This has been a huge year for playwright, composer, actor, and now director Lin-Manuel Miranda. He wrote and starred in Netflix’s Vivo, released a film adaptation of his hit Broadway musical In the Heights, and will soon wow audiences with the releases of Tick, Tick… Boom! and Disney’s Encanto.
Let’s take a deep dive into some of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s most recent works and what to expect from his upcoming projects!
Lin-Manuel Miranda musicals: In the Heights
Lin-Manuel Miranda first began drafting his Broadway musical In The Heights when he was in college and finished writing it with the help of Quiara Alegría Hudes. The musical was first performed in 2005, had its original off-Broadway run in 2007, and premiered on Broadway in 2008.
TOP 20 MUSICALS (BROADWAY/WEST END/ MOVIES) ?
19. In The Heights | 37 Votes (6.4%) pic.twitter.com/dTsq5H4ZIi
— paige (@sitcmslevy) July 2, 2020
In the Heights takes audiences through the story of the Latinx community living in New York City’s Washington Heights. In the movie, the characters struggle with the everyday challenges in the neighborhood as well as trying to reach their individual goals, before finding solutions within each of their dreams.
The original Broadway cast included Mandy Gonzalez, Christopher Jackson, Karen Olivo, Olga Merediz, and Lin-Manuel Miranda as the lead character, Usnavi. In the Heights went on to win 4 Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Original Score, Best Direction of a Musical, Best Choreography, and Best Orchestrations. The musical also won a Grammy for Best Musical Show Album.
The film adaptation of In the Heights premiered in June 2021 and was produced by Lin-Manuel, who also appeared in the movie. Directed by Jon M. Chu, the film stars Anthony Ramos, Olga Merediz, Corey Hawkins, Leslie Grace, and Melissa Barrera.
While promoting the film, Lin Manuel-Miranda told Jimmy Fallon, “I just kind of was writing what was missing. I wanted to write musicals starring Latinos, telling different stories. And here we are 20 years later.”
Watch In the Heights on HBO Max.
Lin-Manuel Miranda musicals: Hamilton
Lin-Manuel Miranda took the world by storm with his Broadway musical Hamilton, a production that tells the story of America’s founding fathers through hip-hop music. The musical first started as a singular rap about Alexander Hamilton’s life, then turned into what Lin-Manuel referred to as the Hamilton Mixtape.
Hamilton premiered off-Broadway in January 2015 before its Broadway debut in August 2015. The original Broadway cast featured Leslie Odom Jr., Phillipa Soo, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Daveed Diggs, Christopher Jackson, Anthony Ramos, and, of course, Lin-Manuel Miranda in the lead role of Alexander Hamilton.
The musical was praised for the diversity of its cast, as Lin-Manuel wanted Hamilton to represent America as it is today. The production received a plethora of awards and honors including Tonys for Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, and Best Original Score among other categories.
In July 2020, Disney+ released a 2016 recording of Hamilton with performances by the original Broadway cast. This allowed families around the world to enjoy musical theater during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also earned Hamilton another award: an Emmy for Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded).
Lin-Manuel Miranda movies: Vivo (2021)
Vivo is an animated Netflix comedy-drama that stars Lin-Manuel Miranda, Zoe Saldana, Ynairaly Simo, Juan de Marcos González, and Gloria Estefan. The film marked Sony Picture Animation;s first animated musical.
According to NBC News, Lin-Manuel wrote 8 original songs for the film. He also voiced the titular character, Vivo. Vivo follows its main protagonist, a kinkajou who journeys from Cuba to Miami to deliver a love song for his friend. Lin-Manuel told NBC that Vivo focuses on how “music and love are the exact same thing” for its characters.
In her review of Vivo, Hollywood.com’ Natalie Daniels wrote, “The best thing about the music in Vivo is that it’s the 1 thing that brings people together. While people don’t understand Vivo when he’s speaking, he can connect with everyone when he sings. It’s a powerful thing.”
Watch Vivo on Netflix.
Lin-Manuel Miranda movies: Tick, Tick… Boom! (2021)
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s newest project is the film adaptation of Tick, Tick… Boom!, the semi-autobiographical stage musical by Jonathan Larson. This marks Lin-Manuel’s feature film debut!
Lin-Manuel Miranda told New York Daily News that Tick, Tick… Boom! “was the show that strengthened my resolve to want to make theater for a living.” Tick, Tick…BOOM! is based on the life of Rent playwright and composer Jonathan Larson (portrayed by Andrew Garfield in the film). The film also stars Vanessa Hudgens, Alexandra Shipp, Robin de Jesús, and Joshua Henry.
According to Variety, Tick, Tick…BOOM! takes place 5 years before Rent’s first performance (and Jonathan Larson’s untimely death). The story is about Jon’s struggle having not yet achieved success in his career as he approaches 30 and feels he is losing the time to do so.
Watch Tick, Tick… Boom! on Netflix.
Lin-Manuel Miranda movies: Encanto (2021)
Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote the lyrics for Disney’s upcoming animated film Encanto. Encanto follows Mirabel, a young girl whose family has magical powers. As the only person in her family without any special abilities, Mirabel must try to save her family’s magic after she learns that it is in danger.
Lin-Manuel had previously worked with Disney animation on 2016’s Moana, but told The Hollywood Reporter that, “Encanto really came out of a desire to create something from the ground floor with Disney Animation.”
He said that the goal for this film was to write about an intergenerational family and have the conflict of the story be about the role the characters play within the tight knit group. Lin-Manuel wanted to explore how the members of the family see themselves versus how they are seen by those around them.
Encanto stars Stephanie Beatriz, John Leguizamo, María Cecilia Botero, and Diane Guerrero. The film will be released in theaters on November 24.
Lin-Manuel Miranda movies: The Little Mermaid
Lin-Manuel Miranda is lending his talents to compose new music for the highly-anticipated The Little Mermaid live-action film. According to Disney’s For Scores podcast, there will be 4 new songs by Lin-Manuel and Alan Menken.
Lin-Manuel Miranda told ABC News that he loved The Little Mermaid (1989) when it was released and that the calypso rhythm from “Under the Sea” inspired him to make music.
Lin-Manuel Miranda is also a co-producer on the film, according to Deadline. The Little Mermaid, which stars Halle Bailey, Melissa McCarthy, Daveed Diggs, and Jacob Tremblay, is set to hit theaters in May 2023.
This man sure is prolific and likes to keep busy! We can’t wait to continue to watch Lin-Manuel Miranda’s immense talent come to life on the big screen in these upcoming projects!
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