Broadway star attends TCHS show, visits with cast

David Baida plays the Piragua Guy on stage in the Broadway Sacramento production of In the Heights. He met with the TCHS cast. Photo courtesy of davidbaida.com

The cast of In the Heights, among whom are nine Canyon Lake students, not only wrapped up a successful Temescal High School run of the hit show, but was joined on stage afterward by Broadway actor, David Baida. David played the role of the Piragua Guy in the same show on Broadway and came to the performance last week at the high school.

“He and his family were so gracious,” Tara Abell, the drama instructor at the school and director of the play, said. “He was kind enough to stay for a Q&A with the cast after the show. Watching their little faces as they listened to him talk about theatre and his career, is something I will never forget. Their questions were genuine and insightful. I have never been prouder of my TCHS Spotlight Players…it was a great night to be their teacher and director.”

David played the Piragua Guy on the first National Tour of In the Heights (with Lin Manuel Miranda), and toured with the show in Puerto Rico and Japan; ensemble in the Kennedy Center’s production of In the Heights (with Vanessa Hudgens, Eden Espinosa, and Anthony Ramos); was in the original Broadway cast and first national tour cast of On Your Feet. He played the Piragua Guy once again last summer as part of the Broadway Sacramento cast.

David Baida meets with one of the cast members of Temescal Canyon High School’s cast of In the Heights after the final performance recently. David conducted a Q&A with the entire cast after attend-ing the school’s performance. Photo by Tara Abell

Canyon Lake students who performed in the high school’s In the Heights were David Navejas as Kevin Rosario, Vanessa Martinez as Camila Rosario, Ian Carte, a member of the ensemble, Grace Fleming, a member of the ensemble, Adrian Alvarez as Usnavi de la Vega, Aaliyah Soto as Vanessa, Jesus “Chuy” Esquer as Sonny, Christian Paternostro as Graffiti Pete, Jaelin Neal, a member of the ensemble and Isabella Garcia, a member of the ensemble.