The United Palace Theatre in Washington Heights

The United Palace Theatre was the last of the Loew's "Wonder Theaters" to be built in New York, one of the most elaborate work of architect Thomas Lamb. Its facade is decorated in a blocky, stylized version of the Mayan style. The walls of the auditorium are embellished with Indo-Chinese decoration and the foyer features a palatial staircase leading to a grandiose, aurora borealis headed by a goddess decoration. The theatre hosts many multi-cultural concerts, art exhibits, worship services, classes, and festivals. It is located at 4140 Broadway in Washington Heights in northern Manhattan.

A Memorable Night "In The Heights"

Set Design of "In The Heights" at the Richard Rodgers Theatre

The other night, I caught a performance of the Tony Award winning Broadway musical, "In The Heights" at the Richard Rodgers Theatre. It was a treat to see the performance of Lin-Manuel Miranda, the charismatic actor-writer who created the original lead role, and also wrote the songs. He has returned to the show during its final two weeks on Broadway. The high energy of the audience certainly made the experience more enjoyable that evening. It closes on January 9. The show tells of how the immigrant dreamers in the Latino-populated Manhattan neighborhood of Washington Heights discover what it means to be a community. Mr. Miranda plays the role of Usnavi, a Dominican bodega owner who guides the audience through a couple of days in the life of friends, family and lovers. The show features a salsa, merengue and hip-hop-inspired score that won Mr. Miranda a Tony Award. The show itself won the 2008 Tony Award for Best Musical.