#colombia has so many fan projects i'm so excited to see them

[savebylou]

Fan project for Face The Music [📷:LouiesConnected, FITFWT Bogotá, 28.05.24].

[identitiesyourself]

"Fill the world with music, love, and pride"

Born July 16th, Lin-Manuel Miranda has inspired many theatre fanatics worldwide, from theatre kids to critics. This incredible man has achieved massive success in the entertainment world since being a composer and actor has made him have many protagonist roles in his creations.

Yesterday, we had the privilege of having an online interview with him. So, in today's entry, I, Jp, will ask the questions that fans have been wondering about his impact on his fandom and overall fans.

Jp: Hello Lin! Thank you for accepting this meeting. We're very excited about the interview.

Lin-Manuel: The pleasure is all mine! Ever since IdentitiesYourself hit the internet, I've been dying to participate in this blog.

Jp: Thank you, we won't let you down! So, to start, you've become one of the greatest artists who has inspired a whole subculture. Did you ever think theatre fanatics would be so in love with your work?

Lin-Manuel: I have considered myself a part of that subculture since I was a kid. When I was 7, I saw Les Misérables performing onstage, the pure emotion deposited in the musical really left a mark on me to work in the music industry.

Jp: Musicals really are beautiful, many of your fans have connected emotionally with the songs you wrote. Hence, let's talk more about the musicals you made, what was your inspiration for them?

Lin-Manuel: Oh wow I love this question! Well, In The Heights was the first musical I ever wrote, it was released on broadway in 2008. It tells the story of the struggles of a Puerto Rican guy who got stuck in the economic problems of Washington Heights. I wanted to transmit Latin American culture through the cruel reality of immigrants, but also how things do get better with the right people and attitude, for we all live once and we need to enjoy it. As you may know, Puerto Rico is a place rich in music and dance so it has really grown in me during the years. That's how through dance, music, and vocals the In The Heights musical was made.

Lin-Manuel: Moving on, Hamilton. The story of one of the founding fathers, Alexander Hamilton: the first secretary of the treasury of the USA. I was inspired by his biography written by Ron Chernow, from his life as a poor infant to being murdered by his best friend. I didn't want to project the musical as the life of a perfect man, but rather someone who struggled since his childhood to get to the top, hence why I used various musical styles to set the mood of the situation like rap for tense moments or ballads for sad ones. The set of characters was fantastic and everyone who worked in the parts really made the musical alive, it's something I'm really proud of!

Jp: Huh, who would have thought you'd have such a history behind it all! The lyrics, the dancing, the acting, everything is just glorious. Kids worldwide love your work, and school theaters are eager to perform the musicals you wrote. An example of this was the High School Drama Institute in Washington DC, where as you'd guess, they performed Hamilton and won the yearly national musical theatre competition! Lin-Manuel: Oh delightful!

Jp: Later on, they heard about the interview and asked some very interesting questions: "When will your next musical arrive? What would it be like? Will you write more songs? Will there be a collaboration with Disn-?" Lin-Manuel: Whoa! I think that's all the time I have, however, I will say a thing: Colombia will be enchanted with this... Jp: Ooooh okay, well thanks for the sneak peek, and thank you for joining us! I hope we meet again sometime and we'll see each other at your new musical premiere!

Lin-Manuel: Of course, the pleasure is all mine, stay safe everybody, and don't let anyone make less of your musical preferences!

~Posted by Juan Pablo Rodríguez