Back in March 2012 the Nasher Sculpture Center was still hosting its Nasher Salon. On this occasion they had a fellow from New York in. The crowd wasn’t as big as those for Kevin Bacon and Kristen Chenoweth, but those in attendance walked out with stars in their eyes knowing that they had seen something remarkable.
The speaker was a young fellow who had been accompanied to Dallas by his father, Luis Miranda. While he wasn’t a Brad Pitt or Jennifer Lawrence OMG-stop-me-in-my tracks type, there was something about him even from a distance that sparkled with “extra special.”
The chap was Lin-Manuel Miranda, who had just collected a Tony for his “In the Heights” production.
During his chat with SHN CEO Greg Holland, Lin mentioned that Alexander Hamilton had caught his eye. Seemed a bit strange for a hip-hopper like Lin to link with an American revolutionist Hamilton. He explained then that “after picking out the biggest, fattest biography he could find at Borders (remember Borders?), he’s working on The Hamilton Mixtape, a hip-hop album based on Hamilton’s life. According to Lin, Hamilton lived the American Dream before there was an America. Same fights they had then, we’re still having: size of government, etc., on Fox and MSNBC. Fights were bitter and personal. Sex/drugs/murder — hip hop.”
Fast forward: Today’s the hardest ticket to buy on Broadway is “Hamilton.” Yup, you guessed it. Lin not only wrote the lyrics, but he also composed the music and is currently starring in the musical.
BTW, you’ve got to see how Lin and Hamilton chorus celebrated the 40th anniversary of “A Chorus Line.”
If you can’t make it to NYC or wait until ticket availability in the fall of 2016, then enjoy Lin celebrating his marriage to Vanessa Nadal back in 2010. It’s simply joyous! BTW, the twosome added a son, Sebastian, to their productions in 2014.