WARNING: The following contains spoilers for In the Heights, which is now in theaters and streaming on HBO Max.
As in any adaptation, there are some key differences between the In the Heights movie and the stage production. For instance, the some songs were removed altogether, much to fans’ dismay. One, however, has just been hidden away in a post-credits scene.
The scene features Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote the original music and lyrics for In the Heights and also played the lead role of Usnavi for a time on Broadway. This time, he plays the unnamed Piragüero competing to sell his frozen treats against the Mr. Softee ice cream truck driver. Earlier in the movie, the piragüero is only “scraping by,” as Mr. Softee’s popularity threatens to shut down his little business. He will not quit, though, and sings about how he knows that he runs his town. Then, in the post-credits scene, he proves it.
After the credits roll, Miranda sings the “Piragua (Reprise)” and finally gets what he wants. Mr. Softee’s truck has broken down. As a result, all of his customers come flocking to Miranda for the day to buy his piragua. Miranda subsequently takes advantage of the situation and hikes his price up to make even more money.
The scene works really well for a number of reasons. For starters, it’s just fun; everyone loves shaved ice on a hot summer day. Then, there’s the fact that the relatively big-business tycoon doesn’t get to make all of the money. For once, the local piragüero’s persistence has paid off and he gets a handsome cut of the profits. However, Miranda doesn’t just leave it there. The piragüero gives Mr. Softee a peace offering, showing that they’ve drawn a truce for the day.
Furthermore, the scene features a fun reunion for fans of Miranda’s work. Like the piragüero, Mr. Softee is also played by a familiar face – Christopher Jackson. The current Bull actor previously portrayed George Washington in Hamilton as well as Benny in the Broadway production of In the Heights. He was also a part of Miranda’s improvisational hip-hop group, Freestyle Love Supreme. Thus, Jackson’s inclusion is an amusing Easter egg and a welcome addition to the film.
Directed by Jon M. Chu and based on the musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda, In the Heights stars Anthony Ramos, Corey Hawkins, Leslie Grace, Melissa Berrera, Olga Merediz, Jimmy Smits, Gregory Diaz IV, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Stephanie Beatriz, Dascha Polanco and more. The film is currently in theaters and streaming on HBO Max.
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