In the Heights Lands American Idol Champ Jordin Sparks for Summer Run
Another American Idol has turned into a Broadway baby. Jordin Sparks, the 2007 American Idol titleholder, will join the cast of Tony Award-winning tuner In the Heights on August 19, taking over the role of college student Nina Rosario. The singer will play a limited 12-week Broadway debut engagement at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, though November 14. She will replace original cast member Janet Dacal as Nina.
“It’s always been one of my dreams to perform on Broadway,” Sparks said in a statement. “This is a brand new experience for me. I look so forward to spending time in New York City and joining this talented cast and my favorite new musical.” Sparks visited the show back in February 2010.
Sparks joins fellow recording artist and screen veteran Corbin Bleu of High School Musical, as well as Andréa Burns, David Del Rio, Marcy Harriell, Christopher Jackson, Priscilla Lopez, Olga Merediz, Rick Négron, Courtney Reed and William B. Wingfield leading a cast of 28 that features Tony Chiroldes, Dwayne Clark, Rosie Lani Fiedelman, Marcus Paul James, Nina Lafarga, Jennifer Locke, Doreen Montalvo, Noah Rivera, Eliseo Román, Gabrielle Ruiz, Luis Salgado, Rickey Tripp, Blanca Camacho, Allison Thomas Lee, Alejandra Reyes, Marcos Santana and Seth Stewart.
Sparks was best known as being the youngest competitor ever to win American Idol. She has since become a platinum-selling recording artist with hit singles including “One Step at a Time,” “Tattoo” and “No Air,” her duet with Chris Brown. Her sophomore album release, Battlefield, was recently released on Jive Records. In addition to appearing on the small screen on shows like So You Think You Can Dance and America’s Got Talent, she has also been seen on The Paul O’Grady Show and The Suite Life on Deck.
Set over three days in Upper Manhattan’s Washington Heights neighborhood, In the Heights is a musical journey into the lives of three generations of the area’s inhabitants and their vibrant, diverse community. The show opened at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on March 9, 2008, and went on to win Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Choreography, Best Orchestrations and Best Original Score.
