Music Video of 'In the Heights' Song '96,000' (ButPlease: No More 'Rent' Comparisons)

In the Heights was nominated for quite a few [Tonys last week], so be prepared for the backlash. Despite the musical's plot deficiencies—which have been [repeatedly examined in most reviews](http://www.nypress.com/21/12/abouttown/about1.cfm)—it's one of those productions you can recommend to most everyone as a feel-good entertainment experience, and they won't want to pull out your leg hairs later for making them suffer through it.

I'm not a sucker for most musical theater, usually finding it overly sentimental, absurd or trite (or some wicked combo of the three). I first saw Heights Off-Broadway after interviewing Lin-Manuel Miranda about his path to get the musical realized. I was swept up by the energy of the performances and the refreshing depiction of a community outside of the typical privileged white folk who were having some sort of relationship mishap. Although I live in Upper Manhattan and know it's not always so congenial between Cuban, Dominican and Puerto Rican (let alone the recent influx of Mexican) immigrants, it's still a rousing story. I went back for more once the show landed on Broadway (it seemed inevitable from the first song I heard), and felt it was much improved. But the persistent comparisons to Rent remain, especially now that it's closing and Heights can potentially fill the need for a generational gentrification battle set to an inspiring score.

[Here's a music video] for one of the big numbers in Heights, "96,000," a preview of what to expect when it's performed at the awards ceremony. It's certainly not going to help in ending the Rent link, which also had a song featuring a number being repeatedly sung. But before you start trashing the musical for not being cool enough (Passing Strange is still my favorite thing on Broadway at the moment and by far the edgiest thing attracting a mainstream audience), or letting it wither under a hyper-critical gaze. Give Miranda & Co. props for successfully re-shaping American musical theater by introducing new sounds, shapes and colors to the stage. They deserve it.