He’s at it again.
Antonio Mercado created quite a sensation back in 2004 when, as North High School’s theater teacher, he was able to talk Denver city officials into letting his students take over the 2,884-seat Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre for what would turn out to be a sold-out performance of “Zoot Suit Riots.”
It remains the first and only time a student production has been staged at the Buell.
Last week, he and a host committee made up of North alumni and others staged a reception at the popular LoHi restaurant Lola to raise money for the high school drama department’s upcoming production of “In the Heights.”
And Mercado, the show’s producer, had some very special news to share.
Because he is friends with “In the Heights” playwright Quiara Alegria Hudes and has met Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote the show’s music and lyrics, he figured it wouldn’t hurt to try and get one or both of them to attend.
Their schedules wouldn’t allow, but Hudes and Miranda, perhaps best known for his starring role in the Tony award-winning “Hamilton,” agreed to the next best thing:
They’re going to Skype with the young actors on or before opening night.
“How cool is that?” Mercado said. “This, like every other show we’ve done, is about empowering the kids … making them believe they can succeed.”
Mercado, who admitted being “giddy” by his friends’ response, added that the students, directed by North’s current drama teacher, Megen Gilman, are also receiving vocal coaching from members of the Flobots.
In exchange for their $50 donation to the cause, those attending the reception were treated to snacks furnished by the chefs at Lola and beverages courtesy of Proximus Tequila.
Proximus founders Carlos Gonzalez and Claudia Moran, were there, along with North High principal Scott Wolf and such host committee members as Dr. Dean Prina; Cec (cq) Ortiz; Rebecca Caldwell; Isabelle Clark and Susana Cordova.
Cordova, a member of North High’s Class of 1987, is deputy superintendent of the Denver Public Schools.
Attorney Steve Farber, who graduated from North in 1961, couldn’t be there but sent a $1,000 donation.
Others lending their support were Erik Solivan, executive director of the Denver Mayor’s Office of Housing and Opportunities for People Everywhere; Joe and Christina DeRose; actor Thony (cq) Bienvenido Mena; Northwest Denver parent Nicole Kazenske; Laura Apodaca, operations director for the New Era Group at Your Castle Real Estate; Gracie Casias, a sales executive with Heritage Title; and photographer Sarah Skeen.
“In the Heights” opens Feb. 23 at North High School, with performances continuing until Feb. 25. Tickets will be available at the door.
