For a while, Lexi Lawson, actress and singer, wasn’t highly familiar with the plot of the renown musical “In the Heights.” In 2009, she and a friend decided to wait in line to participate in a lottery auctioning off discounted tickets to the Broadway production.

“I won. I knew nothing about it,” said Lawson. “But being a New Yorker, I said ‘I want to go see this show because I hear it has some really awesome Latin music and some great singing.’”

After waiting in line, Lawson and her friend won the 25-dollar tickets to sit in the front row. “I sat where you [the NFA students listening to her speak] were sitting,” said Lawson. “I could not stop moving. I was so moved by this show.” That one viewing marked Lawson’s future.

A year later Lawson was cast as Vanessa in the touring production of “In the Heights.”
For the past few years, Lawson has been featured in various musicals like “Rent.” She made her official Broadway debut as Eliza Hamilton in the award-winning musical, “Hamilton.” On the side, Lawson has also filmed television episodes and a Hallmark film, “Always and Forever Christmas.”

As one of NFA’s more prominent alumnae, Lawson returned to the auditorium of the main campus of NFA to speak to the NFA cast of “In the Heights” about her experiences. Lawson explained the importance of the musical, and how students can make the best of their experience.

“I remember how important and relevant this show [“In the Heights”] was then,” said Lawson. “How it’s so much more relevant and important now.” The show was written over ten years ago by Lin- Manuel Miranda about Washington Heights, Manhattan. Like Newburgh, Washington Heights has a diverse community. The experiences “In the Heights,” can be considered in many ways similar to the experiences one will find in Newburgh.

Lawson emphasized that although students will be partaking in a high school production, they have a responsibility to make the show come alive for audience members.

In addition, she offered her take on making a career out of performing. Students were given the opportunity to ask her questions about her career, the musical, and more.

17-year-old NFA Senior Grace Figueroa was especially excited to meet Lawson. Figueroa is currently considering college options in like the New York Film Academy, and Julliard. She will be playing the role of Vanessa in NFA’s production of “In the Heights.”

“What did she [Lawson] learn from her [Vanessa]? She’s done Broadway, she’s done musical theatre. She made it, she succeeded,” exclaimed Figueoroa.

For students like Figueoroa, Lawson’s talk was an eye-opening introduction to the realities of show business.

“I’m probably not the wisest person to ask when it comes to your future path because I am going to say: go for your dreams, goals and aspirations, and things your heart desires, despite what anybody says,” said Lawson. “You make that choice.”

NFA’s “In the Heights” will run from March 13 to 14 at 7 p.m. and on March 15 at 2 p.m. in the NFA Main Campus Auditorium.