Townie #2, who admittedly is my big theater nerd, fell in love with the Broadway cast recording of In the Heights the very first time she listened to it a few years back. One go through, and she was hooked on the catchy rap tunes and the way they blend seamlessly with the salsa and bodega beats. She’s often lamented since that first listen how she hadn’t known about In the Heights when it was still on Broadway, and has often dreamed of seeing the show. Imagine my glee when I heard that the Seacoast Repertory Theatre was staging a production of In the Heights this spring!
With a preview night on Thursday, March 22, In the Heights has its opening night on Friday, March 23rd and will run through Sunday, April 22nd. The Seacoast Repertory Theater is located in the heart of downtown Portsmouth, NH. There are still seats available at just about every performance, but you’ll have a better selection the further out you are willing to book your tickets.
For more information on the show or to purchase tickets, visit the Seacoast Repertory website at: http://www.seacoastrep.org/in-the-heights/
A note on parking when you attend a show at Seacoast Rep: while it will be tempting, don’t park in the St. John’s Episcopal Church parking lot which is *right across the street* . Patrons to the theater do not have permission to park there and you run the risk of being towed. There are plenty of parking options in Portsmouth within walking distance, one of the big ones being the Hanover Street garage. (Parking tip for the garage: if the “Lot Full” sign is up on the Hanover Street entrance, drive around to the Fleet Street side and enter there…odds are you can find a spot somewhere on the upper levels.) Leave extra time to account for finding parking and hoofing it to Seacoast Rep! My favorite place to park in Portsmouth is what my family refers to as “The Whale Parking Lot”… the metered public parking area officially known as the Worth Lot just off Maplewood Avenue. There’s one of the life-size whale murals painted by artist Robert Wyland there. The name of the mural is Isle of Shoals Humpbacks, and it was the 37th mural out of the 100 he painted as part of his 27 year project. It’s a fascinating story. For more informationon Wyland and his murals, go to: http://www.wylandfoundation.org/community.php?subsection=wyland_walls
There are so many great dining options in Portsmouth, it’s easy to have a fantastic dinner after a matinee performance or before an evening show. One of my new favorite casual spots in Portsmouth is BRGR Bar, at 34 Portwalk Place (corner of Deer St. and Portwalk Pl., right next to the Marriott Residence Inn) This place doesn’t serve your typical boring burgers and fries. Their takes on the American classic are unique and delicious. It’s worth a visit for the peanut butter and chocolate milkshake alone! https://www.brgr-bar.com/
