Those few empty seats had filled up by the 8 p.m. start time for "In the Heights" at the Park Playhouse in Albany, where the guy who introduced said it was the biggest Tuesday night crowd he'd ever seen there in 23 years. Most of the seating is free of charge, and you can stake out your lawn chair there well before the performance and walk around lovely Washington Park.
The show is a hit, and deservedly so. It's the first musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda, whose later and better known work "Hamilton" is coming to Proctor's in Schenectady next month. I'm too cheap to see "Hamilton," though I look forward to doing so eventually (and have a bright idea regarding which book -- not by Ron Chernow -- Miranda should option next).
Meanwhile, Park Playhouse does a good job with "In the Heights," and the occasional siren drifting in from outside fits in well with the barrio set of Washington Heights in New York City. Go see it during this last week of its run in Albany. It is playing through Saturday.