Role

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Composer Performer

Birth

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January 16, 1980 in New York City, NY

 

Lin-Manuel Miranda is a renowned composer, lyricist, and actor who has made a significant impact on the world of musical theater. Born on January 16, 1980, in New York City, Miranda grew up in a family that was deeply involved in the arts. His father, Luis A. Miranda Jr., was a political consultant, while his mother, Dr. Luz Towns-Miranda, was a clinical psychologist. Miranda's parents were both Puerto Rican, and he grew up speaking Spanish at home. Miranda's interest in music began at a young age. He started playing the piano when he was seven years old and later learned to play the guitar. As a teenager, he was heavily influenced by hip-hop music and began writing his own raps. Miranda attended Hunter College High School, a prestigious public school in New York City, where he was a member of the school's drama club and performed in several school productions. After graduating from high school, Miranda attended Wesleyan University in Connecticut, where he majored in theater. While at Wesleyan, Miranda wrote and performed in several musicals, including "In the Heights," which would later become his breakthrough work. After graduating from Wesleyan in 2002, Miranda worked as an English teacher for a year before devoting himself full-time to his music career. Miranda's first major success came with "In the Heights," a musical that he wrote and starred in. The show, which tells the story of a group of residents in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City, premiered off-Broadway in 2007 and later moved to Broadway, where it won four Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Miranda's music and lyrics for "In the Heights" were praised for their blend of hip-hop, salsa, and traditional musical theater styles. Following the success of "In the Heights," Miranda was approached by Disney to write music for their animated film "Moana." Miranda wrote several songs for the film, including the hit song "How Far I'll Go," which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song. In 2015, Miranda began work on his next major project, "Hamilton," a musical about the life of founding father Alexander Hamilton. Miranda wrote the music, lyrics, and book for the show, which premiered off-Broadway in 2015 before moving to Broadway later that year. "Hamilton" was an instant sensation, winning 11 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and a Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Miranda's music and lyrics for "Hamilton" were praised for their innovative blend of hip-hop, R&B, and traditional musical theater styles. Miranda's success with "Hamilton" led to numerous other opportunities in the entertainment industry. He wrote music for the Disney film "Mary Poppins Returns" and starred in the HBO series "His Dark Materials." Miranda has also been involved in several philanthropic efforts, including raising money for hurricane relief in Puerto Rico and advocating for arts education in public schools. In addition to his work in musical theater and film, Miranda has also been involved in politics. He has been a vocal advocate for Puerto Rican statehood and has been critical of the Trump administration's response to Hurricane Maria, which devastated Puerto Rico in 2017. Overall, Lin-Manuel Miranda's career has been marked by his innovative approach to musical theater and his ability to blend different musical styles to create something new and exciting.

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