’s Wife’s spirit urges her husband to teach their child and tell them what he knows. The Witch returns and warns them that “Children Will Listen”. They all agree that in life, we all have to journey “Into the Woods” to get our wishes as the curtain falls.

Act I

• Prologue: Into the Woods
• Cinderella at the Grave – Narrator, Cinderella
• Hello, Little Girl – Wolf, Red Riding Hood
• I Guess This Is Goodbye – Jack
• Maybe They’re Magic – Baker and Baker’s Wife
• I Know Things Now – Red Riding Hood
• A Very Nice Prince – Cinderella, Baker’s Wife
• First Midnight – Full Cast
• Giants in the Sky – Jack
• Agony – Rapunzel’s Prince, Cinderella’s Prince
• It Takes Two – Baker and Baker’s Wife
• Second Midnight – Full Cast
• Stay With Me – Witch
• On the Steps of the Palace – Cinderella
• Ever After – Full Cast

Act II

• Act II Prologue: So Happy – Full Cast
• Agony (reprise) – Rapunzel’s Prince, Cinderella’s Prince
• Lament – Witch
• Any Moment – Cinderella’s Prince
• Moments in the Woods – Baker’s Wife
• Your Fault – Jack, Baker, Red Riding Hood, Witch, Cinderella
• Last Midnight – Witch
• No More – Baker – Mysterious Man
• No One Is Alone – Cinderella, Red Riding Hood, Baker, Jack
• Finale: Children Will Listen – Full Cast

Cut Songs

• Back to the Palace
• Interesting Questions
• Just Like Last Night
• Boom Crunch!

• Nine Tony nominations: Winner for Best Score and Best Book.
• Winner of the New York Drama Critics Circle Award.
• Grammy Award for Best Original Cast Album.
• 2002 Tony Award for Best Musical Revival
• 2011 Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival

UK: Josef Weinberger

USA: Musical Theatre International