Posted on Wednesday, August 26, 2026
When the curtain rises on the Youngstown Playhouse production of “In the Heights” this week, Westminster College Lecturer of Spanish Meirel Rodríguez-Febus will see her professional expertise—and a little bit of her own family—reflected on stage.
Rodríguez-Febus is volunteering as a dialect coach for the production, working with cast members on Spanish dialogue and singing parts while drawing on her expertise in Spanish pedagogy and Caribbean Spanish.
Born and raised in Ponce, Puerto Rico, Rodríguez-Febus brings both professional knowledge and personal experience to the role. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish with a concentration in Spanish linguistics and a master’s degree in foreign language pedagogy.
But her contribution to the production goes beyond helping performers pronounce Spanish words and phrases correctly.
“I am sharing with the cast the language and mannerisms of someone who was born and raised in Puerto Rico, along with the experiences of being an ‘immigrant’ in the USA,” Rodríguez-Febus said.
Her involvement in the musical also has a personal dimension.
Rodríguez-Febus’ daughter, Isa, is the assistant stage director for the Youngstown Playhouse and serves as stage manager for “In the Heights,” while her oldest daughter, Julia, plays the role of Carla in the production.
“It is a family affair, something that I am most proud of,” Rodríguez-Febus said.
And the family’s contributions extend beyond the cast and crew. Rodríguez-Febus has also been involved in the set design, with several decorations from her own home incorporated into the production.
Featuring music, lyrics and a book by Lin-Manuel Miranda, “In the Heights” tells the story of a close-knit Latino community in Washington Heights, a neighborhood in New York City. Through its music and characters, the production explores themes of family, culture, identity and home.
Rodríguez-Febus joined the Westminster College faculty in 2015.
The Youngstown Playhouse production, directed by Caitlyn Santiago, will run Aug. 28 through Sept. 6. More information about the production is available through the Youngstown Playhouse.
