The Tony-award-winning musical “In the Heights” danced its way to Jesse Hall on Wednesday as part of the MU Concert Series.

Performed by the North American Tour Cast, the musical brought the urban backdrop of New York as well as the Latin flair of the Dominican Republic to the stage.

“In the Heights” tells the story of a close-knit community that found support in its shared hopes and dreams of making it big outside its barrio, Washington Heights.

The musical follows lead character Nina Rosario, a Stanford student who is the first individual from Washington Heights to attend college, and her family as they struggle to maintain their business and pay for Nina’s tuition. Other members of the neighborhood include Usnavi, a fellow business owner who dreams of returning to the Dominican and his love interest, Vanessa, who simply wants to move downtown into her own apartment. With a twist of fate, the lives of those in the community change drastically, forcing them to face their dreams head on.

“It’s amazing,” said Natalie Wigger, a student from West Jr. High School in Columbia. “It’s really great. So far, it’s my second-favorite musical behind ‘Les Miserables.’”

The musical began its run on Broadway in 2008 at the Richards Rogers Theatre and ended in January of last year.

“The production is just amazing,” fellow West Jr. High School student Emily Mertens said. “I’m used to seeing junior high or high school shows, which are still really good, but this is so great.”

With music and lyrics written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, “In the Heights” blends Latin melodies, Spanish lyrics and syncopated rapping to mimic the show’s main theme of the struggle between maintaining old traditions and fusing with a brand new culture.

Miranda was very much inspired by his own life as part of a close Puerto Rican family living in Manhattan’s Washington Heights, resulting in the musical’s creation during his sophomore year at Wesleyan University in Connecticut.

Costumes designed by Daryl Stone and choreography done by Morgan Marcell contributed to Miranda’s original urban vision. In addition to creating the show, Miranda played the lead role, Usnavi, on Broadway.

“I think that they’re doing a very good job catching an urban scene,” MU alumna Julia Goodell said. “I was surprised at how small the stage was, but it fits New York. With such a small space, the way they used the stage was excellent.”