WEBVTT

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Imagine waking up one day to discover your song

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is number one on global charts. I mean, breaking

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records sparking this huge phenomenon. Yeah,

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like Bruno. Exactly. Now, imagine that same person's

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name was inspired by this really poignant poem

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about the Vietnam War. almost as if destiny itself

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had a hand in shaping a storyteller who would

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go on to reshape Broadway, Hollywood, and even,

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you know, political discourse. It's kind of an

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amazing setup, isn't it? It really is. Welcome

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to the deep dive. Today we're unearthing the

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extraordinary journey of Lin -Manuel Miranda,

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an American songwriter, actor, singer, filmmaker,

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rapper, and, uh, librettist. Right, the person

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who writes the words, the story for musicals

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and operas. Exactly. His creative explosion has

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touched nearly every corner of entertainment

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and beyond, making him truly, well, a maestro

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of modern storytelling. And our mission today

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is really to dive deep into the stack of sources

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detailing his multifaceted life and career. We'll

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pull out the most important nuggets of knowledge,

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the insights, connect the dots to understand

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not just what he achieved, but the why. Why it

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resonates. Precisely. Why his groundbreaking

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work resonates so profoundly. We'll explore how

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he became such a singular voice in contemporary

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culture, offering you, our listeners, a shortcut

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to being truly well -informed about his immense

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impact. And we've curated a fantastic collection

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of sources for this deep dive. We're exploring

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comprehensive biographical information, tracing

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his remarkable career highlights across theater,

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film, television, delving into personal details

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about his family and his really passionate activism,

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and of course taking a thorough look at his long

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- list of numerous accolades. Get ready for an

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engaging and illuminating exploration. Let's

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do it. The formative years, roots, rhymes, and

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early sparks. OK. Let's begin at the very start

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of this incredible journey. Lin -Manuel Miranda

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was born on January 16, 1980, right here in New

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York City. Yep. Well, you might know him primarily

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as a Broadway sensation or maybe a Disney hit

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maker. Sure. That's the headline now. Right.

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But understanding his roots, this rich cultural

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tapestry, is really central to grasping the core

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of his artistic identity. It really is. And what's

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compelling right away is the insight into his

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heritage and family background. His mother, Lews

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Towns Miranda, she's an accomplished clinical

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psychologist. Okay. And his father, Luis Miranda

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Jr., is a prominent political consultant. I mean,

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think about that unique combination. Yeah, psychology

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and politics. Exactly. A grounding in human psychology

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and the sharp understanding of political strategy,

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communication. These influences, they must have

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profoundly shaped his perspective on, like, character

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development, narrative arcs, and even how he

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approaches advocacy later in his career. He's

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predominantly of Puerto Rican descent, but there's

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also distant Mexican, English, and African American

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ancestry, a truly American story woven right

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into his DNA. It reflects the diversity he often

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portrays. Absolutely. It reflects the diverse

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fabric of the nation he so often portrays and

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celebrates in his work. And his name itself is

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a story, one that I find absolutely captivating.

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Lin -Manuel. Yeah, tell us about that. It was

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inspired by this poignant poem about the Vietnam

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War by the Puerto Rican writer Jose Manuel Torres

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Santiago. The poem's called Nana Roja para mi

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hijo Lin Manuel, which translates to Red Lullaby

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for my son Lin Manuel. Wow. It isn't just a beautiful

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personal detail. It's almost prophetic, you know?

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It sort of imbued him with his subconscious connection

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to politically charged narratives and the power

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of words from birth, really laying the groundwork

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for a career that would later use art to explore

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history, identity, social justice on a massive

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scale. That's right. It suggests a destiny intertwined

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with powerful narratives from the very beginning.

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This early association with a politically resonant

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poem, especially one from his heritage, it sort

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of set a subconscious tone for his future work,

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even before he knew he'd be telling stories on

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such a grand stage. It really underscores the

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idea that identity and cultural background are

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often deeply embedded in an artist's trajectory,

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shaping their worldview and their chosen themes.

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Growing up in the vibrant Inwood neighborhood

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of Manhattan, he was raised Catholic. But New

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York City wasn't his only home. And this is where

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his connection to his roots becomes even clearer,

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I think, and more influential. His frequent trips

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to Puerto Rico were absolutely key. Key to his

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development. Miranda spent at least one month

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each year with his grandparents in Vega Alta.

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Every year. Every year. These weren't just family

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vacations, they were an immersion. They shaped

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a world view that would later allow him to masterfully

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translate multiple cultural nuances into his

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art and fuel his passionate activism for the

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island. This constant connection to his Puerto

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Rican heritage from a young age clearly informs

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so much of his later work, providing him with

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this rich understanding of diverse perspectives,

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cultural nuances, which he then masterfully weaves

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into his art. sister Luz, who's the chief financial

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officer of the Miram Group, a strategic consulting

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firm, which again just illustrates he comes from

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a family with a strong sense of community, influence,

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and a deep understanding of strategy and communication.

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Yeah, you see those elements reflected in his

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own career, right? Totally. Whether it's building

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a theatrical phenomenon or navigating political

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advocacy. Yeah. For many, his theatrical journey

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seems to have just burst onto the scene with

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us in the Heights. Like it came out of nowhere.

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Right. But for Miranda, The seeds of a performer

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and writer were planted much, much earlier. He

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attended Hunter College Elementary School and

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Hunter College High School. Which are pretty

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prestigious institutions. Exactly. Renowned for

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fostering intellectual curiosity and creative

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exploration. So this begs the question. How early

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did his talent actually manifest? And, you know,

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what did it look like? Right. Interestingly,

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one of his classmates, who's now the journalist,

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Chris Hayes. Oh, really? Chris Hayes? Yeah. He

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directed Miranda in what was described as his

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first musical. And Hayes vividly characterized

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it as, get this, a 20 -minute musical that featured

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a maniacal, fetal pig in a nightmare. A maniacal,

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fetal pig? Seriously. Seriously. Can you imagine?

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It's this early, wonderfully quirky indicator

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of his unique creative voice, right? And his

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willingness to experiment with unconventional

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themes, strange narrative structures right from

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the beginning. Wow. It shows a young artist unafraid

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to be different, to push boundaries even in high

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school. And here's a surprising twist. Yeah.

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He was actually bullied by the rapper Immortal

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Technique in high school. No way. Yeah, but they

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apparently later became friends. Imagine that

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concentration of diverse talent and future influence

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in one high school. That's wild. It just shows

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the varied paths people take, how things evolve.

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Exactly. He began writing musicals at school,

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setting the stage, quite literally for his future.

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It proves that the creative spark was there,

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honing his skills long before the public spotlight

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found him. And these early experiences, the blend

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of academic rigor at Hunter, the theatrical experimentation,

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even the social dynamic. They all contributed

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to keeping his artistic sensibility. They were

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laying the groundwork for his ability to connect

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with diverse audiences, tackle complex themes,

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and ultimately redefine musical theater. So the

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earliest draft of what would become his first

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Broadway musical, In the Heights, was actually

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written in 1999 during his sophomore year at

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Wesleyan University. That's a remarkably rapid

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start for such a groundbreaking work, don't you

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think? Shows an early maturity. It's truly remarkable,

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yeah. How quickly his vision took shape and gained

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traction. The show was accepted by Wesleyan's

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student theater company, Second Stage, and there

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he consciously added elements of freestyle rap,

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salsa numbers, premiering it there in 1999. This

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blend of traditional musical theater with contemporary

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style, specifically the vibrant energy of hip

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-hop and Latin rhythms, It wasn't an afterthought.

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It was baked in from the start. It was baked

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in from the very first iteration, this early

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success, this immediate blending of genres. It's

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significant because it established the unique

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boundary pushing voice that would later captivate

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Broadway. And he wasn't just writing and composing

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at Wesleyan. He was actively directing, acting

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in many other productions too. Musicals, Shakespeare.

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The whole spectrum. The whole spectrum. He truly

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embraced it all before graduating in 2002. gaining

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hands -on experience in every facet of the craft,

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from behind the scenes to center stage. The significance

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of these formative years, you really can't overstate

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it. They were a crucible where his distinct artistic

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voice, combining deep narrative storytelling

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with contemporary musical forms was forged. These

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years provided him with that rich cultural foundation,

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right? Through his family, the trips to Puerto

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Rico, alongside the early creative experimentation

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at Hunter and Wesleyan, and the academic rigor

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that would fuel his future, well, revolutionary

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work. The Broadway blueprint from In the Heights

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to a cultural milestone. OK, so after college,

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the real work began on In the Heights. In 2002,

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he teamed up with John Buffalo Mailer and director

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Thomas Kail. Tommy Kail, yeah. A key collaborator.

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Right. To revise the show. refining what had

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started as the successful college project. Then

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in 2004, playwright Quiara Alegria -Hudas joined

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the team. And that was huge. Yeah. Further solidifying

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the creative brain trust and bringing a vital

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new perspective to the story's dramatic structure.

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This collaborative development process is absolutely

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crucial to understanding his approach. It wasn't

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a solo endeavor, right? It was a collective effort

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that rigorously refined the musical after its

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initial college run. Hoods, a Pulitzer Prize

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-winning playwright herself, brought this keen

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eye for character and narrative, transforming

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the collegiate piece into a really robust theatrical

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work. This ability to work effectively with others,

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to bring in diverse talents and perspectives

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to enhance a singular vision, it would become

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a hallmark of his career, especially later with

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Hamilton. Yeah, totally. It speaks volumes about

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his open -mindedness and commitment to the artistic

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process, not just his personal vision. The musical

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debuted in Connecticut in 2005, giving it a crucial

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proving ground, finding its legs, connecting

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with professional audiences outside of, like,

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a university setting. Right. Castron. Then it

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moved off Broadway in 2007 at the 37 Arts Theater,

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building significant buzz and critical acclaim

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before its anticipated big Broadway opening in

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March 2008. And the recognition was immediate.

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Undeniable. Yeah. In the Heights was a genuine

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hit. It received 13 Tony Award nominations, which

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is incredibly impressive for a debut musical.

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A huge number. And won four, including Best Musical

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and Best Original Score. It also secured a Grammy

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Award for Best Musical Theater Album. This flood

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of accolades signaled the arrival of a fresh,

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vital voice in American theater, one that was

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resonating broadly with critics and audiences.

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And Miranda's personal commitment was clear.

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He starred in the demanding leading role of Osnavi.

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Right, he wasn't just the writer. No, he earned

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himself a Tony nomination for best actor for

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it. He was front and center, pouring his heart

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and soul into the performance, showcasing his

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incredible energy and stage presence. He even

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returned to the role of Osnavi multiple times.

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He rejoined the national tour when it played

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in LA and San Juan, Puerto Rico, a personal nod

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to his roots, right? Definitely. Bringing it

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home. Then he returned for the final Broadway

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performances from December 2010 until its closing

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on January 9, 2011, after an impressive run of,

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what, 11 ,185 regular performances. Wow. That's

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a solid run. It is. A testament to his dedication,

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the show's enduring appeal, and his deep connection

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to the story and its community. Yeah. While in

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the Heights was making waves and establishing

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him as this major force on Broadway, Lin -Manuel

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Miranda wasn't just, you know, resting on his

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laurels. Not his style, apparently. Seems not.

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He was constantly creating, often engaging in

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surprising side projects that honed his craft

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in unexpected ways and showcased his remarkable

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versatility. This period truly demonstrates his

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incredible work ethic and adaptability across

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different theatrical landscapes. For instance,

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he was tapped to write Spanish language dialogue

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and collaborate with the legendary Stephen Sondheim.

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Stephen Sondheim? Yes. To translate song lyrics

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for the 2009 Broadway revival of West Side Story,

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imagine that call. translating for a titan like

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Sondheim. Unbelievable. It speaks to the high

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regard he was already held in within the industry

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and his deep understanding of both languages.

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musical theater traditions, allowing him to kind

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of bridge generations of theatrical genius. And

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it wasn't just Sondheim, he also contributed

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two new songs to a revised version of the 1978

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musical Working in 2008. Right, the Studs Terkel

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piece. Yeah, that classic ensemble piece based

00:12:57.549 --> 00:13:00.210
on interviews with American workers. He was clearly

00:13:00.210 --> 00:13:03.070
embracing every opportunity to expand his compositional

00:13:03.070 --> 00:13:05.149
skills, explore different styles of storytelling

00:13:05.149 --> 00:13:07.860
through song. And here's where we truly see the

00:13:07.860 --> 00:13:10.679
roots of his improvisational genius, the stuff

00:13:10.679 --> 00:13:12.700
that would become so famous with Hamilton. OK.

00:13:13.039 --> 00:13:16.080
In 2003, he co -founded Freestyle Love Supreme.

00:13:16.460 --> 00:13:19.100
Ah, yes. The hip -hop improv group. Exactly.

00:13:19.179 --> 00:13:21.220
This wasn't just a casual hobby. This group toured

00:13:21.220 --> 00:13:24.240
extensively. Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Comedy

00:13:24.240 --> 00:13:26.820
Festivals in Aspen, Melbourne, Montreal. Wow,

00:13:27.139 --> 00:13:29.690
serious touring. Yeah. They eventually had a

00:13:29.690 --> 00:13:33.269
limited TV series on Pivot in 2014, and even

00:13:33.269 --> 00:13:37.429
made their Broadway debut in 2019. It's a powerful

00:13:37.429 --> 00:13:40.190
testament to his versatility and the joy he finds

00:13:40.190 --> 00:13:43.070
in creative spontaneity, showcasing his ability

00:13:43.070 --> 00:13:46.269
to think on his feet, blend rap with live performance,

00:13:46.929 --> 00:13:49.210
connect with an audience in this unscripted,

00:13:49.370 --> 00:13:52.409
electrifying way. What's even more mind -boggling

00:13:52.409 --> 00:13:54.889
is that during these years, while all this was

00:13:54.889 --> 00:13:57.129
happening in the Heights developing, West Side

00:13:57.129 --> 00:13:59.850
Story revisions, Freestyle Love Supreme touring,

00:14:00.210 --> 00:14:02.090
he was also working as an English teacher at

00:14:02.090 --> 00:14:04.809
his old high school. No way! Teaching too? Yeah.

00:14:05.190 --> 00:14:07.370
And on top of that, writing columns and restaurant

00:14:07.370 --> 00:14:09.610
reviews for the Manhattan Times and composing

00:14:09.610 --> 00:14:11.730
music for commercials. Talk about a hustle. That

00:14:11.730 --> 00:14:14.529
is incredible. He was truly immersed in a wide

00:14:14.529 --> 00:14:16.750
variety of creative and professional endeavors,

00:14:17.429 --> 00:14:20.190
each one undoubtedly feeding his broader artistic

00:14:20.190 --> 00:14:22.929
growth. It seems like it. This multi -havenate

00:14:22.929 --> 00:14:24.990
approach is key to understanding his development.

00:14:25.240 --> 00:14:28.039
He wasn't just a theater artist, he was a working

00:14:28.039 --> 00:14:30.980
artist in many forms, constantly flexing different

00:14:30.980 --> 00:14:33.379
creative muscles, sharpening his skills in diverse

00:14:33.379 --> 00:14:36.139
fields. This breadth of experience undoubtedly

00:14:36.139 --> 00:14:39.019
fed into his later masterpieces, allowing him

00:14:39.019 --> 00:14:41.360
to approach storytelling with a diverse toolkit,

00:14:42.159 --> 00:14:44.879
an understanding of various media, and a deep

00:14:44.879 --> 00:14:47.679
appreciation for the craft from multiple angles.

00:14:47.960 --> 00:14:50.759
His work continued to expand, with significant

00:14:50.759 --> 00:14:53.399
projects leading up to his magnum opus, Hamilton.

00:14:53.919 --> 00:14:56.360
He co -wrote music and lyrics for Bring It On,

00:14:56.519 --> 00:14:58.700
the musical. Oh, yeah, the cheerleading musical.

00:14:59.440 --> 00:15:01.799
Exactly. Premiered in Atlanta in 2011, toured

00:15:01.799 --> 00:15:04.059
nationally, played a limited Broadway engagement

00:15:04.059 --> 00:15:07.080
in 2012. The show earned Tony nominations for

00:15:07.080 --> 00:15:10.000
Best Musical and Best Choreography. So another

00:15:10.000 --> 00:15:12.700
success. Yep, further solidifying his place as

00:15:12.700 --> 00:15:15.059
a versatile and sought after musical theater

00:15:15.059 --> 00:15:18.279
composer. And this project clearly demonstrated

00:15:18.279 --> 00:15:21.159
his continued growth as a composer and lyricist

00:15:21.159 --> 00:15:23.379
in a different style, right? More contemporary

00:15:23.379 --> 00:15:26.360
pop rock, distinct from the Latin rhythms of

00:15:26.360 --> 00:15:29.059
In the Heights. Totally different vibe. It broadened

00:15:29.059 --> 00:15:31.440
his reach within the musical theater world and

00:15:31.440 --> 00:15:33.220
proved he wasn't, you know, a one trick pony.

00:15:33.720 --> 00:15:36.100
Showed his ability to craft catchy character

00:15:36.100 --> 00:15:39.860
driven songs for high energy, youth focused production.

00:15:40.200 --> 00:15:43.460
In 2014, he earned a Primetime Emmy Award for

00:15:43.460 --> 00:15:46.980
the song bigger. Ah, for the Tony's opening number.

00:15:47.120 --> 00:15:49.500
Yes, which he co -wrote with Tom Kitt for the

00:15:49.500 --> 00:15:52.600
energetic opening of the 67th Tony Awards. It

00:15:52.600 --> 00:15:55.460
was a significant recognition for his TV writing

00:15:55.460 --> 00:15:58.240
work, showcasing his ability to create compelling

00:15:58.240 --> 00:16:00.659
musical moments even for a broadcast audience.

00:16:00.840 --> 00:16:03.759
He also wrote and narrated this one -act musical,

00:16:03.840 --> 00:16:07.299
21 Chump Street, for a single impactful performance

00:16:07.299 --> 00:16:09.740
at BAM, the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Right,

00:16:09.779 --> 00:16:12.120
based on a true story? Yeah, about a student

00:16:12.120 --> 00:16:15.139
entrapped by an undercover cop. He was then broadcast

00:16:15.139 --> 00:16:18.019
on NPR's This American Life, reaching a whole

00:16:18.019 --> 00:16:20.559
different audience. Wow. And simultaneously he

00:16:20.559 --> 00:16:23.620
starred in an encore's revival of Jonathan Larson's

00:16:23.620 --> 00:16:27.490
Tick. tick, boom, in June 2014. Larson, the creator

00:16:27.490 --> 00:16:30.509
of Rent, a hero of his. Exactly. These smaller,

00:16:30.509 --> 00:16:32.590
more experimental projects kept his creative

00:16:32.590 --> 00:16:34.529
muscles flexing, letting him explore different

00:16:34.529 --> 00:16:37.509
narrative forms, tackle challenging themes, immerse

00:16:37.509 --> 00:16:39.289
himself in the work of a theatrical hero, making

00:16:39.289 --> 00:16:41.269
him incredibly sharp and ready for what was coming

00:16:41.269 --> 00:16:43.889
next. Yeah. These diverse experiences were all

00:16:43.889 --> 00:16:45.649
threads leading to the tapestry of Hamilton.

00:16:45.990 --> 00:16:48.730
Hamilton the Revolution will not be televised.

00:16:49.149 --> 00:16:52.330
but it will be sung. Okay, here's where the story

00:16:52.330 --> 00:16:55.990
takes a truly seismic turn. The origin story

00:16:55.990 --> 00:16:59.490
of Hamilton. It's almost as legendary as the

00:16:59.490 --> 00:17:02.049
show itself now. It really is. While on vacation

00:17:02.049 --> 00:17:06.170
in 2008, Lin -Manuel Miranda picked up Ron Chernow's

00:17:06.170 --> 00:17:08.930
massive biography of Alexander Hamilton. Just

00:17:08.930 --> 00:17:11.789
casually reading on vacation. Laughs. Right.

00:17:11.930 --> 00:17:14.730
That seemingly simple act ignited a cultural

00:17:14.730 --> 00:17:17.069
phenomenon that would redefine American theater.

00:17:17.309 --> 00:17:19.890
It begs the question though, what was it about

00:17:19.890 --> 00:17:22.490
that biography that ignited such a spark in Miranda?

00:17:25.210 --> 00:17:27.230
revolutionary idea. Good question. It wasn't

00:17:27.230 --> 00:17:29.789
just any biography. It was the story of an immigrant,

00:17:29.950 --> 00:17:32.569
an outsider, a wordsmith, who literally wrote

00:17:32.569 --> 00:17:35.049
his way out of poverty and shaped a nation themes

00:17:35.049 --> 00:17:37.789
that clearly resonated with Miranda's own heritage.

00:17:38.190 --> 00:17:40.490
His understanding of the power of language, self

00:17:40.490 --> 00:17:43.009
-creation. Easy the connection. Totally. Miranda

00:17:43.009 --> 00:17:45.089
was so inspired that he wrote a rap about Hamilton,

00:17:45.230 --> 00:17:47.029
which he famously performed at the White House

00:17:47.029 --> 00:17:49.430
evening of poetry, music, and spoken word on

00:17:49.430 --> 00:17:53.309
May 12, 2009. The White House performance. Iconic.

00:17:53.470 --> 00:17:57.049
accompanied by Alex Lacamoire. That moment, performing

00:17:57.049 --> 00:17:59.490
a hip hop narrative about a founding father in

00:17:59.490 --> 00:18:02.490
front of President Obama. It was a seismic shift.

00:18:03.109 --> 00:18:05.650
It signaled to the world that history could be

00:18:05.650 --> 00:18:08.609
reimagined in this incredibly fresh, compelling,

00:18:08.970 --> 00:18:11.910
utterly contemporary way. It fundamentally changed

00:18:11.910 --> 00:18:14.690
how people perceived both hip hop and historical

00:18:14.690 --> 00:18:17.130
storytelling. He later revealed the meticulous

00:18:17.130 --> 00:18:19.930
process behind his songwriting. He said he spent

00:18:19.930 --> 00:18:23.049
a year writing just one song, My Shot. A whole

00:18:23.049 --> 00:18:26.750
year on one song. A whole year, revising it countless

00:18:26.750 --> 00:18:29.630
times to perfectly reflect Alexander Hamilton's

00:18:29.630 --> 00:18:32.750
intellect, his ambition, that relentless drive.

00:18:33.240 --> 00:18:35.660
That's an extraordinary level of dedication to

00:18:35.660 --> 00:18:37.759
craft and character. It really illustrates his

00:18:37.759 --> 00:18:40.460
profound commitment to historical accuracy and

00:18:40.460 --> 00:18:42.599
character depth, blending rigorous research with

00:18:42.599 --> 00:18:45.720
his unique musical language. By 2012, he was

00:18:45.720 --> 00:18:47.960
performing an extended set of pieces, which he

00:18:47.960 --> 00:18:50.339
called the Hamilton Mixtape, at various workshops,

00:18:50.400 --> 00:18:52.940
presentations. Right, the mixtape phase. And

00:18:52.940 --> 00:18:55.579
the New York Times accurately called it an obvious

00:18:55.579 --> 00:18:58.759
game changer, recognizing the potential for groundbreaking

00:18:58.759 --> 00:19:01.579
work long before it hit the mainstream. This

00:19:01.579 --> 00:19:04.400
blend of academic thoroughness, street -smart

00:19:04.400 --> 00:19:08.619
musicality, revolutionary narrative. It was completely

00:19:08.619 --> 00:19:18.019
new and utterly captivating. Miranda not only

00:19:18.019 --> 00:19:21.220
wrote the book and score, but he famously starred

00:19:21.220 --> 00:19:24.059
as the title character, fully embodying his vision

00:19:24.059 --> 00:19:26.240
on stage. And the reviews were overwhelmingly

00:19:26.240 --> 00:19:28.500
positive. Its engagement was completely sold

00:19:28.500 --> 00:19:31.339
out, built immense, unprecedented anticipation

00:19:31.339 --> 00:19:34.380
for its Broadway transfer. The buzz was electric.

00:19:35.000 --> 00:19:37.680
Ron Chernow himself and Lin -Manuel Miranda even

00:19:37.680 --> 00:19:40.619
received the 2015 History Makers Award from the

00:19:40.619 --> 00:19:42.859
New York Historical Society for their collaboration

00:19:42.859 --> 00:19:45.200
before it even hit Broadway. Yeah. Highlighting

00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:47.099
the academic and cultural significance of the

00:19:47.099 --> 00:19:50.019
project even before its major Broadway run, recognizing

00:19:50.019 --> 00:19:52.660
its impact on how history is perceived and presented.

00:19:53.039 --> 00:19:55.880
The show began previews on Broadway in July 2015

00:19:55.880 --> 00:19:58.240
at the Richard Rodgers Theater and officially

00:19:58.240 --> 00:20:02.059
opened on August 6, 2015 to continued rave reviews.

00:20:02.339 --> 00:20:05.039
It wasn't just a hit. It was an instant cultural

00:20:05.039 --> 00:20:07.859
event. Absolutely. Drawing audiences from every

00:20:07.859 --> 00:20:10.180
walk of life. On the very first night of Broadway

00:20:10.180 --> 00:20:12.539
previews, over 700 people lined up for lottery

00:20:12.539 --> 00:20:15.619
tickets. 700 people for previews. Unheard of.

00:20:15.589 --> 00:20:18.130
for a new show. This overwhelming enthusiasm

00:20:18.130 --> 00:20:22.230
led to a surprising and utterly brilliant initiative,

00:20:22.549 --> 00:20:26.089
Ham4Ham. Ah, Ham Forham. What's truly remarkable

00:20:26.089 --> 00:20:28.609
here is how the production genuinely embraced

00:20:28.609 --> 00:20:31.190
its audience, fostered this unique, accessible

00:20:31.190 --> 00:20:34.630
connection. Ham Forham became a series of impromptu

00:20:34.630 --> 00:20:37.329
outdoor mini -performances for lottery participants.

00:20:37.349 --> 00:20:39.849
Right outside the theater. Hosted daily by Miranda

00:20:39.849 --> 00:20:42.309
and various cast members for over a year, until

00:20:42.309 --> 00:20:45.410
August 31st, 2016. It wasn't just marketing,

00:20:45.549 --> 00:20:47.829
it transformed the pre -show lottery line into

00:20:47.829 --> 00:20:50.630
its own unique event. It was amazing. It was

00:20:50.630 --> 00:20:54.170
a brilliant grassroots way to democratize a famously

00:20:54.170 --> 00:20:57.190
exclusive Broadway experience, creating this

00:20:57.190 --> 00:21:00.009
unparalleled sense of community direct interaction

00:21:00.009 --> 00:21:02.410
between the cast and their most dedicated fans,

00:21:02.930 --> 00:21:05.549
extending the show's magic beyond the stage door.

00:21:06.029 --> 00:21:08.490
The financial success of Hamilton was equally

00:21:08.490 --> 00:21:11.390
staggering, right? Solidifying its status as

00:21:11.390 --> 00:21:13.470
a commercial juggernaut alongside the critical

00:21:13.470 --> 00:21:16.430
acclaim. Oh, yeah. Miranda earned a 3 % royalty

00:21:16.430 --> 00:21:19.809
on each performance, amassing $12 .7 million

00:21:19.809 --> 00:21:24.029
by July 2017. Wow. That demonstrated the immense

00:21:24.029 --> 00:21:25.970
profitability of a show that just captivated

00:21:25.970 --> 00:21:28.069
the nation. Completely. And Hamilton absolutely

00:21:28.069 --> 00:21:30.289
dominated the awards. Nathan broke barriers,

00:21:30.569 --> 00:21:32.750
set new precedents. It won the Pulitzer Prize

00:21:32.750 --> 00:21:35.329
for drama. Which is incredibly rare for a musical.

00:21:35.440 --> 00:21:38.019
Incredibly rare, a prestigious honor, recognizing

00:21:38.019 --> 00:21:40.180
Hamilton not just as entertainment, but as a

00:21:40.180 --> 00:21:42.799
significant literary and dramatic work of profound

00:21:42.799 --> 00:21:45.880
cultural importance. It was nominated for a record

00:21:45.880 --> 00:21:49.599
16 Tony Awards and ultimately 111, including

00:21:49.599 --> 00:21:52.140
Miranda's first wins for best book of a musical

00:21:52.140 --> 00:21:55.059
and best original score. This flood of awards

00:21:55.059 --> 00:21:57.500
just cemented its place in theatrical history.

00:21:57.720 --> 00:22:01.059
And beyond Broadway. Right. The cast album was

00:22:01.059 --> 00:22:03.930
also a massive success. won a Grammy for best

00:22:03.930 --> 00:22:06.589
musical theater album, spent an incredible 10

00:22:06.589 --> 00:22:09.809
weeks, a top billboards, top rap albums chart,

00:22:09.849 --> 00:22:12.390
a first for a Broadway cast recording. That's

00:22:12.390 --> 00:22:15.369
wild. A Broadway album on the rap charts. Exactly.

00:22:15.849 --> 00:22:18.710
And it became the 11th biggest album of the entire

00:22:18.710 --> 00:22:22.619
2010s. This unprecedented crossover success into

00:22:22.619 --> 00:22:25.519
the mainstream music charts truly solidified

00:22:25.519 --> 00:22:28.599
its cultural status, proving its appeal far beyond

00:22:28.599 --> 00:22:31.140
traditional Broadway audiences and reshaping

00:22:31.140 --> 00:22:34.140
perceptions of musical theater. Miranda received

00:22:34.140 --> 00:22:36.460
the Drama League Distinguished Performance Award

00:22:36.460 --> 00:22:40.240
in May 2016 for his iconic role as Alexander

00:22:40.240 --> 00:22:42.720
Hamilton. Well deserved. And in a powerful testament

00:22:42.720 --> 00:22:44.920
to the collective genius behind the show, the

00:22:44.920 --> 00:22:48.160
Hamilton creative team Miranda Cale, choreographer

00:22:48.160 --> 00:22:50.680
Andy Blankenbuehler, and musical director Alex

00:22:50.680 --> 00:22:53.140
Lacamoire received the Kennedy Center honor in

00:22:53.140 --> 00:22:55.859
2018. One of the nation's highest awards for

00:22:55.859 --> 00:22:58.160
artistic excellence, truly recognizing the whole

00:22:58.160 --> 00:23:00.579
team. The show even made it to the highest office.

00:23:00.799 --> 00:23:03.299
March 15, 2016, cast members performed at the

00:23:03.299 --> 00:23:05.740
White House, hosted workshops for students. And

00:23:05.740 --> 00:23:09.180
the freestyle rap? Yes, with Miranda memorably

00:23:09.180 --> 00:23:11.819
performing a freestyle rap. from prompts held

00:23:11.819 --> 00:23:14.339
up by none other than President Obama himself.

00:23:15.160 --> 00:23:18.740
That image, a modern rap battle with the president,

00:23:19.079 --> 00:23:22.440
it truly captured the zeitgeist, symbolized the

00:23:22.440 --> 00:23:25.039
show's profound cultural impact. To connect this

00:23:25.039 --> 00:23:27.019
to the broader picture, Hamilton didn't just

00:23:27.019 --> 00:23:29.680
redefine musical theater. It demonstrated how

00:23:29.680 --> 00:23:32.359
history and education could be made profoundly

00:23:32.359 --> 00:23:36.400
engaging, relevant, even cool to a modern, diverse

00:23:36.400 --> 00:23:39.799
audience. It broke down barriers between genres,

00:23:40.200 --> 00:23:42.420
between high art and popular culture, between

00:23:42.420 --> 00:23:45.160
different demographics, becoming a true phenomenon

00:23:45.160 --> 00:23:47.640
that transcended typical theatrical boundaries

00:23:47.640 --> 00:23:50.000
and sparked this national conversation about

00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:53.119
who gets to tell American history. In April 2016,

00:23:53.319 --> 00:23:55.269
Miranda and Jeremy McCarter published Hamilton,

00:23:55.549 --> 00:23:58.609
The Revolution. The Hamilton. Right. The lavish

00:23:58.609 --> 00:24:00.630
behind -the -scenes book chronicling the show's

00:24:00.630 --> 00:24:02.670
incredible journey from conception to Broadway

00:24:02.670 --> 00:24:05.970
success, its cultural impact, offering fans an

00:24:05.970 --> 00:24:08.279
intimate look at its creation. Miranda gave his

00:24:08.279 --> 00:24:10.420
last performance as Alexander Hamilton on July

00:24:10.420 --> 00:24:13.859
9, 2016, a moment that left many fans heartbroken.

00:24:14.019 --> 00:24:16.839
Oh, definitely. But he famously vowed to return,

00:24:16.980 --> 00:24:19.579
and he did, for a special one -night reprise

00:24:19.579 --> 00:24:23.099
in 2017 to celebrate President Obama's commutation

00:24:23.099 --> 00:24:25.700
of Oscar Lopez Rivera's sentence. Showing his

00:24:25.700 --> 00:24:28.640
commitment to social justice. Exactly. Even after

00:24:28.640 --> 00:24:31.269
stepping away from the regular run. The story

00:24:31.269 --> 00:24:33.910
of its creation was also documented in Hamilton's

00:24:33.910 --> 00:24:36.309
America, an insightful film that premiered at

00:24:36.309 --> 00:24:39.690
the New York Film Festival in 2016, aired on

00:24:39.690 --> 00:24:41.950
PBS. Allowing more people to see Behind the Curtain.

00:24:42.009 --> 00:24:44.069
Right. And for those who missed it on Broadway,

00:24:44.450 --> 00:24:46.750
a full taping of the original production was

00:24:46.750 --> 00:24:50.170
released on Disney Plus on July 3, 2020. Which

00:24:50.170 --> 00:24:52.750
was huge during the pandemic. Huge, bringing

00:24:52.750 --> 00:24:55.289
the electrifying experience to millions globally.

00:24:55.490 --> 00:24:57.869
In a fun, full -circle twist that reviews his

00:24:57.869 --> 00:25:01.450
deep -seated love for theater. January 24, 2016,

00:25:01.789 --> 00:25:03.809
Miranda performed the offstage cameo role of

00:25:03.809 --> 00:25:06.089
Loud Haler in the Broadway production of Les

00:25:06.089 --> 00:25:08.529
Miserables. Oh, wow. This wasn't just random.

00:25:08.690 --> 00:25:11.049
It was fulfilling a childhood dream. Lace Beast

00:25:11.049 --> 00:25:13.069
was the very first production he ever saw on

00:25:13.069 --> 00:25:16.700
Broadway. That's amazing. This small but poignant

00:25:16.700 --> 00:25:19.759
detail, this personal full circle moment, it

00:25:19.759 --> 00:25:22.299
reveals the deep -seated love for theater that

00:25:22.299 --> 00:25:24.619
underpins all his groundbreaking work. Yeah.

00:25:24.799 --> 00:25:27.099
It reminds us that even revolutionary artists

00:25:27.099 --> 00:25:29.240
are often inspired by the traditions that came

00:25:29.240 --> 00:25:31.740
before them and that his passion for the stage

00:25:31.740 --> 00:25:34.859
is genuinely lifelong, driving him to return

00:25:34.859 --> 00:25:37.140
to it in meaningful ways. He did eventually return

00:25:37.140 --> 00:25:39.799
to the title role in Hamilton for a three -week

00:25:39.799 --> 00:25:41.619
limited engagement in Puerto Rico. Right, the

00:25:41.619 --> 00:25:45.019
Puerto Rico run, January 2019. Tickets sold out

00:25:45.019 --> 00:25:48.000
in a remarkable three hours. Critics praised

00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:51.460
his deeper onstage emotions and improved vocal

00:25:51.460 --> 00:25:54.259
and dance technique, showing his continued dedication

00:25:54.259 --> 00:25:56.279
to the role and his commitment to bringing the

00:25:56.279 --> 00:25:58.400
show to the island. Still honing the role even

00:25:58.400 --> 00:26:01.180
then. Seems so. More recently, he played King

00:26:01.180 --> 00:26:04.119
Arthur in a benefit concert of Camelot in March

00:26:04.119 --> 00:26:06.539
2019. Showing his range beyond his own stuff.

00:26:06.640 --> 00:26:08.839
Yeah. He also wrote additional lyrics for the

00:26:08.839 --> 00:26:11.319
Broadway musical New York, New York in 2023,

00:26:12.160 --> 00:26:14.519
expanding the score for New Generation. And he's

00:26:14.519 --> 00:26:16.700
even working on a stage musical adaptation of

00:26:16.700 --> 00:26:18.859
Saul Yurick's novel, The Warriors. Warriors,

00:26:19.180 --> 00:26:21.759
wow. Yeah, with a concept album released in October

00:26:21.759 --> 00:26:25.259
2024. He clearly continues to engage with the

00:26:25.259 --> 00:26:27.940
stage in exciting and varied ways, constantly

00:26:27.940 --> 00:26:30.180
pushing his creative boundaries. His continued

00:26:30.180 --> 00:26:32.440
involvement in theater, whether originating new

00:26:32.440 --> 00:26:34.859
works, contributing to revivals, starring in

00:26:34.859 --> 00:26:37.519
classics, it underscores his enduring passion

00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:40.480
for the medium that launched his career. He constantly

00:26:40.480 --> 00:26:42.980
seeks new challenges, collaborates on diverse

00:26:42.980 --> 00:26:45.460
projects that keep him creatively stimulated,

00:26:45.680 --> 00:26:47.599
demonstrating a commitment to the art form that

00:26:47.599 --> 00:26:51.059
goes far beyond any hit. The screen's savvy from

00:26:51.059 --> 00:26:54.140
Disney hits to directorial debuts. Okay, so as

00:26:54.140 --> 00:26:56.539
his theater career blossomed into this global

00:26:56.539 --> 00:26:59.579
phenomenon, Lin -Manuel Miranda also began to

00:26:59.579 --> 00:27:02.039
venture into the world of film, broadening his

00:27:02.039 --> 00:27:05.000
artistic horizons, reaching entirely new audiences.

00:27:05.259 --> 00:27:08.319
Expanding the Empire. Kind of. His feature film

00:27:08.319 --> 00:27:10.420
debut was in the Walt Disney Pictures live action

00:27:10.420 --> 00:27:12.720
film, The Odd Life of Timothy Green, back in

00:27:12.720 --> 00:27:16.400
2012. A gentle fantasy drama. This early entry

00:27:16.400 --> 00:27:19.000
into film, particularly with Disney, it really

00:27:19.000 --> 00:27:21.539
foreshadows a significant collaboration that

00:27:21.539 --> 00:27:23.880
would shape a large part of his career, right?

00:27:24.079 --> 00:27:25.980
Establishing that relationship with the studio

00:27:25.980 --> 00:27:28.680
that would become incredibly fruitful. It shows

00:27:28.680 --> 00:27:31.059
an early willingness to explore different creative

00:27:31.059 --> 00:27:34.180
avenues beyond the stage. He also appeared in

00:27:34.180 --> 00:27:37.559
200 Cartas in 2013, a romantic comedy filmed

00:27:37.559 --> 00:27:39.720
in Puerto Rico. Connecting with his heritage

00:27:39.720 --> 00:27:42.559
through film, too. Yep, exactly. The Disney connection

00:27:42.559 --> 00:27:44.859
truly cemented itself after he interviewed with

00:27:44.859 --> 00:27:47.799
the studio in the winter of 2013, submitting

00:27:47.799 --> 00:27:50.980
this comprehensive six -song demo package to

00:27:50.980 --> 00:27:53.400
Walt Disney Animation Studios. That feels like

00:27:53.400 --> 00:27:55.579
a pivotal moment. It does. A chance to align

00:27:55.579 --> 00:27:57.839
his unique musical voice with one of the most

00:27:57.839 --> 00:28:00.259
iconic storytelling powerhouses in the world.

00:28:00.509 --> 00:28:03.190
What's truly fascinating here is the strategic

00:28:03.190 --> 00:28:06.069
alignment and how committed he was to these new

00:28:06.069 --> 00:28:09.069
projects. This led to him being hired in spring

00:28:09.069 --> 00:28:12.309
2014 to help write and perform music for Moana,

00:28:13.490 --> 00:28:16.869
the 2016 animated feature. He dedicated himself

00:28:16.869 --> 00:28:19.769
so fully to Moana and Hamilton during this period

00:28:19.769 --> 00:28:21.710
that he actually turned down other projects.

00:28:22.119 --> 00:28:24.680
He later reflected on this, saying that while

00:28:24.680 --> 00:28:27.740
Hamilton became this unprecedented hit, Moana

00:28:27.740 --> 00:28:29.960
proved to be an ego check because he poured so

00:28:29.960 --> 00:28:32.220
much of himself into it simultaneously. Wow,

00:28:32.420 --> 00:28:34.779
juggling both at once. Yeah. This dedication

00:28:34.779 --> 00:28:37.259
to specific projects, even at the expense of

00:28:37.259 --> 00:28:39.720
others, highlights his artistic integrity and

00:28:39.720 --> 00:28:42.789
immense work ethic. Moana was a massive box office

00:28:42.789 --> 00:28:45.910
hit. Critics widely praise Miranda's songwriting,

00:28:45.970 --> 00:28:48.809
recognizing his unique ability to craft memorable,

00:28:49.049 --> 00:28:52.089
emotionally resonant songs that beautifully blended

00:28:52.089 --> 00:28:54.589
Polynesian cultural elements with contemporary

00:28:54.589 --> 00:28:57.150
pop sensibilities. He nailed that blend. He sang

00:28:57.150 --> 00:29:00.130
We Know the Way in the film, recorded a duet

00:29:00.130 --> 00:29:02.470
with Jordan Fisher for the end credits, and for

00:29:02.470 --> 00:29:04.950
the incredibly popular Oscar nominated song How

00:29:04.950 --> 00:29:08.069
Far I'll Go. Huge song. He won a Grammy and received

00:29:08.069 --> 00:29:10.309
Golden Globe, Critics Choice, and Academy Award.

00:29:10.119 --> 00:29:14.220
This partnership with Disney clearly opened up

00:29:14.220 --> 00:29:16.660
new avenues for his storytelling, allowing him

00:29:16.660 --> 00:29:19.220
to reach a global audience with his distinct

00:29:19.220 --> 00:29:22.240
musical voice. The success of Moana proved that

00:29:22.240 --> 00:29:24.200
his talent for crafting compelling narratives

00:29:24.200 --> 00:29:26.559
through song, rich with character and emotion,

00:29:27.240 --> 00:29:29.440
translated beautifully and universally to the

00:29:29.440 --> 00:29:32.339
animated film medium. It was a clear demonstration

00:29:32.339 --> 00:29:34.960
of his mastery of cross -cultural appeal. You

00:29:34.960 --> 00:29:37.180
know how cool is this, while simultaneously working

00:29:37.180 --> 00:29:39.160
on Hamilton and Moana? Which is already insane.

00:29:39.359 --> 00:29:41.759
Right. Miranda even contributed music for the

00:29:41.759 --> 00:29:44.160
Disney -distributed film Star Wars, The Force

00:29:44.160 --> 00:29:48.019
Awakens in 2015. Sweet, Star Wars 2. Yeah. Writing

00:29:48.019 --> 00:29:51.079
a song for Maz Kanasa's Cantina scene, a deliberate

00:29:51.079 --> 00:29:54.619
homage to the classic Maz Isley Cantina. He continued

00:29:54.619 --> 00:29:56.799
this playful involvement for The Rise of Skywalker

00:29:56.799 --> 00:29:59.980
in 2019, where he also had a delightful cameo

00:29:59.980 --> 00:30:03.059
as a resistance trooper. That's amazing. It highlights

00:30:03.059 --> 00:30:05.519
his incredible range and the almost playful way

00:30:05.519 --> 00:30:07.799
he integrates his diverse talents across different

00:30:07.799 --> 00:30:10.839
franchises and genres, often in surprising fan

00:30:10.839 --> 00:30:13.200
-pleasing ways. Yeah. It's a surprising fact

00:30:13.200 --> 00:30:15.500
many fans might not realize. His involvement

00:30:15.500 --> 00:30:18.319
with Star Wars, showcasing his ability to contribute

00:30:18.319 --> 00:30:21.500
effectively, even in unexpected roles, behind

00:30:21.500 --> 00:30:23.960
the scenes capacities, all while maintaining

00:30:23.960 --> 00:30:26.599
this deep love for the material. His Disney work

00:30:26.599 --> 00:30:29.339
continued with voice acting. He debuted as the

00:30:29.339 --> 00:30:32.220
distinctive voice of Fenton Gizmoduck, Crackshell

00:30:32.220 --> 00:30:35.940
Cabrera, in the 2017 reboot of DuckTales. Gizmoduck.

00:30:36.319 --> 00:30:38.940
Love that. Bringing his unique vocal energy to

00:30:38.940 --> 00:30:42.890
a beloved animated character in May 2018. Then

00:30:42.890 --> 00:30:45.509
came a major acting role as Jack, the charming

00:30:45.509 --> 00:30:48.450
lamp lighter, in Mary Poppins Returns in 2018.

00:30:48.650 --> 00:30:51.109
His first big film role after leaving Hamilton

00:30:51.109 --> 00:30:54.329
on Broadway. Exactly. He even traveled to London

00:30:54.329 --> 00:30:56.829
to shoot his scenes, fully immersing himself

00:30:56.829 --> 00:30:58.910
in the new production. His performance earned

00:30:58.910 --> 00:31:01.470
him a Golden Globe nomination. Yeah, and while

00:31:01.470 --> 00:31:03.470
some critics noted, you know, maybe an occasional

00:31:03.470 --> 00:31:05.690
inconsistency in his talkney accent. Laughs.

00:31:06.349 --> 00:31:09.400
A notoriously tricky accent. Right. His performance

00:31:09.400 --> 00:31:12.039
was widely praised for its warmth, energy, genuine

00:31:12.039 --> 00:31:15.160
charm, demonstrated his capability to command

00:31:15.160 --> 00:31:17.700
the screen in a demanding live -action musical.

00:31:17.900 --> 00:31:20.200
Definitely held his own. This period illustrates

00:31:20.200 --> 00:31:23.160
a significant pivot in his career, moving from

00:31:23.160 --> 00:31:25.660
predominantly a stage performer and writer to

00:31:25.660 --> 00:31:28.880
a prominent figure in live -action film. His

00:31:28.880 --> 00:31:31.500
ability to hold his own alongside seasoned actors

00:31:31.500 --> 00:31:34.259
like Emily Blunt was a testament to his talent.

00:31:34.440 --> 00:31:37.480
his adaptability across different acting mediums,

00:31:37.599 --> 00:31:39.880
further solidifying his status as a multi -talented

00:31:39.880 --> 00:31:43.319
force in Hollywood. In July 2018, Imagine Entertainment

00:31:43.319 --> 00:31:45.579
announced that Miranda would make his directorial

00:31:45.579 --> 00:31:48.220
debut. Ah, stepping behind the camera. With an

00:31:48.220 --> 00:31:51.380
adaptation of Jonathan Larson's semi -autobiographical

00:31:51.380 --> 00:31:55.279
musical Tick Tick Boom, scripted by Steven Levinson.

00:31:55.920 --> 00:31:58.039
This is a deeply personal project for Miranda,

00:31:58.279 --> 00:32:01.500
right? A longtime admirer of Larson's work. Absolutely.

00:32:01.789 --> 00:32:04.970
This move into directing was a significant evolution

00:32:04.970 --> 00:32:07.450
in his career, showcasing his desire to tell

00:32:07.450 --> 00:32:09.490
stories from behind the camera and to interpret

00:32:09.490 --> 00:32:11.529
the work of another influential musical theater

00:32:11.529 --> 00:32:14.069
artist whose own premature death tragically cut

00:32:14.069 --> 00:32:16.430
short a brilliant career. The film, which he

00:32:16.430 --> 00:32:19.410
also produced, was released on Netflix in 2021.

00:32:19.910 --> 00:32:22.490
Met with critical acclaim for its energetic direction,

00:32:23.150 --> 00:32:25.579
heartfelt tribute to Larsen's legacy. further

00:32:25.579 --> 00:32:27.759
solidifying his multi -faceted talents in the

00:32:27.759 --> 00:32:30.660
industry. The same year, he starred as the titular

00:32:30.660 --> 00:32:33.779
character, provided 11 original songs, and served

00:32:33.779 --> 00:32:36.359
as an executive producer for Vivo. The animated

00:32:36.359 --> 00:32:39.680
kinkajou. Yes. The Sony Pictures animation film

00:32:39.680 --> 00:32:43.519
released on Netflix in August 2021. The film,

00:32:43.599 --> 00:32:46.119
a colorful musical adventure set in Cuba and

00:32:46.119 --> 00:32:48.900
Florida, was this heartfelt love letter to Latin

00:32:48.900 --> 00:32:51.640
music. It really was. And in a delightful personal

00:32:51.640 --> 00:32:54.500
touch, his son, Francisco, is even listening

00:32:54.380 --> 00:32:57.460
as a production baby in the credits. Oh, that's

00:32:57.460 --> 00:32:59.339
sweet. A heartwarming industry tradition. It

00:32:59.339 --> 00:33:02.019
is. And then came in Kanto in November 2021.

00:33:02.240 --> 00:33:04.500
He collaborated again with Walt Disney Animation

00:33:04.500 --> 00:33:08.099
Studios. And boom, another phenomenon. A massive,

00:33:08.460 --> 00:33:11.180
unprecedented global success. The song We Don't

00:33:11.180 --> 00:33:13.640
Talk About Bruno just defied all expectations.

00:33:14.079 --> 00:33:16.259
Ruz to number one on both the US Billboard Hot

00:33:16.259 --> 00:33:19.380
100 and the UK Singles charts. His first number

00:33:19.380 --> 00:33:22.059
one song as a writer. Yeah, and a first for Disney

00:33:22.059 --> 00:33:25.279
in decades. He also received an Academy Award

00:33:25.279 --> 00:33:28.480
nomination for Dos Orguitas, further cementing

00:33:28.480 --> 00:33:30.880
his place as a master of contemporary Disney

00:33:30.880 --> 00:33:33.930
songwriting. The immense unexpected popularity

00:33:33.930 --> 00:33:37.509
of Encanto and Bruno truly demonstrated his universal

00:33:37.509 --> 00:33:41.069
appeal, his uncanny knack for crafting songs

00:33:41.069 --> 00:33:43.329
that are not only deeply integrated into the

00:33:43.329 --> 00:33:46.190
narrative, but also incredibly catchy, resonant

00:33:46.190 --> 00:33:48.410
with a global audience. It was everywhere. It

00:33:48.410 --> 00:33:51.190
became a genuine cultural phenomenon, dominating

00:33:51.190 --> 00:33:54.390
social media, radio waves, highlighted his unparalleled

00:33:54.390 --> 00:33:56.789
ability to capture the public's imagination with

00:33:56.789 --> 00:33:59.410
his distinct musical voice. Now, the film adaptation

00:33:59.410 --> 00:34:02.339
of his first major work in the had a long and

00:34:02.339 --> 00:34:04.039
winding journey to the screen. Oh yeah, that

00:34:04.039 --> 00:34:06.160
took a while. Announced by Universal way back

00:34:06.160 --> 00:34:08.639
in 2008, it was tragically canceled in 2011,

00:34:08.920 --> 00:34:11.440
then revived in 2012 with the Weinstein Company,

00:34:12.019 --> 00:34:13.679
before rights eventually went to Warner Bros.

00:34:13.739 --> 00:34:16.400
for $50 million after the Weinstein allegations.

00:34:17.239 --> 00:34:19.199
This complex development really highlights the

00:34:19.199 --> 00:34:21.420
inherent challenges and the ethical complexities

00:34:21.420 --> 00:34:23.719
of bringing successful Broadway properties to

00:34:23.719 --> 00:34:26.960
Hollywood. Absolutely. This prolonged development

00:34:26.960 --> 00:34:30.260
saga highlights the tenacity required to see

00:34:30.159 --> 00:34:32.420
such a project through, especially with all the

00:34:32.420 --> 00:34:36.199
studio changes, the ethical considerations. Miranda,

00:34:36.780 --> 00:34:39.400
while originating the iconic role of Usnavi on

00:34:39.400 --> 00:34:42.179
stage, felt he was too old for the film version.

00:34:42.360 --> 00:34:44.199
Right, he stepped aside. He made the conscious

00:34:44.199 --> 00:34:47.460
decision to step aside, instead playing the smaller,

00:34:47.679 --> 00:34:51.380
beloved role of Piroguero. the Paragua guy, which

00:34:51.380 --> 00:34:54.039
was a beautiful nod to his roots and a way to

00:34:54.039 --> 00:34:56.880
pass the torch to a new generation. He beautifully

00:34:56.880 --> 00:34:59.360
articulated his decision, too. He said, I went

00:34:59.360 --> 00:35:01.480
from substitute teacher to Broadway composer.

00:35:01.639 --> 00:35:03.699
I will never make a leap that big again in my

00:35:03.699 --> 00:35:06.139
life. I was very content to let Anthony Ramos

00:35:06.139 --> 00:35:08.440
and this incredible cast have their own experience.

00:35:08.460 --> 00:35:10.960
That's classy. It is. The film was eventually

00:35:10.960 --> 00:35:14.139
released in theaters and on HBO Max in June 2021,

00:35:14.480 --> 00:35:16.719
finally bringing his first major work to the

00:35:16.719 --> 00:35:18.960
big screen for a new generation. His humiliation

00:35:18.829 --> 00:35:20.650
His ability and generosity in stepping aside

00:35:20.650 --> 00:35:23.329
for a new generation of talent speak volumes

00:35:23.329 --> 00:35:25.750
about his character, his focus on the integrity

00:35:25.750 --> 00:35:28.050
of the storytelling rather than personal stardom

00:35:28.050 --> 00:35:30.550
in every iteration. He wanted the film to be

00:35:30.550 --> 00:35:33.070
its own entity, allowing new artists to make

00:35:33.070 --> 00:35:36.090
the roles their own, which is a rare and admirable

00:35:36.090 --> 00:35:39.030
quality in an industry often driven by ego. His

00:35:39.030 --> 00:35:41.630
Disney collaborations continue, showcasing a

00:35:41.630 --> 00:35:45.150
lasting partnership. In August 2016, he agreed

00:35:45.150 --> 00:35:47.690
to write songs with the legendary Alan Menken.

00:35:47.900 --> 00:35:50.639
Ellen Menken, wow. For the live action remake

00:35:50.639 --> 00:35:53.079
of The Little Mermaid. And what's deeply personal

00:35:53.079 --> 00:35:55.900
and truly delightful here is the connection.

00:35:56.659 --> 00:35:58.900
His son, Sebastian, was actually named after

00:35:58.900 --> 00:36:01.280
the Jamaican crab from the original Little Mermaid.

00:36:01.340 --> 00:36:04.400
Oh, way. Yeah. It was one of Miranda's favorite

00:36:04.400 --> 00:36:07.099
films growing up. This personal passion for the

00:36:07.099 --> 00:36:09.300
source material clearly drove his involvement.

00:36:09.820 --> 00:36:12.539
He and Menken, a living Disney legend, wrote

00:36:12.539 --> 00:36:14.639
four new songs for the film, which premiered

00:36:14.639 --> 00:36:18.360
in May 2023, bringing new musical life to a cherished

00:36:18.360 --> 00:36:21.099
classic while honoring its legacy. That's fantastic.

00:36:21.119 --> 00:36:23.360
He's also a longtime fan of The Lion King. Of

00:36:23.360 --> 00:36:25.440
course. And started writing songs for the Prinkle

00:36:25.440 --> 00:36:28.380
sequel Mufasa, The Lion King, in early 2022.

00:36:28.860 --> 00:36:30.920
He even made his first in -person appearance

00:36:30.920 --> 00:36:34.519
at a D23 fan event in August 2024 to present

00:36:34.570 --> 00:36:36.650
the theatrical trailer for the film. Which is

00:36:36.650 --> 00:36:38.969
coming out soon, right? December 2024. Yep, December

00:36:38.969 --> 00:36:41.719
2024. So what all this means for us, the audience,

00:36:42.000 --> 00:36:44.739
is that Miranda possesses this insatiable creative

00:36:44.739 --> 00:36:48.239
hunger, an uncanny ability to translate complex

00:36:48.239 --> 00:36:50.500
narratives, historical, fantastical, whatever,

00:36:50.940 --> 00:36:53.119
into compelling, catchy, musical, and dramatic

00:36:53.119 --> 00:36:56.420
experiences across every imaginable medium. He

00:36:56.420 --> 00:36:58.320
really does it all. He's not just a composer

00:36:58.320 --> 00:37:01.639
or a writer. He's a true cross -platform storyteller,

00:37:02.019 --> 00:37:04.059
constantly pushing the boundaries of what's possible

00:37:04.059 --> 00:37:06.980
in entertainment. Television and music, the versatility

00:37:06.980 --> 00:37:10.019
continues. Lin -Manuel Miranda's reach extends

00:37:10.019 --> 00:37:12.360
deeply into television as well, and it started

00:37:12.360 --> 00:37:15.019
earlier than you might think, often in surprising

00:37:15.019 --> 00:37:18.280
roles that showcase his versatility. In 2007,

00:37:18.539 --> 00:37:20.539
he made a small but memorable appearance on The

00:37:20.539 --> 00:37:23.679
Sopranos as a bellman. A bellman on The Sopranos.

00:37:23.840 --> 00:37:27.019
That's a fun fact. Indeed, and his early television

00:37:27.019 --> 00:37:28.940
forays illustrate his willingness to explore

00:37:28.940 --> 00:37:30.800
different mediums without necessarily seeking

00:37:30.800 --> 00:37:34.369
the spotlight. He also played Juan Alvi Alvarez,

00:37:34.750 --> 00:37:37.269
Gregory House's roommate in a psychiatric hospital

00:37:37.269 --> 00:37:40.489
in -house from 2009 to 2010. Oh, I remember that.

00:37:40.849 --> 00:37:44.130
Yeah. Beyond dramatic roles, he returned repeatedly

00:37:44.130 --> 00:37:46.969
for Sesame Street in various capacities. Playing

00:37:46.969 --> 00:37:49.329
roles, even singing the theme song for Murray

00:37:49.329 --> 00:37:51.969
Has a Little Lamb, showing his commitment to

00:37:51.969 --> 00:37:53.869
educational children's programming. Love that.

00:37:54.190 --> 00:37:56.590
He was also a composer and actor on The Electric

00:37:56.590 --> 00:38:00.679
Company from 2009 to 2010. These roles, even

00:38:00.679 --> 00:38:03.119
minor ones, demonstrate his early willingness

00:38:03.119 --> 00:38:05.920
to explore different mediums, lend his talents

00:38:05.920 --> 00:38:08.480
to projects he admired and believed in. You might

00:38:08.480 --> 00:38:10.739
have spotted him in a 2011 episode of Modern

00:38:10.739 --> 00:38:13.639
Family adding his comedic timing to the popular

00:38:13.639 --> 00:38:16.760
sitcom. He also had a recurring role as Ruben

00:38:16.760 --> 00:38:19.960
Marcato in NBC's medical drama Do No Harm in

00:38:19.960 --> 00:38:23.159
2013. Right. And in a unique showcase of his

00:38:23.159 --> 00:38:25.760
linguistic talents and quick wit, he even appeared

00:38:25.760 --> 00:38:27.840
in an all -verse episode of How I Met Your Mother

00:38:27.840 --> 00:38:30.480
in November 2013. The rhyming episode, where

00:38:30.480 --> 00:38:34.000
he spoke entirely in rhyme. Exactly. These diverse

00:38:34.000 --> 00:38:36.440
roles, sitcoms, medical dramas, experimental

00:38:36.440 --> 00:38:39.260
verse episodes, clearly show his adaptability

00:38:39.260 --> 00:38:42.340
as an actor, his keen ear for dialogue, regardless

00:38:42.340 --> 00:38:44.920
of the format. He wasn't afraid to take on varied

00:38:44.920 --> 00:38:47.579
acting challenges, which undoubtedly honed his

00:38:47.579 --> 00:38:49.940
performance skills for his later larger roles

00:38:49.940 --> 00:38:52.539
and his ability to embody a wide range of characters.

00:38:53.059 --> 00:38:55.880
Beyond pure entertainment, Miranda has this remarkable

00:38:55.880 --> 00:38:58.400
knack for engaging in socially relevant comedy,

00:38:58.800 --> 00:39:01.760
leveraging his platform for advocacy. This was

00:39:01.760 --> 00:39:04.199
powerfully seen when he performed that emotional,

00:39:04.559 --> 00:39:06.820
passionate rap about the debt crisis in Puerto

00:39:06.820 --> 00:39:10.019
Rico on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. That

00:39:10.019 --> 00:39:13.750
was incredible. April. 2016, he truly uses his

00:39:13.750 --> 00:39:16.309
art to shed light on important, often complex

00:39:16.309 --> 00:39:19.429
issues. This exemplifies his profound ability

00:39:19.429 --> 00:39:22.070
to use his platform and artistic skill to highlight

00:39:22.070 --> 00:39:24.610
important issues, masterfully balancing entertainment

00:39:24.610 --> 00:39:27.789
with crucial advocacy. He leverages his celebrity

00:39:27.789 --> 00:39:30.070
to bring attention to causes he deeply cares

00:39:30.070 --> 00:39:32.429
about, particularly those affecting Puerto Rico

00:39:32.429 --> 00:39:34.650
without sacrificing the quality or impact of

00:39:34.650 --> 00:39:37.389
his art. It's a powerful demonstration of engaged

00:39:37.389 --> 00:39:39.809
artistry. He also famously hosted Saturday Night

00:39:39.809 --> 00:39:43.269
Live in October. Which he crushed. He did. Yeah.

00:39:43.269 --> 00:39:46.389
Showcasing his incredible comedic timing, versatility

00:39:46.389 --> 00:39:49.489
across live sketches, musical numbers, delivered

00:39:49.489 --> 00:39:52.389
a memorable opening monologue. He also had a

00:39:52.389 --> 00:39:54.789
standout guest role on Curb Your Enthusiasm in

00:39:54.789 --> 00:39:57.610
2017. Oh, the Curb episode was hilarious. He

00:39:57.610 --> 00:40:00.389
earned Primetime Emmy nominations for both appearances,

00:40:01.050 --> 00:40:03.449
further cementing his status as a multi -talented

00:40:03.449 --> 00:40:05.949
performer in television. His voice acting career

00:40:05.949 --> 00:40:08.369
also includes memorable characters like Cracker

00:40:08.369 --> 00:40:10.989
Jack Sugarman in the critically acclaimed animated

00:40:10.989 --> 00:40:14.630
series BoJack Horseman. Such a great, dark role.

00:40:14.730 --> 00:40:18.010
Yeah, from 2017 to 2020. And the charming Major

00:40:18.010 --> 00:40:20.650
Tom in the popular children's show Bluey in 20

00:40:20.650 --> 00:40:23.969
- Showcasing his ability to bring animated characters

00:40:23.969 --> 00:40:26.389
to life with distinct personality and humor.

00:40:26.690 --> 00:40:28.550
He sang the theme song for the Magic School Bus

00:40:28.550 --> 00:40:30.949
rides again. Fun! And guest starred as Amy's

00:40:30.949 --> 00:40:33.429
brother, David Santiago, in Brooklyn Nine -Nine

00:40:33.429 --> 00:40:36.610
in 2019. Further illustrating his expansive presence

00:40:36.610 --> 00:40:38.969
across the television landscape. Beyond acting,

00:40:39.389 --> 00:40:41.969
he's also moved into executive producing in television,

00:40:42.489 --> 00:40:45.449
demonstrating a deeper, more comprehensive creative

00:40:45.449 --> 00:40:48.820
involvement. In 2019, he served as an executive

00:40:48.820 --> 00:40:51.739
producer on the FX limited series, Fossa Verdon.

00:40:52.260 --> 00:40:55.059
About Bob Foss and Gwen Verdon, great series.

00:40:55.480 --> 00:40:57.679
Yeah, he even made a brief but impactful appearance

00:40:57.679 --> 00:40:59.659
playing Roy Scheider, the actor from Fossa's

00:40:59.659 --> 00:41:02.420
All That Jazz. The series received widespread

00:41:02.420 --> 00:41:04.980
critical acclaim, and he was nominated for a

00:41:04.980 --> 00:41:07.179
primetime Emmy for his work as an executive producer.

00:41:07.440 --> 00:41:09.699
Recognizing his influence behind the camera,

00:41:10.260 --> 00:41:12.300
this demonstrates a deeper engagement with the

00:41:12.300 --> 00:41:14.760
craft of television, moving beyond performance

00:41:14.760 --> 00:41:16.900
to help shape the narrative and production of

00:41:16.900 --> 00:41:19.320
projects he believes in. It shows a commitment

00:41:19.320 --> 00:41:22.239
to storytelling in all its forms and his ability

00:41:22.239 --> 00:41:24.519
to contribute significantly behind the scenes,

00:41:24.960 --> 00:41:28.039
offering his expertise and vision to bring complex

00:41:28.039 --> 00:41:30.639
stories to life. He took on a significant dramatic

00:41:30.639 --> 00:41:33.159
role as Lee Scoresby, the Texan aeronaut and

00:41:33.159 --> 00:41:36.300
adventurer in the BBC series adaptation of Philip

00:41:36.300 --> 00:41:38.820
Pullman's His Dark Materials. A very different

00:41:38.820 --> 00:41:42.199
kind of role for him from 2019 to 2022. Totally.

00:41:42.679 --> 00:41:45.059
Critics like Daniel Feinberg of The Hollywood

00:41:45.059 --> 00:41:48.219
Reporter praised his performance, noting how

00:41:48.219 --> 00:41:51.420
he forced audiences to reconstruct an image of

00:41:51.420 --> 00:41:54.019
American manliness around him, making him exactly

00:41:54.019 --> 00:41:56.800
what the series needs, offering this fresh, nuanced

00:41:56.800 --> 00:41:59.280
take on the character. his willingness to take

00:41:59.280 --> 00:42:03.559
on complex, even potentially miscast roles that

00:42:03.559 --> 00:42:06.420
challenge audience expectations. It speaks to

00:42:06.420 --> 00:42:08.880
his artistic courage and commitment to pushing

00:42:08.880 --> 00:42:11.380
himself. Yeah, definitely brave. He doesn't shy

00:42:11.380 --> 00:42:13.480
away from characters that require him to stretch

00:42:13.480 --> 00:42:16.099
his acting muscles or force audiences to reconsider

00:42:16.099 --> 00:42:18.559
their perceptions, which is a hallmark of truly

00:42:18.559 --> 00:42:22.019
innovative and fearless artists. In 2019, he

00:42:22.019 --> 00:42:24.599
teamed with legendary producer Norman Lear to

00:42:24.599 --> 00:42:26.760
make an American Masters documentary about the

00:42:26.760 --> 00:42:30.289
iconic Rita Moreno, just a girl who decided to

00:42:30.289 --> 00:42:33.190
go for it, premiered at Sundance in 2021. Yeah.

00:42:33.570 --> 00:42:35.570
He also collaborated on lyrics for Checks and

00:42:35.570 --> 00:42:38.369
Balances for the 2021 Netflix animated civic

00:42:38.369 --> 00:42:40.750
series, We the People, continuing his commitment

00:42:40.750 --> 00:42:43.110
to educational and culturally significant projects.

00:42:43.150 --> 00:42:45.530
Always circling back to that kind of work. Most

00:42:45.530 --> 00:42:48.210
recently, you can catch him as Hermes, the witty

00:42:48.210 --> 00:42:51.130
messenger of the gods in the Disney Plus series,

00:42:51.230 --> 00:42:53.449
Percy Jackson and the Olympians, which premiered

00:42:53.449 --> 00:42:56.829
in December 2023. He continues to pop up in projects

00:42:56.829 --> 00:42:59.570
that are both high profile and deeply engaging,

00:43:00.070 --> 00:43:02.989
showcasing his enduring appeal. His influence

00:43:02.989 --> 00:43:05.269
even reaches into the music production world.

00:43:05.510 --> 00:43:08.250
He was listed as a producer on the track Peanuts

00:43:08.250 --> 00:43:11.929
2 and Elephant from Lil Wayne's 14th solo studio

00:43:11.929 --> 00:43:15.440
album, Fy Carter the Six. Lil Wayne. It's unexpected.

00:43:15.800 --> 00:43:18.139
A surprising cross -genre collaboration, right?

00:43:18.539 --> 00:43:20.860
And he also provided backing vocals for several

00:43:20.860 --> 00:43:23.960
tracks on the upcoming 2025 Mountain Goats album

00:43:23.960 --> 00:43:26.460
through this fire across from Peter Balkan. Wow,

00:43:26.739 --> 00:43:29.119
the Mountain Goats too. Further reinforcing his

00:43:29.119 --> 00:43:31.219
versatile musicality and collaborative spirit

00:43:31.219 --> 00:43:33.539
across the entire spectrum of music, not just

00:43:33.539 --> 00:43:35.909
musical theater or mainstream pop. So what does

00:43:35.909 --> 00:43:37.650
this all mean for us, the listener? It means

00:43:37.650 --> 00:43:41.869
Miranda has this insatiable creative hunger and

00:43:41.869 --> 00:43:44.429
uncanny ability to translate complex narratives,

00:43:44.829 --> 00:43:47.110
historical, fantastical, whatever, into compelling

00:43:47.110 --> 00:43:49.750
and catchy musical and dramatic experiences across

00:43:49.750 --> 00:43:52.389
every imaginable medium. He's truly a creative

00:43:52.389 --> 00:43:55.070
force that knows no bounds, constantly seeking

00:43:55.070 --> 00:43:57.630
new forms of expression. Activism and personal

00:43:57.630 --> 00:44:01.239
connections. A voice for change. Beyond the stage

00:44:01.239 --> 00:44:03.840
and screen, Lin -Manuel Miranda's personal life

00:44:03.840 --> 00:44:06.599
reveals deeper motivations for his work and activism,

00:44:07.079 --> 00:44:10.059
showcasing how his private world profoundly influences

00:44:10.059 --> 00:44:13.380
his public contributions. He and his wife, Vanessa

00:44:13.380 --> 00:44:15.719
Nadal, actually attended high school together

00:44:15.719 --> 00:44:18.860
and married in 2010, a testament to a long -standing

00:44:18.860 --> 00:44:21.519
deep connection. And Vanessa Nadal is not just

00:44:21.519 --> 00:44:23.340
his wife. She's an accomplished individual in

00:44:23.340 --> 00:44:26.360
her own right, graduate of MIT and Fordham University

00:44:26.360 --> 00:44:29.079
School of Law, was a lawyer at Jones Day for

00:44:29.079 --> 00:44:32.039
six years. Wow, MIT and law school, that's impressive.

00:44:32.420 --> 00:44:34.699
That kind of sharp analytical mind must bring

00:44:34.699 --> 00:44:37.880
a truly unique grounding and perspective to his

00:44:37.880 --> 00:44:40.940
incredibly creative, often whirlwind life. This

00:44:40.940 --> 00:44:43.579
partnership clearly grounds him. brings a different,

00:44:43.699 --> 00:44:46.079
highly analytical perspective to his life, creating

00:44:46.079 --> 00:44:48.500
this powerful balance between artistic inspiration

00:44:48.500 --> 00:44:51.739
and practical grounding. And here's a sweet detail

00:44:51.739 --> 00:44:54.780
that speaks volumes about their connection. At

00:44:54.780 --> 00:44:56.679
their wedding reception, Miranda and the wedding

00:44:56.679 --> 00:44:59.239
party performed the beloved Fiddler on the Roof

00:44:59.239 --> 00:45:02.599
song to life. Of course they did. This personal

00:45:02.599 --> 00:45:05.460
connection to musical theater alongside his wife's

00:45:05.460 --> 00:45:08.139
Dominican and Austrian heritage even gave him

00:45:08.139 --> 00:45:11.079
some German language familiarity, which unexpectedly

00:45:11.079 --> 00:45:13.460
came in handy years later when collaborating

00:45:13.460 --> 00:45:15.940
on the German translation of Hamilton. No way.

00:45:16.000 --> 00:45:19.440
That's amazing. A wonderful example of how personal

00:45:19.440 --> 00:45:23.260
connections, seemingly small details, can serendipitously

00:45:23.260 --> 00:45:25.719
inform professional work. They have two sons,

00:45:26.000 --> 00:45:29.019
Sebastian, born in 2014, and Francisco, born

00:45:29.019 --> 00:45:31.940
in 2018. was actually named after the charming

00:45:31.940 --> 00:45:34.179
Jamaican crab from The Little Mermaid, one of

00:45:34.179 --> 00:45:36.280
Miranda's all -time favorite films, which, as

00:45:36.280 --> 00:45:38.780
we mentioned, famously led to him taking on the

00:45:38.780 --> 00:45:41.019
job of composing for its live -action version.

00:45:41.340 --> 00:45:43.639
That makes so much sense now. Right. Sebastian

00:45:43.639 --> 00:45:45.900
even appeared, in that heartwarming tradition,

00:45:46.000 --> 00:45:48.900
in the production baby's credits of Moana, another

00:45:48.900 --> 00:45:51.880
film Miranda wrote songs for. Their second son,

00:45:52.059 --> 00:45:54.219
Francisco, is similarly listed in the credits

00:45:54.219 --> 00:45:57.380
for Vivo. Keeping it in the family. Yeah. Sebastian

00:45:57.380 --> 00:45:59.869
is already bilingual in English. in Spanish and

00:45:59.869 --> 00:46:03.250
knows some German, demonstrating the rich, multicultural,

00:46:03.550 --> 00:46:05.590
multi -linguistic environment they are raised

00:46:05.590 --> 00:46:08.530
in, mirroring Miranda's own diverse heritage.

00:46:08.869 --> 00:46:11.110
These personal details are invaluable because

00:46:11.110 --> 00:46:13.630
they show the deeply intertwined nature of his

00:46:13.630 --> 00:46:16.690
family life and his creative work. His children,

00:46:17.150 --> 00:46:19.550
his wife, they're not just part of his private

00:46:19.550 --> 00:46:22.510
world. They actively inspire and influence his

00:46:22.510 --> 00:46:25.230
professional choices, often appearing in subtle

00:46:25.230 --> 00:46:28.309
but meaningful ways in his projects. showcasing

00:46:28.309 --> 00:46:31.110
a beautiful integration of his personal and professional

00:46:31.110 --> 00:46:34.030
worlds. Here's a truly surprising fact. Miranda

00:46:34.030 --> 00:46:36.309
discovered he is related to artist Residente

00:46:36.309 --> 00:46:38.909
and I of the acclaimed Puerto Rican band Calle

00:46:38.909 --> 00:46:42.869
13. Calle 13, wow, how? During a concert in San

00:46:42.869 --> 00:46:45.210
Juan, Puerto Rico in 2009 where he was invited

00:46:45.210 --> 00:46:47.369
to perform, their mother revealed the connection

00:46:47.369 --> 00:46:49.909
to Gilberto Concepcion de Gracia, founder of

00:46:49.909 --> 00:46:52.690
the Puerto Rican Independence Party. Whoa. That

00:46:52.690 --> 00:46:55.329
highlights the deep cultural and political connections

00:46:55.329 --> 00:46:58.010
embedded in his family history, which profoundly

00:46:58.010 --> 00:47:00.429
resonates with his own activism. It's not just

00:47:00.429 --> 00:47:03.670
a familial tie. It's a connection to a significant

00:47:03.670 --> 00:47:06.309
political and cultural lineage within Puerto

00:47:06.309 --> 00:47:09.630
Rico, underscoring the long history of advocacy

00:47:09.630 --> 00:47:12.400
and artistry in his bloodline. Right. Miranda

00:47:12.400 --> 00:47:14.980
and Residante have since collaborated, with Miranda

00:47:14.980 --> 00:47:17.400
performing on the opening track of Residante's

00:47:17.400 --> 00:47:20.800
self -titled debut album in 2017, further strengthening

00:47:20.800 --> 00:47:23.800
those artistic and familial bonds, creating powerful

00:47:23.800 --> 00:47:26.000
new music. And in another fun connection to the

00:47:26.000 --> 00:47:28.800
world of sports, he's also a cousin of professional

00:47:28.800 --> 00:47:31.769
baseball player Jose Miranda. that talent pool

00:47:31.769 --> 00:47:33.530
and that family. His family tree is certainly

00:47:33.530 --> 00:47:35.789
full of accomplished individuals across various

00:47:35.789 --> 00:47:39.110
fields. Beyond his artistic endeavors, Lin -Manuel

00:47:39.110 --> 00:47:41.389
Miranda has been a vocal and incredibly active

00:47:41.389 --> 00:47:43.489
advocate for Puerto Rico, especially concerning

00:47:43.489 --> 00:47:45.989
its persistent debt crisis and the devastating

00:47:45.989 --> 00:47:48.849
aftermath of natural disasters. His commitment

00:47:48.849 --> 00:47:51.389
to his ancestral home runs deep. It's a defining

00:47:51.389 --> 00:47:54.320
aspect of his public persona. After a crucial

00:47:54.320 --> 00:47:56.340
meeting with President Barack Obama in March

00:47:56.340 --> 00:48:00.239
2016, Miranda joined U .S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand,

00:48:00.480 --> 00:48:02.760
Chuck Schumer, Elizabeth Warren, and other Democratic

00:48:02.760 --> 00:48:05.320
lawmakers to call for congressional action on

00:48:05.320 --> 00:48:07.920
a bill allowing Puerto Rico to declare bankruptcy.

00:48:08.099 --> 00:48:10.340
Which would significantly ease its staggering

00:48:10.340 --> 00:48:13.219
$70 billion government debt burden. Yeah. He

00:48:13.219 --> 00:48:16.340
powerfully used his voice beyond the stage, publishing

00:48:16.340 --> 00:48:18.420
influential articles in The New York Times in

00:48:18.420 --> 00:48:21.219
2016. Right, like stop the bots from killing

00:48:21.219 --> 00:48:24.230
Broadway and give Puerto Rico its chance to thrive.

00:48:24.539 --> 00:48:27.360
the latter directly addressing the island's economic

00:48:27.360 --> 00:48:30.679
future with urgency and passion. This was a direct,

00:48:30.980 --> 00:48:33.780
powerful use of his platform for tangible policy

00:48:33.780 --> 00:48:36.280
change. His activism intensified dramatically

00:48:36.280 --> 00:48:38.659
after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico

00:48:38.659 --> 00:48:41.559
in 2017. A terrible time for the island. In a

00:48:41.559 --> 00:48:43.900
truly remarkable collective effort, proceeds

00:48:43.900 --> 00:48:45.960
from his heartfelt charity single, Almost Like

00:48:45.960 --> 00:48:48.719
Praying, which featured this star -studded lineup

00:48:48.719 --> 00:48:51.300
of artists from the Latin music world. So many

00:48:51.300 --> 00:48:53.360
great artists on that track. Helped the Hispanic

00:48:53.360 --> 00:48:56.090
Federation raise an impressive $22 million for

00:48:56.090 --> 00:48:58.210
rescue efforts and disaster relief by December

00:48:58.210 --> 00:49:02.050
2017. That's substantial impact. This raises

00:49:02.050 --> 00:49:05.090
an important question, though. How does one effectively

00:49:05.090 --> 00:49:08.030
balance celebrity with the complexities of political

00:49:08.030 --> 00:49:11.070
advocacy and disaster relief, navigating potential

00:49:11.070 --> 00:49:13.570
pitfalls, ensuring real impact? It's tricky.

00:49:14.010 --> 00:49:16.289
Miranda took Hamilton to Puerto Rico in January

00:49:16.289 --> 00:49:19.829
2019 specifically to raise money for the island's

00:49:19.829 --> 00:49:22.340
reconstruction. channeling at least $15 million

00:49:22.340 --> 00:49:25.500
through the Flamboyant Foundation, which he co

00:49:25.500 --> 00:49:28.539
-founded. The Miranda family even personally

00:49:28.539 --> 00:49:31.239
donated approximately $1 million to upgrade the

00:49:31.239 --> 00:49:34.000
University of Puerto Rico Theater. Wow. However,

00:49:34.300 --> 00:49:36.420
due to warnings of potential disruptions by a

00:49:36.420 --> 00:49:39.139
university workers labor organization, performances

00:49:39.139 --> 00:49:41.820
ultimately moved to the Luis A. Ferre Performing

00:49:41.820 --> 00:49:43.639
Arts Center, where the production made further

00:49:43.639 --> 00:49:45.980
significant improvements. demonstrating their

00:49:45.980 --> 00:49:48.260
unwavering commitment and adaptability despite

00:49:48.260 --> 00:49:51.420
obstacles and complex local dynamics. His political

00:49:51.420 --> 00:49:53.420
involvement wasn't without its challenges or

00:49:53.420 --> 00:49:56.199
controversy, though. In 2016, Miranda initially

00:49:56.199 --> 00:49:58.619
advocated for the Puerto Rico Oversight Management

00:49:58.619 --> 00:50:01.400
and Economic Stability Act, known as PROMESA.

00:50:01.719 --> 00:50:05.579
Right. Viewing it at the time as the only bipartisan

00:50:05.579 --> 00:50:08.679
option for addressing the dire debt crisis, an

00:50:08.679 --> 00:50:11.159
attempt to bring stability. However, the law

00:50:11.360 --> 00:50:13.980
Designed to manage the debt led to significant,

00:50:14.179 --> 00:50:17.500
deeply painful austerity measures. Over 200 public

00:50:17.500 --> 00:50:20.659
schools closed. Terrible. Government labor benefits

00:50:20.659 --> 00:50:22.960
were severely reduced. The University of Puerto

00:50:22.960 --> 00:50:26.460
Rico faced drastic budget reductions. This sparked

00:50:26.460 --> 00:50:30.119
widespread protests, deep resentment, and Miranda,

00:50:30.420 --> 00:50:32.500
having publicly supported the bill, became a

00:50:32.500 --> 00:50:34.440
target of criticism. Especially when Hamilton

00:50:34.440 --> 00:50:36.710
played on the island, right? given the musical's

00:50:36.710 --> 00:50:39.130
theme of American history and revolution, which

00:50:39.130 --> 00:50:41.750
some viewed with bitter irony in light of Promessa's

00:50:41.750 --> 00:50:44.230
impact on their lives. Yeah. What's truly compelling

00:50:44.230 --> 00:50:47.309
here is his response to this criticism, his willingness

00:50:47.309 --> 00:50:49.789
to engage directly. He met with protesters. They

00:50:49.789 --> 00:50:52.429
did. Yeah. Explaining that while he had initially

00:50:52.429 --> 00:50:54.610
supported Promessa as a pathway to stability,

00:50:55.110 --> 00:50:57.429
he explicitly did not support the subsequent

00:50:57.429 --> 00:51:00.010
austerity measures and now believes full debt

00:51:00.010 --> 00:51:02.010
relief should be pursued for the island's true

00:51:02.010 --> 00:51:04.989
recovery. So he evolved his stance. He openly

00:51:05.000 --> 00:51:07.619
acknowledged that the 2016 act hadn't delivered

00:51:07.619 --> 00:51:10.159
the promised relief and has since passionately

00:51:10.159 --> 00:51:12.199
advocated for full debt relief for the island.

00:51:12.780 --> 00:51:14.940
This shows a leader who is willing to listen,

00:51:15.239 --> 00:51:18.440
reflect, admit when a policy he supported didn't

00:51:18.440 --> 00:51:21.219
achieve its intended positive outcome and adapt

00:51:21.219 --> 00:51:23.539
their stance based on real world outcomes and

00:51:23.539 --> 00:51:25.599
the lived experiences of the people he champions.

00:51:25.940 --> 00:51:28.000
Which is a rare and commendable quality in public

00:51:28.000 --> 00:51:31.260
life. His ability to publicly evolve his position,

00:51:31.300 --> 00:51:33.579
admit that a policy he supported didn't work

00:51:33.579 --> 00:51:36.219
out as intended. especially in such a high -profile

00:51:36.219 --> 00:51:39.119
manner. It speaks to a deep sense of accountability

00:51:39.119 --> 00:51:41.920
and humility. It adds a crucial layer of depth

00:51:41.920 --> 00:51:45.059
to his activism. moving beyond simple advocacy

00:51:45.059 --> 00:51:47.780
to a more nuanced, responsive engagement with

00:51:47.780 --> 00:51:50.239
complex political realities and the profound

00:51:50.239 --> 00:51:53.260
impact of policy on people's lives. His philanthropy

00:51:53.260 --> 00:51:56.099
isn't limited to Puerto Rico. It also beautifully

00:51:56.099 --> 00:51:58.059
intertwines with the very history that inspired

00:51:58.059 --> 00:52:00.940
his greatest work. He uses proceeds from Hamilton

00:52:00.940 --> 00:52:03.599
to support Graham Windham, which is a nonprofit

00:52:03.599 --> 00:52:06.400
adoption agency originally founded by Elizabeth

00:52:06.400 --> 00:52:09.719
Schuyler Hamilton. Eliza herself, the very historical

00:52:09.719 --> 00:52:11.960
figure who inspired one of his central characters.

00:52:12.400 --> 00:52:14.940
He often performs at their fundraising galas,

00:52:15.000 --> 00:52:17.519
providing direct support, bringing his art full

00:52:17.519 --> 00:52:20.039
circle. That is a beautiful full circle moment,

00:52:20.480 --> 00:52:22.300
directly connecting his art to the historical

00:52:22.300 --> 00:52:24.579
figure who inspired it, extending the legacy

00:52:24.579 --> 00:52:27.000
of the Schuyler sisters into modern day social

00:52:27.000 --> 00:52:30.260
impact. It's a tangible way he ensured the themes

00:52:30.260 --> 00:52:33.039
of his work resonate beyond the stage and contribute

00:52:33.039 --> 00:52:36.079
to real world change, honoring history through

00:52:36.079 --> 00:52:38.960
contemporary. action. He also performed the powerful

00:52:38.960 --> 00:52:41.539
song found tonight with fellow Broadway star

00:52:41.539 --> 00:52:44.219
Ben Platt at the March for Our Lives anti -gun

00:52:44.219 --> 00:52:47.599
violence rally in Washington DC in March 2018

00:52:47.599 --> 00:52:50.000
showing his unwavering commitment to broader

00:52:50.000 --> 00:52:51.940
social issues that affect communities across

00:52:51.940 --> 00:52:54.719
the nation using his voice to amplify calls for

00:52:54.719 --> 00:52:57.280
change. A symphony of accolades the weight of

00:52:57.280 --> 00:52:59.719
recognition. It's no exaggeration to say Lin

00:52:59.719 --> 00:53:02.119
-Manuel Miranda is an award -winning force a

00:53:02.119 --> 00:53:05.059
true prodigy of our time. His trophy shelf is,

00:53:05.059 --> 00:53:07.199
well, overflowing with some of the most prestigious

00:53:07.199 --> 00:53:09.760
honors in arts and entertainment, recognizing

00:53:09.760 --> 00:53:12.239
his profound impact across multiple mediums.

00:53:12.480 --> 00:53:14.739
We're talking about a Pulitzer Prize for drama,

00:53:15.500 --> 00:53:17.699
an incredibly rare and significant honor for

00:53:17.699 --> 00:53:20.440
a musical, placing Hamilton alongside literary

00:53:20.440 --> 00:53:23.739
classics. He's also garnered five Grammy Awards,

00:53:24.199 --> 00:53:27.400
three Tony Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards,

00:53:27.739 --> 00:53:30.059
and two Laurence Olivier Awards. Grimmettish

00:53:30.059 --> 00:53:33.440
Tonys. Exactly. And he's been nominated for two

00:53:33.440 --> 00:53:36.500
Academy Awards. This breadth of recognition across

00:53:36.500 --> 00:53:40.199
theater, music, film, television. It's truly

00:53:40.199 --> 00:53:43.239
exceptional. Speaks to his unparalleled versatility

00:53:43.239 --> 00:53:45.360
and the consistent quality of his groundbreaking

00:53:45.360 --> 00:53:48.110
work. Very few artists achieve that rage. Very

00:53:48.110 --> 00:53:50.809
few. Such widespread and deep acclaim across

00:53:50.809 --> 00:53:53.289
so many distinct fields. Beyond the competitive

00:53:53.289 --> 00:53:55.550
awards, he's received significant special honors

00:53:55.550 --> 00:53:57.789
that underscore his broader cultural importance.

00:53:58.190 --> 00:54:00.969
In 2015, he was a recipient of a highly prestigious

00:54:00.969 --> 00:54:03.230
Genius Grant from the MacArthur Fellows Program.

00:54:03.389 --> 00:54:05.889
The Genius Grant. An award given to individuals

00:54:05.889 --> 00:54:08.190
who have shown extraordinary originality and

00:54:08.190 --> 00:54:10.889
dedication in their creative pursuits. fits him

00:54:10.889 --> 00:54:14.010
perfectly. He was rightly included in Time magazine's

00:54:14.010 --> 00:54:16.130
annual Time 100 as one of the most influential

00:54:16.130 --> 00:54:19.070
people in the world in 2016, a testament to his

00:54:19.070 --> 00:54:22.190
global impact. That same year, he received a

00:54:22.190 --> 00:54:24.949
star on the Puerto Rico Walk of Fame. Nice. And

00:54:24.949 --> 00:54:28.250
in November 2018, he received a star on the iconic

00:54:28.250 --> 00:54:31.710
Hollywood Walk of Fame. In December 2018, the

00:54:31.710 --> 00:54:34.670
entire Hamilton creative team, Miranda, Cale,

00:54:34.989 --> 00:54:37.469
Blankenbuehler, Lacamoire, received the Kennedy

00:54:37.469 --> 00:54:39.989
Center Honor. One of the nation's highest awards

00:54:39.989 --> 00:54:42.769
for artistic excellence, recognizing their collective

00:54:42.769 --> 00:54:45.610
groundbreaking contribution. Yeah. His contributions

00:54:45.610 --> 00:54:47.670
have also been recognized by esteemed academic

00:54:47.670 --> 00:54:50.469
and cultural institutions. He received Smithsonian

00:54:50.469 --> 00:54:53.289
Magazine's American Ingenuity Award in the history

00:54:53.289 --> 00:54:56.150
category in 2015. For making history vibrant

00:54:56.150 --> 00:54:58.010
and accessible. And the portrait of a nation

00:54:58.010 --> 00:55:00.269
prize from the Smithsonian National Portrait

00:55:00.269 --> 00:55:03.250
Gallery in 2019, further solidifying his place

00:55:03.250 --> 00:55:05.670
in American cultural history as an artist who

00:55:05.670 --> 00:55:07.650
has fundamentally shaped the national narrative.

00:55:08.349 --> 00:55:10.929
These special honors underscore that his impact

00:55:10.929 --> 00:55:14.809
extends far beyond mere entertainment. recognizing

00:55:14.809 --> 00:55:17.949
his profound role as a cultural commentator and

00:55:17.949 --> 00:55:20.550
innovator, a historian who has fundamentally

00:55:20.550 --> 00:55:22.989
reshaped how we engage with narrative and history

00:55:22.989 --> 00:55:25.989
in the 21st century. He's also received numerous

00:55:25.989 --> 00:55:27.989
honorary doctorates from some of the nations

00:55:27.989 --> 00:55:29.949
and the world's most respected institutions.

00:55:30.570 --> 00:55:33.269
In 2009, he received an honorary degree from

00:55:33.269 --> 00:55:36.590
Yeshiva University, becoming, remarkably, the

00:55:36.590 --> 00:55:38.809
youngest person to receive such an honor from

00:55:38.809 --> 00:55:41.800
that institution. Wow, youngest ever. He received

00:55:41.800 --> 00:55:43.980
a Doctor of Humane Letters from his alma mater,

00:55:44.280 --> 00:55:47.480
Wesleyan University, in 2015, where he also delivered

00:55:47.480 --> 00:55:49.639
their commencement address, imparting wisdom

00:55:49.639 --> 00:55:52.139
and inspiration to a new generation of graduates.

00:55:52.300 --> 00:55:54.420
Must have been a great speech. He delivered another

00:55:54.420 --> 00:55:57.440
impactful commencement speech in 2016 after receiving

00:55:57.440 --> 00:55:59.659
an Honorary Doctorate of the Arts from the University

00:55:59.659 --> 00:56:02.199
of Pennsylvania. The University of Puerto Rico

00:56:02.199 --> 00:56:05.239
granted him a doctorate, honoris causa, in July

00:56:05.239 --> 00:56:08.300
2016. A poignant recognition from his ancestral

00:56:08.300 --> 00:56:12.420
home. Definitely. And most recently, July 2022.

00:56:13.039 --> 00:56:15.579
He received an honorary doctorate from the Royal

00:56:15.579 --> 00:56:18.599
Academy of Music in London, England, highlighting

00:56:18.599 --> 00:56:20.920
his international impact and influence on the

00:56:20.920 --> 00:56:24.119
global stage. His impact is also profoundly evident

00:56:24.119 --> 00:56:26.559
in the commercial success of his music, his cast

00:56:26.559 --> 00:56:29.760
albums, consistently topping charts, achieving

00:56:29.760 --> 00:56:32.559
unprecedented certifications. The cast album

00:56:32.559 --> 00:56:35.079
for In the Heights went gold, which was significant

00:56:35.079 --> 00:56:37.280
for a new Broadway musical at the time. But the

00:56:37.280 --> 00:56:39.699
Hamilton cast recording truly broke barriers.

00:56:39.929 --> 00:56:42.690
Achieve Diamond Certification over 10 million

00:56:42.690 --> 00:56:45.769
units sold, and hitting number 2 on the Billboard

00:56:45.769 --> 00:56:49.420
200. An astonishing feat for a musical. What's

00:56:49.420 --> 00:56:51.559
truly remarkable here is the consistent commercial

00:56:51.559 --> 00:56:54.260
success alongside the widespread critical acclaim.

00:56:54.659 --> 00:56:57.320
The Moana soundtrack is 5x platinum, hit number

00:56:57.320 --> 00:57:00.159
two on the Billboard 200, showcasing its massive

00:57:00.159 --> 00:57:03.059
appeal across generations. The Encanto soundtrack

00:57:03.059 --> 00:57:05.340
is 2x platinum and hit number one on the Billboard

00:57:05.340 --> 00:57:08.179
200 with We Don't Talk About Bruno, becoming

00:57:08.179 --> 00:57:10.380
that record -breaking number one single in both

00:57:10.380 --> 00:57:12.619
the US and the UK, a phenomenon that captivated

00:57:12.619 --> 00:57:14.780
the world. It really did. Even the Hamilton Nix

00:57:14.780 --> 00:57:17.460
tape, a collection of songs inspired by the musical,

00:57:17.760 --> 00:57:19.960
reached number one on the Billboard 200. And

00:57:19.960 --> 00:57:22.579
his singles, like We Know the Way from Moana,

00:57:23.039 --> 00:57:26.139
have gone 2x platinum. Almost like praying, his

00:57:26.139 --> 00:57:28.659
charity single for Puerto Rico hit number 20

00:57:28.659 --> 00:57:30.840
on the Billboard Hot 100. So what does this all

00:57:30.840 --> 00:57:33.800
mean for us, the listener? It means his work

00:57:33.800 --> 00:57:35.980
isn't just critically acclaimed, it resonates

00:57:35.980 --> 00:57:38.400
deeply and broadly with audiences worldwide.

00:57:38.619 --> 00:57:41.079
leaving an indelible mark on popular culture

00:57:41.079 --> 00:57:43.780
and the music industry itself, constantly redefining

00:57:43.780 --> 00:57:46.199
what a successful soundtrack or theatrical album

00:57:46.199 --> 00:57:48.480
can achieve. The sheer volume and consistent

00:57:48.480 --> 00:57:50.659
high performance of his discography demonstrate

00:57:50.659 --> 00:57:52.980
a unique ability to connect with audiences on

00:57:52.980 --> 00:57:56.219
a mass scale, transcending genre, age demographics.

00:57:56.619 --> 00:57:58.360
His music truly becomes part of the cultural

00:57:58.360 --> 00:58:01.139
fabric, a testament to his innate ability to

00:58:01.139 --> 00:58:03.360
craft compelling, universally appealing songs

00:58:03.360 --> 00:58:05.860
that stick with you long after the curtain falls

00:58:05.860 --> 00:58:09.780
or the credits roll. What an incredible journey

00:58:09.780 --> 00:58:14.420
we've taken today. From a curious child in Inwood,

00:58:14.599 --> 00:58:16.699
with a poet's name inspired by history and hip

00:58:16.699 --> 00:58:19.699
hop, to a global cultural force who has seamlessly

00:58:19.699 --> 00:58:22.480
blended the worlds of Broadway, Hollywood, and

00:58:22.480 --> 00:58:25.039
advocacy. It's quite a trajectory. Lin -Manuel

00:58:25.039 --> 00:58:28.480
Miranda is, well, a maestro of modern storytelling.

00:58:29.500 --> 00:58:31.860
Demonstrating how diverse influences, relentless

00:58:31.860 --> 00:58:34.159
curiosity, and a deep commitment to innovation

00:58:34.159 --> 00:58:36.940
can truly revolutionize the creative landscape.

00:58:37.079 --> 00:58:39.599
He's redefined what it means to be a modern artist

00:58:39.599 --> 00:58:42.860
in like every sense. This deep dive leaves us

00:58:42.860 --> 00:58:44.679
with an important question for you, our listener.

00:58:44.980 --> 00:58:47.780
In an era of increasing specialization, can Lin

00:58:47.780 --> 00:58:50.760
-Manuel Miranda's multifaceted career as a writer,

00:58:51.119 --> 00:58:54.099
actor, composer, director, activist be seen as

00:58:54.099 --> 00:58:56.300
a blueprint for the modern artist, demonstrating

00:58:56.300 --> 00:58:59.139
the power of cross -disciplinary talent? Or is

00:58:59.139 --> 00:59:01.480
he a singular phenomenon whose unique blend of

00:59:01.480 --> 00:59:04.039
gifts and opportune timing is simply, you know,

00:59:04.239 --> 00:59:06.300
unreplicable? That's a great question, something

00:59:06.300 --> 00:59:08.619
to chew on. It's a fascinating thought to consider

00:59:08.619 --> 00:59:11.440
as you reflect on his incredible impact. We hope

00:59:11.440 --> 00:59:14.659
this deep dive gave you a shortcut to being truly

00:59:14.659 --> 00:59:17.460
well informed about the incredible world of Lin

00:59:17.460 --> 00:59:20.239
-Manuel Miranda. There's so much more to explore

00:59:20.239 --> 00:59:22.539
within his expansive body of work. Definitely

00:59:22.539 --> 00:59:25.659
dive into the cast albums. Watch his films or

00:59:25.659 --> 00:59:28.780
explore the causes he champions. Until next time,

00:59:28.980 --> 00:59:31.139
keep exploring, keep questioning, and keep connecting

00:59:31.139 --> 00:59:33.079
the dots in the amazing world of knowledge.