Another South Floridian winds up In the Heights

Veteran South Florida actor Oscar Cheda has just learned that he will be going out with the National Tour of In the Heights.

He joins an illustrious group: South Floridians involved with the Broadway production include Alex Lacamoire, Andréa Burns, Janet Dacal, Carlos Gomez, Nina Lafarga, Tony Chiroldes, Afra Hines and Joshua Henry.

Cheda, who recently won the Carbonell Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his work in GableStage's Adding Machine, will be the "swing*" for Kevin (the dad) and the Piragua guy.

To say he's excited would be an understatement:

"Oh my god! It's finally sinking in that I'll be gone for a year!"

The tour kicks off in Tampa on October 26, 2009, but you won't have to drive that far to see it: it comes the Broward Center for the Performing Arts on March 16 for a three week run.

Congratulations, Oscar!



* understudies fall into two broad categories: "standbys" are actors who only appear in the show if the actor they are understudying is unable to perform. A "swing" usually appears in the show in a lesser role, ready to take over if an actor in the larger role is unable to perform. Swings are common in large shows such as musicals.