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Professional Motion Picture Production and Distribution NEWS
Universal Pictures to Produce Film Adaptation of 2008 Tony Award(R) Winning Best Musical "In the Heights"
By Universal Pictures
posted Nov 12, 2008, 09:04 |
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(Universal City, CA) Universal Pictures
announces that it has acquired the rights to produce a feature film
based on In The Heights, a multi-generational and multi-ethnic musical by
Tony Award(R) winner, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegria Hudes. In The
Heights has exhilarated audiences both on and off Broadway since February
2007 and won four Tony Awards(R) this year including Best Musical, Best
Choreography, Best Orchestration and a Best Original Score Award and Best
Actor nomination for Miranda. In The Heights' original Broadway producers,
Kevin McCollum, Jeffrey Seller and Jill Furman, will executive produce and
Quiara Alegria Hudes, who wrote the Tony nominated book for the show, will
be writing the screen adaptation for the film.
Set over three days in the upper Manhattan neighborhood of Washington
Heights, In The Heights is an exhilarating musical journey into one of New
York's most vibrant communities, where the lives of three generations come
together in an unforgettable story of hope and self-discovery.
"In The Heights is a musical rich with storyline and characters that
transcend the setting in which they are cast to entertain and speak to
audiences from all walks of life," said Donna Langley, President of
Production for Universal Pictures. "We are thrilled to be working with
Lin-Manuel Miranda to bring this fantastic story to the big screen."
Twenty-eight year-old Miranda, who wrote the music and lyrics and
currently stars in the show, first conceived In The Heights while in his
sophomore year at Wesleyan University. In The Heights is the story of a
vibrant and tight-knit community of New York's famed Washington Heights
neighborhood. The music pulses with the hopes and dreams of three
generations as they struggle to forge an identity in a neighborhood on the
brink of transition.
"Nearly nine years into my journey with Heights, I remain constantly
humbled by all the opportunities we have been given. I am thrilled to work
with Universal and help bring this story to millions of people around the
world," said Miranda.
The deal was brokered by way of John Buzzetti of The Gersh Agency and
Nancy Rose and Ira Schreck of Schreck, Rose, Dapello, Adams & Hurwitz.
Former President of Production at Miramax Meryl Poster, will produce In the
Heights in her first project with Universal where she has a first-look deal
with Universal Media Studios. Miranda will also serve as a producer of the
film.
About Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures is a division of Universal Studios
(http://www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is part of NBC Universal, one
of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the
development, production and marketing of entertainment, news and
information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining
of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates
a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion
picture company, significant television production operations, a leading
television stations group and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is
80% owned by General Electric, with 20% controlled by Vivendi.
About In The Heights:
In The Heights began previews on Broadway Thursday, February 14, 2008,
after a six-month, award-winning 2007 Off-Broadway run. The musical opened
on Broadway to critical acclaim Sunday, March 9, 2008, at the Richard
Rodgers Theatre and remains one of the most popular shows on Broadway
today.
Contact:
Kori Bernards of Universal Pictures, +1-818-777-7216, kori [ dot ] bernards [ at ] nbcuni [ dot ] com;
or Jessica Berger, berger [ at ] sunshinesachs [ dot ] com,
or Blake Ross, ross [ at ] sunshinesachs [ dot ] com, both of Sunshine, Sachs & Associates,
for Lin-Manuel Miranda, +1-212-691-2800.
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