The Latino community will be represented as the California State University, East Bay’s Theater and Dance Department will perform the multiple Tony Award-winning musical “In the Heights”, which opens on Friday at the University Theatre.

“The music and dance are off the chain,” said Darryl Jones, director of the production. “The music is the first thing that comes to mind. This was the first musical to wed the Afro-Caribbean rhythms of salsa, merengue, cha-cha, and bolero, with urban hip-hop grooves as well as traditional musical theatre songs. The score is so exciting and diverse that it appeals to everyone.”

The department’s production of the 2008 “Best Musical” Tony Award-winner will run for two weekends starting Mar. 6th. In addition to that award, “In the Heights” also recieved the Tony Award for Best Score and Best Choreography As well as a grammy for Outstanding Musical Production Album.

The musical, written about the struggles of a Latino community in New York, discusses the line between growing and following dreams while maintaining traditions that have been with them for years.

“I also wanted to direct a play about the Latino American community,” said Jones, “ I lived for a while in the Washington Heights, the Puerto Rican, Dominican American neighborhood on the upper West Side of Manhattan where the play takes place and I felt a special connection to the people and the music.”

The story follows a few days in the life of the Latino community in Washington Heights, as characters work through the sacrifices necessary to send their kids to college and make a better life for them. One father even considers selling his mechanic business to afford to send his daughter to Stanford University.

It is important to Jones, the director, to produce a play that represented the strong Latino population at CSUEB.

“We have a very large Latino community,” said Jones. “It was important to me that we let them know that they are a valued and vibrant part of the community and that the Theatre Department is a place where their stories will be told.”

With music and choreography styles ranging from salsa and merengue to hip-hop and breakdancing, the musical that was originally meant to represent one neighborhood, Washington Heights in New York, touches on many types of music and choreography from other cultures.

“The rehearsals have gone extremely well, said Jones. “ Laura Elaine Ellis and Cat Delos Santos have done an amazing job with the choreography. If you love to dance in your seat this is the show to see.”

The cast, made up of CSUEB Theater and Dance students will also feature guest performers from Foothill College, San Jose State, and others around the Bay Area.

“The guests heard about the show and they wanted to be part of it,” said Jones. “Sierra Dee our musical director is well-connected to the Bay Area community theater circuit and she put the word out about auditions.”

The Theater and Dance Department’s production of “In the Heights” will open Friday, Mar. 6th at 8pm, and will run through Mar. 15, concluding with a 2 p.m. matinee show. Tickets are currently available on the department’s website, as well as the box office.

Tickets for Friday’s opening night are currently discounted as a two for one package deal.