1 00:00:01,880 --> 00:00:04,320 Speaker 1: So when we last left him, Lynn was getting jobs 2 00:00:04,440 --> 00:00:04,880 Speaker 1: left and. 3 00:00:04,880 --> 00:00:08,119 Speaker 2: Right, and he was wrapping for Obama at the White House. 4 00:00:08,720 --> 00:00:11,639 Speaker 1: For nine years, he had worked tirelessly to recreate his 5 00:00:11,680 --> 00:00:14,160 Speaker 1: neighborhood and to create a new kind of Broadway for 6 00:00:14,200 --> 00:00:14,920 Speaker 1: a new generation. 7 00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:18,720 Speaker 2: Soon he was known around town as a Broadway kid 8 00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:19,560 Speaker 2: who could wrap. 9 00:00:20,079 --> 00:00:23,840 Speaker 1: He was working NonStop, But soon he was answering the 10 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:26,960 Speaker 1: question that creatives hate the most. 11 00:00:28,560 --> 00:00:31,280 Speaker 2: Who are you wearing? No, not that one. 12 00:00:31,480 --> 00:00:33,560 Speaker 1: They were asking what comes next? 13 00:00:34,280 --> 00:00:36,960 Speaker 2: Uh, let me live my life, not you. 14 00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:40,080 Speaker 1: But I'm sure Lynn kind of felt the same way. 15 00:00:40,600 --> 00:00:43,360 Speaker 1: His performance at the White House had peaked everyone's interest. 16 00:00:43,720 --> 00:00:46,639 Speaker 1: What was this play about a founding father and how 17 00:00:46,680 --> 00:00:48,080 Speaker 1: did hip hop fit in? 18 00:00:49,560 --> 00:00:53,040 Speaker 2: Originally it was just a concept album. No one knew 19 00:00:53,159 --> 00:00:53,880 Speaker 2: what Lynn had. 20 00:00:54,760 --> 00:00:57,160 Speaker 1: When the Heights came around, he wondered how he had 21 00:00:57,160 --> 00:00:59,520 Speaker 1: beat everyone to the finish line by being the first 22 00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:02,560 Speaker 1: to include with salsa and hip hop in a stage musical. 23 00:01:03,160 --> 00:01:06,280 Speaker 1: Now he was going to make a musical about Alexander Hamilton. 24 00:01:06,880 --> 00:01:08,919 Speaker 2: Yeah, but how do you get that sh money? 25 00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:13,760 Speaker 1: On today's episode, we're going to revisit this seven year period, 26 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:17,040 Speaker 1: tell you how it happened, and dive deep into why 27 00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:19,640 Speaker 1: it became such a cultural phenomenon. 28 00:01:20,319 --> 00:01:23,480 Speaker 2: Lynn was not throwing away his shot. 29 00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:28,759 Speaker 1: Today, it's all things Hamilton, an American musical and how 30 00:01:28,800 --> 00:01:37,039 Speaker 1: it'll turn Lin Mineral Miranda into an icon. I'm your host, Lilianavasquez. 31 00:01:36,319 --> 00:01:41,200 Speaker 2: And I'm Joseph Carrio and this is Becoming an Icon, a. 32 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:43,800 Speaker 1: Weekly podcast where we give you the rundown on how 33 00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:47,960 Speaker 1: today's most famous LATINX stars have shaped pop culture. 34 00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:50,080 Speaker 2: And given the world some extra le ale. 35 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:52,840 Speaker 1: Sit back and get comfortable. 36 00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:56,640 Speaker 2: Because we are going in the only way we know how, 37 00:01:56,880 --> 00:02:00,680 Speaker 2: with whenas the chief. 38 00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:03,640 Speaker 1: Me and a lot of opinions as we relive their 39 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:06,800 Speaker 1: greatest achievements on our journey to find out what makes 40 00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:21,120 Speaker 1: them so iconic. There's an important rule when it comes to. 41 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:24,000 Speaker 2: Writing the Save the Cat beat sheet. 42 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:26,640 Speaker 1: You've read Saved the Cat. 43 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:31,000 Speaker 2: I have a story to tell, Biac. 44 00:02:32,240 --> 00:02:36,000 Speaker 1: Okay, the most important rule is to write what you know. 45 00:02:37,120 --> 00:02:41,760 Speaker 2: Okay, that was Toad's my second answer. But pause, I 46 00:02:41,760 --> 00:02:44,960 Speaker 2: can totally see it applying to In the Heights, but Hamilton. 47 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:49,440 Speaker 1: Here's the origin story of Hamilton. After two years of 48 00:02:49,440 --> 00:02:51,960 Speaker 1: being on stage within the Heights, Lynn and his fiance 49 00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:53,720 Speaker 1: at the time go on a beach vacation. 50 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:54,360 Speaker 2: You know. 51 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:56,400 Speaker 1: It was one of those like lay around and do 52 00:02:56,480 --> 00:02:57,880 Speaker 1: nothing in the sun kind of trips. 53 00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:01,560 Speaker 2: I love those. Just worrying about which pool you're going 54 00:03:01,639 --> 00:03:03,080 Speaker 2: to go to every day and. 55 00:03:03,160 --> 00:03:06,080 Speaker 1: Making sure you get the chairs that face the beach. Yes, 56 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:09,239 Speaker 1: it was that kind of trip. Most of us are, 57 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:12,880 Speaker 1: you know, relaxing reading a little chick lit or a 58 00:03:12,919 --> 00:03:17,040 Speaker 1: steamy novel like Outlander. Wait is that just me? Okay? 59 00:03:17,280 --> 00:03:21,560 Speaker 1: But Lyn's beach read that week Alexander Hamilton by Ron Churnell. 60 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:25,440 Speaker 2: Okay, I'm more of a Colleen Hoover type of guy. 61 00:03:25,880 --> 00:03:28,680 Speaker 2: It starts with me reading it and ends with me 62 00:03:28,919 --> 00:03:29,480 Speaker 2: reading it. 63 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:33,440 Speaker 1: So Lynn reads this seven hundred page biography of the 64 00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:38,240 Speaker 1: nation's first treasury secretary and sees a hip hop pioneer. 65 00:03:39,560 --> 00:03:44,720 Speaker 2: What how how does someone think of these two things together? 66 00:03:45,920 --> 00:03:49,640 Speaker 1: That's what everyone kept asking. But we all know that 67 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:55,080 Speaker 1: Lynn isn't just anybody. Alexander Hamilton, the chief aide to 68 00:03:55,120 --> 00:03:59,000 Speaker 1: George Washington, a founding father, a federalist, the first Secretary 69 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:02,080 Speaker 1: of the Treasury, and a man on the ten dollars bill. Well, 70 00:04:02,280 --> 00:04:05,880 Speaker 1: he wraps some strong bars. Even Lynn acknowledges that the 71 00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:09,600 Speaker 1: pitch of the show is ridiculous. Here's what Lynn told NPR. 72 00:04:10,480 --> 00:04:13,120 Speaker 1: I understand how ridiculous the elevator pitch for the show is, 73 00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:16,120 Speaker 1: but in a way, that video is a microcosm of 74 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:19,560 Speaker 1: the reaction the show has gotten. It sounds improbable, and 75 00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:22,320 Speaker 1: then once you start hearing about Hamilton's life story, it 76 00:04:22,480 --> 00:04:25,440 Speaker 1: sort of makes sense. The mode of storytelling makes sense 77 00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:28,240 Speaker 1: to the subject, and that was what grabbed me about it. 78 00:04:28,240 --> 00:04:30,799 Speaker 1: It was this guy who used words to get everywhere. 79 00:04:31,200 --> 00:04:33,800 Speaker 1: And what do my favorite hip hop artists do if 80 00:04:33,839 --> 00:04:37,200 Speaker 1: not write about their struggles their lives and then transcend 81 00:04:37,200 --> 00:04:39,600 Speaker 1: their circumstances by sheer virtuosity. 82 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:44,840 Speaker 2: Okay, so rap artists write and rhyme their way out 83 00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:49,360 Speaker 2: of their circumstances of their life, and that's what Hamilton did. Okay, 84 00:04:49,520 --> 00:04:50,799 Speaker 2: I see now it makes sense. 85 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:56,560 Speaker 1: But making that connection between a historical biography and hip hop, well, 86 00:04:56,920 --> 00:05:00,880 Speaker 1: that's what makes Lynn the genius that he is. It 87 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:05,960 Speaker 1: truly was like, wait, what, what's Hamilton really? He raps? 88 00:05:06,160 --> 00:05:09,880 Speaker 1: What was your reaction when you actually found out the 89 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:11,720 Speaker 1: story of Hamilton and how it was going to be 90 00:05:11,760 --> 00:05:13,240 Speaker 1: presented on stage? 91 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:16,240 Speaker 2: Honestly, I was like, bitch, ain't nobody got time for 92 00:05:16,279 --> 00:05:19,440 Speaker 2: that shit, Like at all? How are you going to 93 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:21,960 Speaker 2: make this cool? I couldn't imagine what he was going 94 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:25,080 Speaker 2: to do. I couldn't imagine people dressed like that, you know, 95 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:27,400 Speaker 2: like how they were, how George Washington was dressed. I 96 00:05:27,400 --> 00:05:30,480 Speaker 2: don't know how to call that garb and rapping like 97 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:32,560 Speaker 2: it just wasn't going to be fun. And look at 98 00:05:32,560 --> 00:05:32,880 Speaker 2: it now. 99 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:37,559 Speaker 1: Everybody had a similar reaction. I didn't know a lot 100 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:40,719 Speaker 1: about Alexander Hamilton. I think I had read a couple 101 00:05:40,720 --> 00:05:44,960 Speaker 1: of zero. I'm sure I had read a lot about 102 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:46,760 Speaker 1: him at some point in high school when I was 103 00:05:46,839 --> 00:05:49,359 Speaker 1: learning about American history. But I can tell you that 104 00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:52,640 Speaker 1: I am certainly not an American revolutionary scholar. 105 00:05:53,880 --> 00:05:58,000 Speaker 2: Although you come off as when sometimes. 106 00:05:56,640 --> 00:06:02,040 Speaker 1: My friends do talk about the American Revolution dinner when 107 00:06:02,120 --> 00:06:07,520 Speaker 1: I'm with really smart people. No, I didn't know anything. 108 00:06:07,560 --> 00:06:08,960 Speaker 1: I mean, I know he was on the ten dollar bill. 109 00:06:09,040 --> 00:06:11,400 Speaker 1: When was the last time you had a ten dollar bill? 110 00:06:11,800 --> 00:06:13,000 Speaker 1: Did they even make those? 111 00:06:13,240 --> 00:06:15,320 Speaker 2: Dude? I just got one back today. I got eleven 112 00:06:15,360 --> 00:06:16,960 Speaker 2: dollars in change because I bought a burrito. 113 00:06:17,080 --> 00:06:19,800 Speaker 1: You're lying they didn't give you a ten nice? 114 00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:22,200 Speaker 2: Well, I got eleven dollars. Yeah, I got a one 115 00:06:22,240 --> 00:06:25,240 Speaker 2: in ten Wow, and it was Hamilton. He's rare and 116 00:06:25,279 --> 00:06:27,480 Speaker 2: he sang to me he raped, he rapped. 117 00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:30,800 Speaker 1: But the way that he was able to merge, like 118 00:06:30,880 --> 00:06:33,800 Speaker 1: you said, like George Washington, what did you call it, 119 00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:36,599 Speaker 1: George Washington garb, the way he was able to merge 120 00:06:36,839 --> 00:06:42,000 Speaker 1: George Washington speak and garb and language in modern day yeah, 121 00:06:42,040 --> 00:06:47,960 Speaker 1: and make history so accessible revolutionary, bitch, there you go, 122 00:06:48,320 --> 00:06:54,840 Speaker 1: that's a better word. Around the beginning, the musical was 123 00:06:54,880 --> 00:06:57,640 Speaker 1: initially referred to as the Hamilton Mixtape. 124 00:06:58,120 --> 00:07:00,919 Speaker 2: Ooh, I'm going to start calling all my work in 125 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:02,080 Speaker 2: progress mixtapes. 126 00:07:02,360 --> 00:07:03,960 Speaker 1: Didn't Cardi be have a mixtape? 127 00:07:04,320 --> 00:07:04,560 Speaker 2: Yeah? 128 00:07:04,720 --> 00:07:07,200 Speaker 1: Actually, wasn't it called a mixtape? 129 00:07:07,200 --> 00:07:09,000 Speaker 2: I think that's what everyone calls them when they're like 130 00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:10,480 Speaker 2: about to get there, you know. 131 00:07:10,840 --> 00:07:13,280 Speaker 1: Yeah. I feel like Kanye had a mixtape, Cardi had 132 00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:17,040 Speaker 1: a mixtape, Lin Minimal Miranda had a mixtape. This project 133 00:07:17,080 --> 00:07:19,640 Speaker 1: was described as a hip hop concert album about the 134 00:07:19,680 --> 00:07:23,080 Speaker 1: life of America's first Treasury Secretary, Alexander Hamilton. 135 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:29,040 Speaker 2: I can totally imagine people wondering what was going on 136 00:07:29,080 --> 00:07:33,800 Speaker 2: through Lynn's head because this just sounds fucking crazy, and 137 00:07:33,960 --> 00:07:36,280 Speaker 2: I still can't let it go. 138 00:07:36,520 --> 00:07:40,720 Speaker 1: Well, neither could Lynn. He obsessed over these songs. The 139 00:07:40,800 --> 00:07:44,360 Speaker 1: show took seven years to write. 140 00:07:44,320 --> 00:07:46,720 Speaker 2: My Man, he just can't write fast, Kenny. 141 00:07:46,680 --> 00:07:51,960 Speaker 1: Listen, greatness takes time. In the book Hamilton the Revolution, 142 00:07:52,440 --> 00:07:54,480 Speaker 1: Linn mentions that even on the day they were about 143 00:07:54,480 --> 00:07:58,040 Speaker 1: to open on Broadway, moments before the first performance, he 144 00:07:58,200 --> 00:08:02,000 Speaker 1: was still changing lyrics in line. Miranda even spent an 145 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:07,040 Speaker 1: entire year writing just one song, Hey, I'm getting a theme. 146 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:11,240 Speaker 2: So Cardi b is described as a perfectionist. J Loo 147 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:15,280 Speaker 2: is described as a perfectionist and bad money too. So 148 00:08:15,320 --> 00:08:18,720 Speaker 2: the key to being an icon is being a perfectionist. 149 00:08:18,920 --> 00:08:20,960 Speaker 2: And I am officially writing that down. 150 00:08:21,360 --> 00:08:25,360 Speaker 1: See I'd like to reframe the word perfectionist because I 151 00:08:25,360 --> 00:08:28,440 Speaker 1: think sometimes that as a negative connotation. I like to 152 00:08:28,560 --> 00:08:33,400 Speaker 1: call it aspiring to excellence and can you can you 153 00:08:33,480 --> 00:08:38,120 Speaker 1: even blame them? Lynn wanted to get every single song perfect, 154 00:08:38,480 --> 00:08:41,880 Speaker 1: and he kept trying to make each rhyme even more clever. 155 00:08:42,120 --> 00:08:44,680 Speaker 2: Which is why I think so many fans became obsessed 156 00:08:44,720 --> 00:08:48,160 Speaker 2: with the songs. You can't hear everything in the first listen. 157 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:50,840 Speaker 2: You need to listen over and over again to catch 158 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:52,480 Speaker 2: each reference and rhyme. 159 00:08:53,080 --> 00:08:56,960 Speaker 1: People that had never seen the show. Knew the songs 160 00:08:57,520 --> 00:09:02,439 Speaker 1: word for word. A they were, like you said, it 161 00:09:02,600 --> 00:09:10,320 Speaker 1: made history accessible and revolutionary. People just caught something that 162 00:09:10,440 --> 00:09:14,880 Speaker 1: felt so new and innovative and different. That's what makes 163 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:19,080 Speaker 1: these people an icon. It's so hard to create something 164 00:09:19,080 --> 00:09:25,440 Speaker 1: that is truly original. Everything is a version of something else, 165 00:09:25,920 --> 00:09:33,120 Speaker 1: Everything is a reimagined or a reworked. But Hamilton is 166 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:34,959 Speaker 1: truly an original work of art. 167 00:09:35,280 --> 00:09:38,000 Speaker 2: I think that there is, Like we keep saying every 168 00:09:38,040 --> 00:09:41,840 Speaker 2: single episode with everybody, we've talked about everything is so unique. 169 00:09:42,320 --> 00:09:45,480 Speaker 1: What do you think is most unique about Hamilton? 170 00:09:46,040 --> 00:09:49,640 Speaker 2: The visuals? Right there, it's like, what the fuck George 171 00:09:49,679 --> 00:09:52,880 Speaker 2: Washington is black? Only because I don't know how other 172 00:09:52,880 --> 00:09:54,560 Speaker 2: people were going to take it. So I was just 173 00:09:54,640 --> 00:09:57,280 Speaker 2: kind of shocked there. And then the black guy was 174 00:09:57,320 --> 00:09:59,720 Speaker 2: playing a white guy. I'm like, this is too much 175 00:09:59,720 --> 00:10:02,400 Speaker 2: for me brain right now, I cannot deal with it. 176 00:10:02,679 --> 00:10:05,240 Speaker 1: I think for me, it's yes, one hundred percent of visuals. 177 00:10:05,240 --> 00:10:09,440 Speaker 1: But I think it's the visuals in combination with the 178 00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:17,040 Speaker 1: historical accuracy that he incorporated the music, and how he 179 00:10:17,160 --> 00:10:22,760 Speaker 1: was able to really teach an entire generation of people, 180 00:10:22,920 --> 00:10:26,040 Speaker 1: multiple generations people about history. Everybody walked out of that 181 00:10:26,080 --> 00:10:29,120 Speaker 1: show smarter. I'm not saying that other shows haven't done that, 182 00:10:29,320 --> 00:10:32,079 Speaker 1: but I guarantee that everybody walking out of that theater, 183 00:10:32,400 --> 00:10:34,599 Speaker 1: that walked out of their car after they listened to 184 00:10:34,640 --> 00:10:36,800 Speaker 1: the album came away a little bit smarter, knowing a 185 00:10:36,800 --> 00:10:39,360 Speaker 1: little bit more about our country, which is always a 186 00:10:39,360 --> 00:10:42,200 Speaker 1: good thing. Let's always be learning. Now, do you have 187 00:10:42,600 --> 00:10:45,400 Speaker 1: a favorite Hamilton quote? 188 00:10:47,720 --> 00:10:49,040 Speaker 2: I'm not going to miss my shot. 189 00:10:49,480 --> 00:10:50,600 Speaker 1: I think that's a really good one. 190 00:10:50,800 --> 00:10:52,600 Speaker 2: I think that sound spoke to me because like when 191 00:10:52,600 --> 00:10:55,360 Speaker 2: you sit back too much, you feel like, when you 192 00:10:55,400 --> 00:10:56,640 Speaker 2: know you're not going to miss your shot, you just 193 00:10:56,679 --> 00:10:58,520 Speaker 2: go for it, you know, and then if you do 194 00:10:58,559 --> 00:11:00,920 Speaker 2: miss your shot, you don't I feel like you missed it. 195 00:11:01,040 --> 00:11:02,240 Speaker 2: Does that make sense? I do? 196 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:04,800 Speaker 1: I like that. I like the perseverance of that too. 197 00:11:05,840 --> 00:11:11,160 Speaker 1: I would say my favorite line only because I love 198 00:11:11,200 --> 00:11:13,680 Speaker 1: New Jersey. My husband's from New Jersey. Everything's legal in 199 00:11:13,679 --> 00:11:16,040 Speaker 1: New Jersey. I got such a kick cut of back 200 00:11:16,120 --> 00:11:18,800 Speaker 1: because again, this was like way back in the days, 201 00:11:18,840 --> 00:11:21,520 Speaker 1: and like now it's just it's it's true. Have y'all 202 00:11:21,520 --> 00:11:25,240 Speaker 1: ever been to New Jersey. Everything that took place in 203 00:11:25,280 --> 00:11:28,440 Speaker 1: New Jersey, the Jersey Shore took place in New Jersey. 204 00:11:28,679 --> 00:11:33,760 Speaker 1: It's still is true today. Everything y'all is legal in 205 00:11:33,960 --> 00:11:36,760 Speaker 1: New Jersey. I don't know, it's so stupid, but it's 206 00:11:36,800 --> 00:11:38,280 Speaker 1: just like one of those things that made me smile 207 00:11:38,320 --> 00:11:40,280 Speaker 1: every time. It just makes me smile every time I 208 00:11:40,280 --> 00:11:54,360 Speaker 1: hear it. For Lynn, hip hop has always been his 209 00:11:54,440 --> 00:11:58,040 Speaker 1: most powerful tool of expression, beyond being the only person 210 00:11:58,160 --> 00:12:01,560 Speaker 1: crazy enough to even think of all these ingredients mixing together. 211 00:12:01,920 --> 00:12:05,079 Speaker 1: He had experienced bringing wrap to the stage, yes within 212 00:12:05,160 --> 00:12:08,760 Speaker 1: the Heights, but also with Freestyle Love Supreme. 213 00:12:09,720 --> 00:12:11,720 Speaker 2: Freestyle Love What. 214 00:12:12,240 --> 00:12:16,320 Speaker 1: Freestyle Love Supreme. It was actually a group that Linn 215 00:12:16,360 --> 00:12:18,880 Speaker 1: started with Anthony Veneziali back in two thousand and four 216 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:22,040 Speaker 1: when they were rehearsing for In the Heights. It was 217 00:12:22,760 --> 00:12:28,800 Speaker 1: like a no ensemble group that wrapped, freestyle, wrapped, improv 218 00:12:29,200 --> 00:12:32,679 Speaker 1: and did comedy all at the same time. 219 00:12:33,320 --> 00:12:36,760 Speaker 2: So kind of like wild and out but really improvised. 220 00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:40,440 Speaker 1: Yes, like it's kind of more like whose line is 221 00:12:40,480 --> 00:12:44,560 Speaker 1: it anyway? But like that's really selling it short, because 222 00:12:45,200 --> 00:12:49,800 Speaker 1: it's genius on stage is exactly what it is. And 223 00:12:50,679 --> 00:12:53,160 Speaker 1: when I saw the show, I knew it was going 224 00:12:53,240 --> 00:12:55,240 Speaker 1: to be amazing because friends had talked about it, but 225 00:12:55,320 --> 00:12:57,680 Speaker 1: actually being in the audience and the fact that every 226 00:12:57,720 --> 00:13:01,200 Speaker 1: single show is different, and every night is different, and 227 00:13:01,360 --> 00:13:05,000 Speaker 1: the performers are different and they change. They literally make 228 00:13:05,120 --> 00:13:07,920 Speaker 1: this like an interactive theatrical experience. 229 00:13:08,080 --> 00:13:10,760 Speaker 2: Sorry for clarity, it's for Freestyle of Supreme. 230 00:13:10,840 --> 00:13:14,000 Speaker 1: Yes, yes, Freestyle of Supreme is the show. It had 231 00:13:14,040 --> 00:13:16,920 Speaker 1: a pretty limited run on Broadway. It's going to be 232 00:13:17,080 --> 00:13:19,880 Speaker 1: I think in residency in Las Vegas. It's this like 233 00:13:20,000 --> 00:13:24,440 Speaker 1: improv troup. But again that is underselling their talents because 234 00:13:24,480 --> 00:13:28,319 Speaker 1: these people are like comedic geniuses, their wordsmiths, their rappers, 235 00:13:28,320 --> 00:13:32,280 Speaker 1: their singers, they're actors, they are entertainers, they are literally everything. 236 00:13:32,320 --> 00:13:36,559 Speaker 1: Because each show is built around improvisation. So every night 237 00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:38,480 Speaker 1: they kind of have like a structured arc of what 238 00:13:38,559 --> 00:13:41,319 Speaker 1: the show will be, and then the audience really drives 239 00:13:41,400 --> 00:13:43,280 Speaker 1: the content because you get to shout out words, they 240 00:13:43,280 --> 00:13:47,480 Speaker 1: ask for audience involvement and interaction, and they literally make 241 00:13:47,520 --> 00:13:51,280 Speaker 1: it up on the fly. And when you sit in 242 00:13:51,320 --> 00:13:55,440 Speaker 1: the audience, you realize the genius of Linna Miranda is 243 00:13:55,440 --> 00:13:59,480 Speaker 1: that that is how his mind works. It works that fast, 244 00:13:59,600 --> 00:14:03,040 Speaker 1: he's that witty, he's that quick, and everyone he surrounds 245 00:14:03,120 --> 00:14:06,440 Speaker 1: himself with is exactly the same. In an article from 246 00:14:06,480 --> 00:14:10,120 Speaker 1: The New York Times, Stephen Holden wrote this preceding the 247 00:14:10,160 --> 00:14:13,560 Speaker 1: Hamilton Mixtape was an anthology of hip hop classics, assing 248 00:14:13,640 --> 00:14:17,760 Speaker 1: me by Juicy, Yuanna, Killer and Renegade. That mister Miranda said, 249 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:22,280 Speaker 1: form the DNA of my brain. If you listen really 250 00:14:22,280 --> 00:14:25,480 Speaker 1: closely to Hamilton, you can hear all of those songs referenced. 251 00:14:25,880 --> 00:14:28,440 Speaker 2: And hip hop was born in New York City, so 252 00:14:28,680 --> 00:14:29,640 Speaker 2: it's a theme with Lynn. 253 00:14:30,280 --> 00:14:33,160 Speaker 1: So it's twenty twelve, and Lynn has been developing the 254 00:14:33,200 --> 00:14:36,480 Speaker 1: Hamilton Mixtape for years, and he starts performing in around town, 255 00:14:36,720 --> 00:14:40,040 Speaker 1: and soon Broadway producers start hearing it and. 256 00:14:40,000 --> 00:14:45,280 Speaker 2: It starts making its way to Broadway. 257 00:14:45,480 --> 00:14:48,040 Speaker 1: Miranda wrote the musical, and then he gave himself the 258 00:14:48,120 --> 00:14:50,880 Speaker 1: titular role, which you played for almost a year. 259 00:14:51,560 --> 00:14:55,760 Speaker 2: I mean riespect because I would have done the same. 260 00:14:56,000 --> 00:14:58,600 Speaker 2: Bitch knew that he had something really special cooking up 261 00:14:58,840 --> 00:15:01,080 Speaker 2: and put me under all those spotlights. 262 00:15:01,840 --> 00:15:05,200 Speaker 1: But wait, if you ask camel fans, a lot of 263 00:15:05,240 --> 00:15:09,640 Speaker 1: people think that Aaron Burr is actually the best role 264 00:15:09,840 --> 00:15:14,040 Speaker 1: in the musical, played by the incredible Leslie odom Jo. 265 00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:16,520 Speaker 2: Hot So had so hard. 266 00:15:17,280 --> 00:15:21,320 Speaker 1: Why do you think Lynn didn't give himself the role? 267 00:15:21,360 --> 00:15:22,120 Speaker 1: Of Aaron Burr. 268 00:15:22,600 --> 00:15:24,840 Speaker 2: I think that he knew his star was still so 269 00:15:25,080 --> 00:15:27,480 Speaker 2: really bright, you know. I don't I think that he 270 00:15:27,520 --> 00:15:29,600 Speaker 2: could have given that big role away just because it 271 00:15:29,680 --> 00:15:32,160 Speaker 2: wasn't to I don't think that's what he even he 272 00:15:32,280 --> 00:15:32,920 Speaker 2: was looking for. 273 00:15:33,120 --> 00:15:37,640 Speaker 1: I think it just shows the generosity of spirit of 274 00:15:37,920 --> 00:15:41,800 Speaker 1: who Lynn is. And I think it's also so self aware, 275 00:15:41,880 --> 00:15:43,760 Speaker 1: like you know when you're casting something like this, like 276 00:15:43,760 --> 00:15:46,080 Speaker 1: I think nobody knows your strengths and weakness is better 277 00:15:46,120 --> 00:15:49,320 Speaker 1: than you, and you know when you if you talk 278 00:15:49,400 --> 00:15:51,680 Speaker 1: to I feel like anytime I've interviewed like really great 279 00:15:52,040 --> 00:15:55,960 Speaker 1: directors and producers, they're really self aware. The good ones 280 00:15:56,280 --> 00:16:01,120 Speaker 1: are really self aware. In Leslie, I think Lynn recognized 281 00:16:01,160 --> 00:16:03,640 Speaker 1: like the greatness that is Leslie and could see how 282 00:16:03,680 --> 00:16:06,640 Speaker 1: that would fit into Aaron's character. And like I said, 283 00:16:06,680 --> 00:16:09,240 Speaker 1: it just shows his generosity and he's such a team player. 284 00:16:09,440 --> 00:16:13,160 Speaker 1: I know that there's titular roles and he played the 285 00:16:13,280 --> 00:16:15,880 Speaker 1: name of the musical, but when you watch the show, 286 00:16:15,920 --> 00:16:19,479 Speaker 1: like every single person on that stage carries that show. 287 00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:22,960 Speaker 1: It is truly the definition of an ensemble cast, like 288 00:16:23,080 --> 00:16:26,040 Speaker 1: they are a famaly. 289 00:16:25,760 --> 00:16:27,080 Speaker 2: One hundred percent. 290 00:16:27,320 --> 00:16:31,640 Speaker 1: And speaking of family, Lynn cast all people of color 291 00:16:31,920 --> 00:16:37,120 Speaker 1: to play historically white characters, every single one. Why do 292 00:16:37,200 --> 00:16:38,440 Speaker 1: we think he did that? 293 00:16:38,960 --> 00:16:41,560 Speaker 2: I think that for Lynn, maybe he just wanted it 294 00:16:41,600 --> 00:16:43,440 Speaker 2: to feel real as he was acting it, and he 295 00:16:43,440 --> 00:16:46,200 Speaker 2: could do it with all his people. Yeah, I know. 296 00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:48,760 Speaker 1: And I also think that, you know, as somebody who 297 00:16:48,840 --> 00:16:52,960 Speaker 1: grew up listening and loving Broadway, he was also fixing something. 298 00:16:53,000 --> 00:16:56,720 Speaker 1: He had the power to fix something right. And if 299 00:16:56,720 --> 00:16:58,680 Speaker 1: you have that power and you don't use it, then 300 00:16:58,720 --> 00:17:02,120 Speaker 1: what does that say about you. So props to Lend 301 00:17:02,160 --> 00:17:05,960 Speaker 1: because it's completely transformed Broadway and how we see characters 302 00:17:05,960 --> 00:17:08,680 Speaker 1: and who can play what characters. I'm not saying there's 303 00:17:08,680 --> 00:17:10,840 Speaker 1: still not a lot of work to be done, both 304 00:17:10,840 --> 00:17:13,160 Speaker 1: in film and television and Broadway, but I do think 305 00:17:13,200 --> 00:17:17,440 Speaker 1: it's shifted for us culturally how we see characters being played, 306 00:17:17,440 --> 00:17:19,320 Speaker 1: and we're like, wait, but you can see past the 307 00:17:19,320 --> 00:17:21,040 Speaker 1: color because they're just playing a role like you. No 308 00:17:21,480 --> 00:17:24,000 Speaker 1: idea is can't we act like anybody? 309 00:17:24,800 --> 00:17:28,680 Speaker 2: I just saw Frozen on Broadway and it was there 310 00:17:28,680 --> 00:17:31,480 Speaker 2: were people of color and I just remember them coming 311 00:17:31,480 --> 00:17:33,800 Speaker 2: out and I never saw that before, and now after 312 00:17:33,920 --> 00:17:35,760 Speaker 2: I'm just kind of like, oh wow, you know, like 313 00:17:36,200 --> 00:17:39,640 Speaker 2: Elsea's sister or it's just an all different type of cast. 314 00:17:39,680 --> 00:17:42,080 Speaker 2: It's not an all white cast anymore, and you're just 315 00:17:42,160 --> 00:17:44,959 Speaker 2: kind of a little like five percent distracted, and then 316 00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:45,880 Speaker 2: you forget. 317 00:17:45,600 --> 00:17:52,119 Speaker 1: Yeah, and they're incredibly talented, yes, very When Hamilton opened 318 00:17:52,119 --> 00:17:55,520 Speaker 1: on August sixth, it became the hottest ticket in town. 319 00:17:56,240 --> 00:17:59,200 Speaker 1: On the first side of previews, seven hundred people lined 320 00:17:59,240 --> 00:18:01,320 Speaker 1: up for lottery ticket. It's on the first night of 321 00:18:01,320 --> 00:18:05,359 Speaker 1: its previews. So for you non New Yorkers listening, every 322 00:18:05,359 --> 00:18:07,960 Speaker 1: show does a lottery to give away cheap tickets every 323 00:18:07,960 --> 00:18:10,320 Speaker 1: single night. Sometimes they're standing room only. 324 00:18:11,160 --> 00:18:14,920 Speaker 2: And good thing too, because girl, those Hamilton tickets were 325 00:18:14,960 --> 00:18:17,200 Speaker 2: more expensive than my freaking fendy. 326 00:18:17,960 --> 00:18:21,960 Speaker 1: Resellers were charging up to ten thousand dollars for tickets 327 00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:22,840 Speaker 1: to see the show. 328 00:18:23,280 --> 00:18:28,600 Speaker 2: Shut your butt. Did people really pay that much? Yeah? 329 00:18:28,680 --> 00:18:29,760 Speaker 1: Some rich people. 330 00:18:30,480 --> 00:18:31,840 Speaker 2: I quit. I'm done what. 331 00:18:32,520 --> 00:18:35,720 Speaker 1: Lynn wanted everyone to see the show, but he knew 332 00:18:35,720 --> 00:18:37,679 Speaker 1: he couldn't beat the bots that buy up all the 333 00:18:37,720 --> 00:18:39,080 Speaker 1: tickets for resale. 334 00:18:39,440 --> 00:18:43,040 Speaker 2: The bots stay undefeated. I'm still trying to get my 335 00:18:43,119 --> 00:18:43,880 Speaker 2: Tata tickets. 336 00:18:44,240 --> 00:18:48,280 Speaker 1: Best of luck to you. Hamilton turned the lottery into 337 00:18:48,400 --> 00:18:51,440 Speaker 1: an event. Their lottery was soon known as ham for 338 00:18:51,520 --> 00:18:54,000 Speaker 1: ham So in order to win Ham for Ham tickets, 339 00:18:54,080 --> 00:18:55,920 Speaker 1: you had to line up in front of the Richard 340 00:18:56,000 --> 00:18:58,040 Speaker 1: Rogers Theater on the day of the show to put 341 00:18:58,080 --> 00:19:01,200 Speaker 1: your name in a drawing. Then right before the drawing, 342 00:19:01,600 --> 00:19:04,200 Speaker 1: cast members would come out and perform and make a 343 00:19:04,240 --> 00:19:06,480 Speaker 1: little show for everyone that had lined up. But you 344 00:19:06,520 --> 00:19:08,560 Speaker 1: can still catch on their official YouTube channel. 345 00:19:09,240 --> 00:19:13,120 Speaker 2: First of all, I freaking love that. And second, why 346 00:19:13,200 --> 00:19:15,760 Speaker 2: the elf was it called Ham for Ham? 347 00:19:16,480 --> 00:19:19,720 Speaker 1: If you won the lottery, you paid ten dollars for 348 00:19:19,800 --> 00:19:20,920 Speaker 1: the show. 349 00:19:21,080 --> 00:19:25,720 Speaker 2: Oh, Ham for a Ham. 350 00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:29,280 Speaker 1: Bitch, Joe, So I feel like the light just went on. 351 00:19:29,480 --> 00:19:34,800 Speaker 1: It's so right, you're glowy. Soon the word got out 352 00:19:34,840 --> 00:19:38,320 Speaker 1: and every week hundreds of people would line up outside 353 00:19:38,359 --> 00:19:40,879 Speaker 1: the theater to block traffic to watch the Ham for 354 00:19:40,960 --> 00:19:41,480 Speaker 1: Ham show. 355 00:19:41,680 --> 00:19:45,240 Speaker 2: So they had to stop, damn popo. 356 00:19:45,840 --> 00:19:48,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, but they still honor this tradition though. You can 357 00:19:48,400 --> 00:19:50,440 Speaker 1: still enter the lottery for a chance to win ten 358 00:19:50,520 --> 00:19:52,679 Speaker 1: dollars tickets, but it's all online now. 359 00:19:53,920 --> 00:19:56,960 Speaker 2: On Broadway, a show can do well and say bye 360 00:19:57,000 --> 00:19:59,720 Speaker 2: bye Bertie in like a month or two. Hamilton is 361 00:19:59,760 --> 00:20:00,400 Speaker 2: still run. 362 00:20:01,760 --> 00:20:03,880 Speaker 1: The love for the show didn't stop at the Richard 363 00:20:03,960 --> 00:20:07,119 Speaker 1: Rogers Theater. It made its way to Radio City Music 364 00:20:07,160 --> 00:20:11,880 Speaker 1: Hall for a show stopping awards ceremony. Once the show 365 00:20:11,920 --> 00:20:15,280 Speaker 1: got going, it was a cultural phenomenon. The official cast 366 00:20:15,280 --> 00:20:17,919 Speaker 1: recording album went to the top of the Broadway. 367 00:20:17,600 --> 00:20:20,760 Speaker 2: Charts Hobby and it also. 368 00:20:20,520 --> 00:20:23,280 Speaker 1: Made its way to number two on the Rap albums 369 00:20:23,359 --> 00:20:28,280 Speaker 1: and number three overall. Fans were listening over and over 370 00:20:28,520 --> 00:20:32,040 Speaker 1: and over again. It's the eleventh biggest album of the 371 00:20:32,080 --> 00:20:37,160 Speaker 1: twenty tenths, and that's unheard of for a Broadway cast album. 372 00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:39,720 Speaker 1: Last episode, we told you Lynn had grown up listening 373 00:20:39,800 --> 00:20:42,800 Speaker 1: to cast albums, so he wanted his cast albums to 374 00:20:42,880 --> 00:20:47,000 Speaker 1: be perfect. So get this. Most cast albums take about 375 00:20:47,040 --> 00:20:51,080 Speaker 1: two days to record. Hamilton took two weeks. 376 00:20:52,040 --> 00:20:54,080 Speaker 2: He just had to get it perfect. And when you 377 00:20:54,160 --> 00:20:58,120 Speaker 2: listened to the album, you feel like you're there totally. 378 00:20:58,240 --> 00:21:02,920 Speaker 1: I think that goes back to how he experienced musicals 379 00:21:02,920 --> 00:21:06,000 Speaker 1: in his home. You know, with ticket prices in the 380 00:21:06,080 --> 00:21:09,600 Speaker 1: thousands of dollars, the world wasn't going to get to 381 00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:12,840 Speaker 1: see Hamilton like this thing that he was so passionate 382 00:21:12,880 --> 00:21:16,399 Speaker 1: about and driven by to create, was not going to 383 00:21:16,520 --> 00:21:19,720 Speaker 1: see the audience that he wanted for. But that album, 384 00:21:20,080 --> 00:21:24,320 Speaker 1: anybody could download that right right, So it was his job, 385 00:21:24,520 --> 00:21:29,160 Speaker 1: almost redestined to create an album that let you feel 386 00:21:29,440 --> 00:21:33,720 Speaker 1: and hear, but most importantly see what was actually happening 387 00:21:34,040 --> 00:21:35,720 Speaker 1: on stage. 388 00:21:35,960 --> 00:21:39,760 Speaker 2: I wonder if he knew that maybe people weren't because 389 00:21:39,760 --> 00:21:41,720 Speaker 2: the tickets were so insane, people weren't going to be 390 00:21:41,760 --> 00:21:44,000 Speaker 2: able to see it. That he knew early on to 391 00:21:44,080 --> 00:21:45,280 Speaker 2: start recording it. 392 00:21:45,200 --> 00:21:47,600 Speaker 1: When he was in previews in New York. I think 393 00:21:47,720 --> 00:21:50,680 Speaker 1: there's articles of him talking about him kind of knowing 394 00:21:50,760 --> 00:21:54,159 Speaker 1: this right when he's developing Hamilton and showing it off Broadway, 395 00:21:54,200 --> 00:21:55,960 Speaker 1: like he is not a stranger to this business. He 396 00:21:56,040 --> 00:21:58,719 Speaker 1: knows right, and he knows what he has right. He 397 00:21:58,760 --> 00:22:01,479 Speaker 1: saw the reaction. I mean, if you remember that clip 398 00:22:01,640 --> 00:22:05,000 Speaker 1: from the White House of him rapping, that clip went viral. 399 00:22:05,160 --> 00:22:09,920 Speaker 1: Everybody saw that clip. You knew instantly he had something. 400 00:22:09,960 --> 00:22:12,360 Speaker 1: You know, they talk about X factor and you never 401 00:22:12,520 --> 00:22:14,480 Speaker 1: know what it's going to be, but when you hear 402 00:22:14,520 --> 00:22:17,160 Speaker 1: it or see it, you just know he just knew. 403 00:22:17,280 --> 00:22:21,200 Speaker 1: So why not create art that the entire world can 404 00:22:21,240 --> 00:22:23,760 Speaker 1: consume for a download? I mean, I don't even know 405 00:22:23,760 --> 00:22:25,760 Speaker 1: how much the album costs a download, but whatever it was, 406 00:22:25,800 --> 00:22:27,919 Speaker 1: it was way less than a Hamilton ticket unless you 407 00:22:27,920 --> 00:22:42,240 Speaker 1: won the lottery fingers crossed. The next year's Tony's Well, 408 00:22:42,520 --> 00:22:45,400 Speaker 1: they were more of a coronation than a ceremony. It 409 00:22:45,480 --> 00:22:48,760 Speaker 1: practically swept every award it was nominated for. 410 00:22:49,320 --> 00:22:54,680 Speaker 2: It was nominated for sixteen Tony Awards, and it won eleven. 411 00:22:54,600 --> 00:22:58,400 Speaker 1: Best Musical, Best Original Score, and Best Book of a Musical. 412 00:22:58,800 --> 00:23:01,080 Speaker 1: It was also during these tony Is that Lynn gave 413 00:23:01,119 --> 00:23:05,600 Speaker 1: one of his most powerful speeches. The night before the show, 414 00:23:05,800 --> 00:23:07,840 Speaker 1: the world had been horrified to learn of the mass 415 00:23:07,840 --> 00:23:12,000 Speaker 1: shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida. Lynn, accepting 416 00:23:12,040 --> 00:23:14,679 Speaker 1: as Tony for Best Score, with tears in his eyes, 417 00:23:14,920 --> 00:23:19,000 Speaker 1: wrapped a refrain that we can still hear, echoing, love 418 00:23:19,080 --> 00:23:21,960 Speaker 1: is Love is love is love is love. 419 00:23:22,920 --> 00:23:24,000 Speaker 2: It was really beautiful. 420 00:23:24,560 --> 00:23:27,040 Speaker 1: Hamilton would go on to win Best Musical that night, 421 00:23:27,440 --> 00:23:30,800 Speaker 1: making Lin Manuel Miranda the first person to ever take 422 00:23:30,840 --> 00:23:35,479 Speaker 1: home Tony's biggest prize for his first two Broadway musicals. 423 00:23:35,080 --> 00:23:37,120 Speaker 2: And the awards didn't stop there. 424 00:23:38,040 --> 00:23:40,399 Speaker 1: Lynn went on to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama 425 00:23:40,520 --> 00:23:41,640 Speaker 1: for the musical. 426 00:23:41,640 --> 00:23:43,080 Speaker 2: Bring On That Pegot. 427 00:23:43,560 --> 00:23:46,800 Speaker 1: The cast album won the Grammy Award for Best Musical 428 00:23:46,840 --> 00:23:51,840 Speaker 1: Theater Album. Then Lynn received the Drama League Distinguished Performance Award. 429 00:23:52,480 --> 00:23:56,720 Speaker 2: During their acceptance speech, they waived a Porto Rican flag, and. 430 00:23:56,640 --> 00:24:01,080 Speaker 1: Of course, in true Miranda fashion, he wraps the way through. 431 00:24:01,840 --> 00:24:05,480 Speaker 1: Then it all came full circle when Miranda performed freestyle 432 00:24:05,560 --> 00:24:09,000 Speaker 1: raps with President Barack Obama in twenty sixteen. 433 00:24:10,200 --> 00:24:12,400 Speaker 2: I just got an idea, should we freestyle? 434 00:24:13,600 --> 00:24:16,800 Speaker 1: I think I speak for all of America when I 435 00:24:16,920 --> 00:24:17,840 Speaker 1: say no. 436 00:24:19,040 --> 00:24:21,919 Speaker 2: Well, let's talk about these awards. Then, what are your thoughts? 437 00:24:22,320 --> 00:24:26,480 Speaker 2: My thoughts are brav I mean you are a number one? Yeah, Lynn, 438 00:24:26,520 --> 00:24:28,040 Speaker 2: Miranda Fad, I'm not. 439 00:24:28,160 --> 00:24:28,719 Speaker 1: The number one. 440 00:24:29,440 --> 00:24:29,760 Speaker 2: Listen. 441 00:24:29,920 --> 00:24:32,800 Speaker 1: I just know when and where to show respect. I 442 00:24:32,840 --> 00:24:35,639 Speaker 1: have worked in the entertainment industry for going on there 443 00:24:36,000 --> 00:24:39,240 Speaker 1: and hundreds and hundreds of years. I have worked in 444 00:24:39,359 --> 00:24:40,440 Speaker 1: George Washington. 445 00:24:40,680 --> 00:24:41,160 Speaker 2: She knew. 446 00:24:41,560 --> 00:24:47,000 Speaker 1: I dressed George Washington for the inauguration. And what I 447 00:24:47,040 --> 00:24:51,560 Speaker 1: have learned is that people are talented for different reasons. Okay, 448 00:24:51,800 --> 00:24:55,160 Speaker 1: I'm not going to go into the talent versus talentless conversation. 449 00:24:55,560 --> 00:24:58,320 Speaker 1: In this life that he has built and in this 450 00:24:58,480 --> 00:25:01,600 Speaker 1: art that he has made, he is winning because nobody 451 00:25:02,000 --> 00:25:05,679 Speaker 1: deserves to win more than him. Not only does he 452 00:25:05,760 --> 00:25:08,679 Speaker 1: win for his shows and his writing and producing and 453 00:25:09,200 --> 00:25:11,159 Speaker 1: all of it. But then when he gets up to 454 00:25:11,320 --> 00:25:16,240 Speaker 1: accept the award, he wins again, showing you and proving 455 00:25:16,600 --> 00:25:19,080 Speaker 1: why there is no better person to win this award. 456 00:25:19,680 --> 00:25:23,600 Speaker 1: This man never stops in his pursuit of excellence. He 457 00:25:23,800 --> 00:25:26,600 Speaker 1: is just one of those people that is born to win. 458 00:25:28,440 --> 00:25:31,199 Speaker 2: Hamilton was on top of the world, standing in the 459 00:25:31,200 --> 00:25:33,400 Speaker 2: eye of a hurricane of success. 460 00:25:33,640 --> 00:25:37,479 Speaker 1: But somewhere else there was a catastrophic hurricane wreaking havoc. 461 00:25:39,280 --> 00:25:43,960 Speaker 2: In twenty seventeen, Hurricanes Idma and Madia happened. We talked 462 00:25:43,960 --> 00:25:47,159 Speaker 2: about Bad Bunny's involvement in helping Puerto Rico during this time, 463 00:25:47,359 --> 00:25:49,359 Speaker 2: but there was someone else who wanted. 464 00:25:49,119 --> 00:25:53,280 Speaker 1: To help to lin Manuel Miranda jumped at the opportunity 465 00:25:53,400 --> 00:25:56,680 Speaker 1: the only way he knew how Remember, people were willing 466 00:25:56,720 --> 00:25:59,480 Speaker 1: to pay ten thousand dollars for a ticket when it opened. 467 00:25:59,720 --> 00:26:02,320 Speaker 2: It was a highly in demand show. 468 00:26:02,560 --> 00:26:05,359 Speaker 1: So he brought it to Puerto Rico to help raise 469 00:26:05,359 --> 00:26:08,440 Speaker 1: funds for the island as it was recovering. The musical 470 00:26:08,480 --> 00:26:11,040 Speaker 1: was staged at the Centro de veas Artists Luis a 471 00:26:11,200 --> 00:26:14,760 Speaker 1: fere in January twenty nineteen, running from the eleventh through 472 00:26:14,800 --> 00:26:16,000 Speaker 1: the twenty seventh. 473 00:26:15,880 --> 00:26:18,200 Speaker 2: Didn't it sell out in like a couple of hours. 474 00:26:18,480 --> 00:26:22,040 Speaker 1: Yes, the only tickets left were for the lottery. Lynn 475 00:26:22,080 --> 00:26:24,960 Speaker 1: reprised his role as Alexander for the first time since 476 00:26:25,040 --> 00:26:27,440 Speaker 1: leaving the Broadway production back in twenty sixteen. 477 00:26:27,800 --> 00:26:30,800 Speaker 2: I remember that Jimmy Fallon went to the island and 478 00:26:30,840 --> 00:26:33,080 Speaker 2: everything to promote it. Right. It was like the first 479 00:26:33,119 --> 00:26:35,240 Speaker 2: time he did it outside of the studio. 480 00:26:35,600 --> 00:26:39,440 Speaker 1: It was a very big deal and he was back 481 00:26:39,560 --> 00:26:42,080 Speaker 1: with his favorite Puerto Rican Blenn. 482 00:26:42,400 --> 00:26:45,080 Speaker 2: Bad Bunny, Babe, blah blah bub ba. 483 00:26:47,720 --> 00:26:50,720 Speaker 1: The show had a successful run. The production raised funds 484 00:26:50,760 --> 00:26:53,080 Speaker 1: for the restoration of arts and cultural programs in the 485 00:26:53,119 --> 00:26:56,760 Speaker 1: aftermath of Hurricanes Edma and Maria. These were a combination 486 00:26:56,840 --> 00:27:01,440 Speaker 1: of box office revenue, humanitarian grants, sponsorship, and other donations. 487 00:27:02,960 --> 00:27:06,160 Speaker 1: There's nothing like seeing the show live and in person, 488 00:27:06,640 --> 00:27:09,520 Speaker 1: but most people have seen the original cast performance in 489 00:27:09,560 --> 00:27:11,719 Speaker 1: a different way on Disney Plus. 490 00:27:12,040 --> 00:27:12,880 Speaker 2: That's how I saw it. 491 00:27:13,200 --> 00:27:16,199 Speaker 1: During the show's original run, Lynn performed and recorded the 492 00:27:16,400 --> 00:27:19,600 Speaker 1: entire show shot over the course of two days. Lynn 493 00:27:19,600 --> 00:27:21,760 Speaker 1: filmed it with an eye towards making you feel as 494 00:27:21,840 --> 00:27:24,880 Speaker 1: if you were right there in the theater, and three 495 00:27:24,920 --> 00:27:28,600 Speaker 1: years later, Lynn sold it for seventy five million. 496 00:27:28,320 --> 00:27:31,800 Speaker 2: Dollars shut Up for Real, one of. 497 00:27:31,680 --> 00:27:36,159 Speaker 1: The biggest film acquisitions ever. It premiered on Disney Plus 498 00:27:36,320 --> 00:27:39,560 Speaker 1: during the pandemic on July third, twenty twenty, with the 499 00:27:39,600 --> 00:27:43,520 Speaker 1: original cast, and that weekend viewership on the platform jumped 500 00:27:43,600 --> 00:27:45,120 Speaker 1: seventy four percent. 501 00:27:45,400 --> 00:27:46,000 Speaker 2: Wow. 502 00:27:46,240 --> 00:27:48,800 Speaker 1: Years have passed and the Hamilton craze seems to have 503 00:27:48,840 --> 00:27:53,480 Speaker 1: died down, but its legacy is undeniable. The musical success 504 00:27:53,600 --> 00:27:56,520 Speaker 1: stopped the US Department of the Treasury from redesigning the 505 00:27:56,640 --> 00:27:59,440 Speaker 1: ten dollars bill with plans to replace Hamilton with a 506 00:27:59,480 --> 00:28:00,840 Speaker 1: woman from the American history. 507 00:28:01,440 --> 00:28:05,160 Speaker 2: Lynn saved Alexander Hamilton from being canceled. 508 00:28:05,920 --> 00:28:08,800 Speaker 1: It's got a lot of power that lived, and instead, 509 00:28:08,960 --> 00:28:11,840 Speaker 1: Hamilton stayed on the bill and they decided to replace 510 00:28:11,880 --> 00:28:15,800 Speaker 1: Andrew Jackson on the twenty with Harriet Tubman. The show 511 00:28:15,920 --> 00:28:19,520 Speaker 1: even got its own interactive museum with Hamilton the Exhibition. 512 00:28:19,800 --> 00:28:22,919 Speaker 2: And let's not forget the time Vice President Mike Pence 513 00:28:23,040 --> 00:28:23,800 Speaker 2: walked out. 514 00:28:24,119 --> 00:28:28,320 Speaker 1: Ooh child yeahs. For those that don't remember or care 515 00:28:28,400 --> 00:28:31,360 Speaker 1: to remember, he was in the audience. On November eighteenth, 516 00:28:31,480 --> 00:28:35,080 Speaker 1: twenty sixteen, Brandon Victor Dixon playing Aaron Burr at the 517 00:28:35,080 --> 00:28:39,200 Speaker 1: time addressed Pence from the stage. The statement was reportedly 518 00:28:39,280 --> 00:28:42,280 Speaker 1: written by the cast Lynn Manuel and the show's producer, 519 00:28:42,560 --> 00:28:46,160 Speaker 1: Jeffrey Seller. Here's what he said, Vice President Elect Pence. 520 00:28:46,360 --> 00:28:48,400 Speaker 1: We welcome you, and we truly thank you for joining 521 00:28:48,480 --> 00:28:52,160 Speaker 1: us here at Hamilton an American musical. We really do we, sir. 522 00:28:52,600 --> 00:28:56,120 Speaker 1: We are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious 523 00:28:56,280 --> 00:28:59,040 Speaker 1: that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, 524 00:28:59,200 --> 00:29:02,960 Speaker 1: our children, our parents, or defend us and uphold our 525 00:29:03,000 --> 00:29:05,880 Speaker 1: inaliable rights. Sir, But we truly hope that this show 526 00:29:05,960 --> 00:29:09,240 Speaker 1: has inspired you to uphold our American values and to 527 00:29:09,320 --> 00:29:12,640 Speaker 1: work on behalf of all of us. All of us. Again, 528 00:29:12,920 --> 00:29:15,840 Speaker 1: we truly thank you, truly for seeing the show, this 529 00:29:16,000 --> 00:29:19,440 Speaker 1: wonderful American story told by a diverse group of men 530 00:29:19,640 --> 00:29:23,200 Speaker 1: and women of different colors, creeds, and orientation. 531 00:29:24,360 --> 00:29:26,800 Speaker 2: Damn the chilled bitch. 532 00:29:27,240 --> 00:29:28,400 Speaker 1: I love this cast. 533 00:29:29,600 --> 00:29:32,680 Speaker 2: I'm having heart palpitations. I don't know if it's the 534 00:29:32,720 --> 00:29:36,800 Speaker 2: coffee here or if that statement really just got me. 535 00:29:37,320 --> 00:29:41,240 Speaker 1: It got you, because imagine delivering that on a Broadway stage. 536 00:29:41,360 --> 00:29:43,360 Speaker 2: Imagine being there and you're kind of like just even 537 00:29:43,520 --> 00:29:44,920 Speaker 2: kind of around pens and you're just kind of like 538 00:29:45,480 --> 00:29:47,120 Speaker 2: I would have serious anxiety. 539 00:29:47,160 --> 00:29:49,480 Speaker 1: Well, if I was with Pens that night and he 540 00:29:49,560 --> 00:29:51,080 Speaker 1: was sitting next to me, I would do one of 541 00:29:51,120 --> 00:29:54,840 Speaker 1: those like slow leans away, like bow your head down, 542 00:29:54,880 --> 00:29:56,440 Speaker 1: and you're like, I don't, I don't. 543 00:29:56,440 --> 00:30:00,400 Speaker 2: I don't know you, I don't know her. Sorry to 544 00:30:00,480 --> 00:30:04,000 Speaker 2: this man, I'm kind of weird about that Pence would 545 00:30:04,000 --> 00:30:06,520 Speaker 2: have gone to this type of play. 546 00:30:06,840 --> 00:30:10,520 Speaker 1: Well, listen at the core, the show is about American history. 547 00:30:10,600 --> 00:30:13,680 Speaker 1: He's the vice president elect of America. It is a 548 00:30:13,720 --> 00:30:16,600 Speaker 1: show that is necessary for him to see. I just 549 00:30:16,640 --> 00:30:20,000 Speaker 1: think that this version of America and this version of 550 00:30:20,000 --> 00:30:22,800 Speaker 1: American history is maybe just not one that he wants 551 00:30:22,840 --> 00:30:25,160 Speaker 1: to subscribe to. But when you look at the impact 552 00:30:25,160 --> 00:30:28,600 Speaker 1: of this musical, to me, this is exactly the America 553 00:30:28,640 --> 00:30:31,800 Speaker 1: that we all subscribe to. So sorry, dude, you're the 554 00:30:31,920 --> 00:30:34,880 Speaker 1: odd man out. This is America he left. 555 00:30:35,080 --> 00:30:39,280 Speaker 2: Yeah by Hamilton fulfilled its purpose. 556 00:30:39,760 --> 00:30:43,800 Speaker 1: It revolutionized musical theater and changed the lives and careers 557 00:30:43,840 --> 00:30:47,840 Speaker 1: of everyone involved. Miranda quickly became one of the highest 558 00:30:47,880 --> 00:30:48,920 Speaker 1: earning celebrities. 559 00:30:49,680 --> 00:30:53,000 Speaker 2: It also got him the attention of a. 560 00:30:53,040 --> 00:30:56,600 Speaker 1: Mouse, Yes, the big mouse himself. 561 00:30:57,680 --> 00:31:00,680 Speaker 2: Disney came a Collin Lynn has been writing for them 562 00:31:00,720 --> 00:31:06,040 Speaker 2: ever since, cleaning lamps for them, writing animated classics, including 563 00:31:06,040 --> 00:31:11,960 Speaker 2: a musical about Bruno. We don't talk about Bruno. 564 00:31:12,720 --> 00:31:18,080 Speaker 1: No no, there really is no limit to how far 565 00:31:18,160 --> 00:31:21,360 Speaker 1: he'll go. Next up, we'll be culminating Lynn's career with 566 00:31:21,400 --> 00:31:24,520 Speaker 1: his professional work related to Disney, the film adaptation of 567 00:31:24,560 --> 00:31:27,920 Speaker 1: his first ever musical, and his directorial. 568 00:31:27,320 --> 00:31:29,800 Speaker 2: Debut on the next Becoming an Icon. 569 00:31:35,840 --> 00:31:39,560 Speaker 1: Becoming an Icon is presented by Sonoo and Iheart's Michael 570 00:31:39,600 --> 00:31:43,480 Speaker 1: Duda podcast network. Listen to Becoming an Icon on the 571 00:31:43,520 --> 00:31:48,080 Speaker 1: iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts.