Behind the Scenes of In The Heights

Jon M. Chu (left) and Lin-Manuel Miranda

“I had the best tour guides: Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegría Hudes. They showed me their favorite bodegas, their favorite place to get café con leche. When they say the Heights is in your heart, they really mean it.” —_Jon M. Chu, Director_

Leslie Grace (left) and Jon M. Chu

“It was beautiful being able to go back to a place that I know so well and that my family has so many memories. My mom’s first business as a salon owner was a couple of blocks from where we shot.” — _Leslie Grace, “Nina”_

(From left) Mark Schmidt, Corey Hawkins and Leslie Grace 

“To watch Nina and Benny madly in love dance along these fire escapes is the most perfect expression of that song. It’s a perfect example of how Jon \[M. Chu\] dreamed bigger than any of us in telling these stories.” —_Lin-Manuel Miranda_

Alice Brooks, Director of Photography

(From left) Melissa Barrera, Anthony Ramos and Jon M. Chu 

“People who live in Washington Heights have lived there for a really long time. I hope that they see their neighborhood on screen and are proud of it, because we loved being there.” _—Melissa Barrera, “Vanessa”_

Leslie Grace

Highbridge Park Pool

(From left) Alice Brooks, Jon M. Chu, Stephanie Beatriz and Daphne Rubin-Vega

“I think the most thrilling thing about shooting in \[Washington Heights\] was that it just becomes a part of you, no matter what.” —_Stephanie Beatriz, “Carla”_

Jon M. Chu (middle) and Cast

“The film has a line, ‘You can’t walk in these streets without bumping into somebody’s big dream.’ What makes the Heights extraordinary is it’s still one big family that comes together at the end of the day.” —_Gregory Diaz IV, “Sonny”_

(From left) Melissa Barrera, Daphne Rubin-Vega and Jon M. Chu

“Going to the same bodega and knowing everyone that goes to that bodega to talk and catch up about their lives...those are all things that we witnessed and those are all things that are in the movie.” —_Melissa Barrera_

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“We ate locally whenever we could; we supported the businesses that were all around us while we were there. We wanted to add value to the neighborhood while we were telling these stories.” — _Lin-Manuel Miranda_

(From left) Jon M. Chu, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Anthony Ramos 

“It’s the music coming out of people’s windows, the bachata playing out of people’s cars on the street. It’s the café con leche and the bodega; it’s that vibration, man.” —_Anthony Ramos_

_Our [Washington Heights guide](/boroughs-neighborhoods/manhattan/washington-heights) has more._

Behind the Scenes of <em>In The Heights</em>

Take a look behind the scenes into Washington Heights history, a foundation of musical inspiration for In The Heights, a musical celebrating Latin culture.

Get Behind The Scenes & Into This Washington Heights History Reel

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Behind the Scenes of 'In The Heights'

This photo gallery takes a behind-the-scenes look at filming the movie musical *In The Heights, set in Washington Heights, Manhattan.

Behind the Scenes of In The Heights

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