Lin-Manuel Miranda: The Revolutionary Voice of Modern Theater
Early Life and Education
Born on January 16, 1980, in New York City to Puerto Rican parents, Lin-Manuel Miranda grew up immersed in both hip-hop culture and Broadway musicals. He attended Hunter College High School and graduated from Wesleyan University in 2002, where he wrote an early version of In the Heights as a student project.
Breakthrough with In the Heights
Miranda's first major musical premiered off-Broadway in 2007 before transferring to Broadway in 2008. As composer, lyricist, and star, he won his first Tony Awards for Best Original Score and Best Musical. The show celebrated Latino communities in Washington Heights through salsa, hip-hop, and traditional show tunes.
Hamilton Revolution
Inspired by Ron Chernow's biography during a vacation, Miranda spent six years creating Hamilton (2015). He wrote the book, music, and lyrics while originating the title role. The hip-hop historical musical earned 11 Tony Awards, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and a Grammy, redefining Broadway for new generations.
Hamilton's innovative casting featured non-white actors as Founding Fathers, exploring immigration and legacy themes through rap battles and R&B ballads.
Film and Television Work
Miranda contributed songs to Disney's Moana ('How Far I'll Go'), earning an Oscar nomination. He starred in Mary Poppins Returns (2018) and directed Netflix's tick, tick... BOOM! (2021). For Encanto (2021), he wrote the chart-topping soundtrack including 'We Don't Talk About Bruno,' which spent weeks at #1 on Billboard's Hot 100.
Stage and Activism
He co-founded the improv group Freestyle Love Supreme, which launched before Hamilton. Miranda actively supports Puerto Rican relief efforts, arts education, and immigration reform. His charity single 'Almost Like Praying' raised millions for hurricane recovery.
- Miranda performed at the White House in 2009, rapping Alexander Hamilton's early life years before the musical's completion.
- Hamilton's rights are primarily owned by Miranda and producers Jeffrey Seller, Sander Jacobs, and Jill Furman.
- His agent is Kevin Huvane of Creative Artists Agency (CAA), who negotiated the landmark Disney+ film deal.
- Miranda turned down Hollywood roles to focus on Hamilton's development, including a part in The Amazing Spider-Man 2.
- He holds honorary doctorates from Penn and Columbia for revolutionizing musical theater.
