Tony Award Winner Wilson Jermaine Heredia to Perform at Heritage Center

DUBUQUE, Iowa - University of Dubuque music and theatre students as well as area high schoolers will have the opportunity to join a Tony Award winner best known for originating the role of Angel in RENT on Broadway and film on stage during A Broadway Cabaret with Special Guest Wilson Jermaine Heredia at 7:00 p.m. Friday, September 27, 2024, in John and Alice Butler Hall, Heritage Center.

Accompanied by Jill Klinebriel, UD choral accompanist, A Broadway Cabaret with Special Guest Wilson Jermaine Heredia will be an exciting showcase of songs performed by UD music and theatre students as well as visiting high school students. Heredia will headline the evening with several solo-performed songs and will close with a special group song with all the participating students.

Born in Williamsburg, a neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, Heredia is best known for winning the 1996 Tony Award for the role of Angel in RENT. He also won Drama Desk and Obie awards for best featured actor in the musical. Heredia garnered an Olivier nomination when he reprised the role of Angel in London. He reprised the role again in the 2005 film RENT.

Heredia returned to Broadway in La Cage aux Folles opposite Harvey Fierstein. He recently played the role of Dan in Next to Normal, directed by Marcos Santana, at the Westport Country Playhouse in Westport, Connecticut. Heredia has appeared in the films Flawless with Robert De Niro and Philip Seymour Hoffman and Rainbow Bridge Motel. He is featured in Lin-Manuel Miranda's film adaptation of Jonathan Larson's Tick, Tick... Boom! for Netflix. Additionally, Heredia has guest starred in Banshee, Blindspot, Without a Trace, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

Before the evening cabaret, students will participate in a workshop that includes a master class session with Heredia. There will also be a rehearsal session for participants.

"As we continue to foster musical theatre experiences at UD and expand our student engagement efforts, we are extremely fortunate to be able to provide quality learning opportunities for our students to connect with working industry professionals," said Joe Klinebriel, MFA, professor of theatre. "Getting to work so closely with and perform alongside someone of the professional caliber of Broadway veteran Wilson Jermaine Heredia, a Tony Award winner for his work in the original cast of RENT, is a very rare and special gift. We are absolutely thrilled to have Wilson with us!"

Heredia said he is honored and thankful for the opportunity to share his knowledge, experience, and passion with the next generation of creatives.

Tickets are on sale now! Stop by the Farber Box Office, Heritage Center, 2255 Bennett Street; call 563.585.7469; or visit www.dbq.edu/HeritageCenter to purchase tickets. The box office is open from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 90 minutes prior to events.

Patrons are encouraged to purchase tickets online for reduced ticket handling fees.