Lin-Manuel Miranda – RCAH Student Blogs

Yep, it’s true—2019 is almost over and I can’t believe it. As always, this year has flown by. I have recently seen theatre critics releasing articles about their favorite shows of 2019, and I decided I wanted to do the same thing, but with a twist. I didn’t feel as if simply showcasing my favorite shows would be conclusive enough of 2019. This year, I got to visit New York City three times, see dozens of shows on Broadway and off, and I started my first job in the theatre industry. This list includes my favorite theatre moments (shows, experiences, events, and encounters) of 2019.

Attending the Tony Awards And Seeing History Be Made

If you’ve been reading my blog since this summer, you already know that I attended the Tony Awards, but I couldn’t sum up my favorite 2019 theatre moments and not mention it. The Tony Awards are always my favorite day of the year, but this year I was fortunate enough to attend them in person for the first time. It was surreal. I got to get dressed up, go to Radio City Music Hall, and be surrounded by the best of Broadway’s performers and creatives. There, Hadestown made history by being the first musical with an all-female creative team to win Best Musical, and Ali Stroker made history as the first actress in a wheelchair to win a Tony. It felt like I was living in a dream, but it’s a moment that I will remember and cherish forever.

Attending the Tony Awards

Meeting Lin-Manuel Miranda

If you’ve known me for a while, you would know that Lin-Manuel Miranda has been my theatre god for the past four years. He transformed theatre forever by creating Hamilton, and since then he has used his success to make the arts accessible to all people (i.e. bringing Hamilton to Puerto Rico and raising $2 million for arts programs there). He is a legend and a true gift to our world.

In November, I was attending Little Shop of Horrors Off-Broadway with my mom, and at intermission, we overheard someone say that Lin was in the lobby. We bolted out of our chairs and rushed to meet him. I can happily report that he is as great in person as I had hoped. I got the chance to thank him for his contributions to the arts, and despite the fact that I’m sure he gets bombarded by fans every day, he was so gracious. Meeting him was a moment I’ve dreamed of for years. I believe our world is unworthy of someone as good as him.

Sadly I didn’t get a picture with Lin—but he took this photo with Jonathan Groff the day I met him

Seeing In the Heights And Meeting Its Movie’s Stars

Before there was Hamilton, there was In the Heights—Lin-Manuel Miranda’s (no, I will never stop talking about him) first Broadway show. During 2019, In the Heights was one of my most listened-to cast albums, and its score has become one of my all-time favorites. In June, my mom and I located where they were filming the movie version in Inwood, New York, and we got to meet the movie’s stars and director and watch some of their filming.

In July, I saw that a professional theatre in Saugatuck was putting on a production of it, and my mom and I knew that we had to go. It was amazing to finally see Lin’s music come to life on stage. I should also note that I ended up being extremely sick on the day I saw In the Heights (seriously, I probably should have gone to the ER because I couldn’t breathe) but the show was so absorbing that I refused to leave. That’s how you know it’s an amazing show.

Meeting Anthony Ramos and Melissa Barrera, the stars of In the Heights

I Stopped Overlooking Off-Broadway Shows

For years now, my life has been completely devoted to researching and seeing Broadway shows. I did, and still do, consider Broadway to be one of the best things that exists in the world. However, 2019 was the year that I realized other great NYC theatre exists—particularly Off-Broadway. Officially, Off-Broadway means that it’s a show taking place in New York City theater with 99-499 seats (Broadway is 500+). In 2019, I attended some amazing Off-Broadway shows (including Little Shop of Horrors, The Wrong Man, The Secret Life of Bees) that rivaled the Broadway shows I saw. I’ve found that Off-Broadway as just as good as, if not better than, Broadway. Often times, Off-Broadway shows feature Broadway actors, but in smaller and more intimate spaces. In 2020, my goal is to give more Off-Broadway and even more remote theatre a try. Just because it’s not Broadway doesn’t mean that it can’t still be life-changing.

Seeing Little Shop of Horrors off-Broadway

Discovering a New Musical That Made Me Feel Seen

I was lucky enough to see Be More Chill on Broadway twice this year, first in March and then again in June when I brought my mom back with me. The first time I saw it, I was not emotionally prepared for the impact it had on me. I loved its quirky characters and catchy score, but most of all I loved George Salzar’s performance of “Michael in the Bathroom” in the show’s second act. It was a moment where I was completely absorbed by the show and the rest of the world was drowned out. I felt like Michael Mell was speaking directly to me, and it provided some healing that I’ve needed for years now. Be More Chill (unfairly) received many negative reviews, and it closed early, but it will forever remain in my heart and as a favorite on my Broadway playlist. It made me feel validated and heard, and it was the musical that had the most formative impact on my life in 2019.

Seeing Be More Chill.

I Started Working in My Dream Industry

When I entered Michigan State in the fall of 2017, I expected I would graduate in five years as an elementary education major. Although I think I would have been fine in this career, my life’s passion of theatre could not be denied. At the end of freshman year, I dropped my education major and have since been avidly working towards my goal of working in professional side of the theatre industry after college. In January, I was hired to be Wharton Center’s Marketing and Communications Intern for their Broadway series. Since then, I have been working with Wharton Center’s marketing department on every Broadway show. I’ve already learned so much, and it makes me confident that when I graduate in a year and a half, I will be fully prepared to enter the professional theatre industry. It’s been amazing to put my Broadway knowledge to use and to learn how to market to a specific community. Above all, I love that my job allows me to share the thing I love most, theatre, with others.

Interviewing Julie Jordan of Come From Away—an opportunity I got from working at Wharton Center

2019 has undoubtedly been one of the best years of my life thus far—both personally and professionally. My knowledge and experience of the theatre is blossoming every day, and I’m grateful for all the opportunities I’ve had this year. 2019 is going to be a tough year to beat, but I’m optimistic that 2020 is going to hold even more amazing theatrical opportunities.

Last week I traveled to California to visit my cousin who recently moved to Marina Del Rey. I enjoyed spending the week doing some sightseeing (you know I couldn’t miss seeing Lin-Manuel Miranda’s star on the Walk of Fame), catching up with family, and trying lots of new food spots. My favorite part of the week, however, had to be the two days my mom and I spent at Disneyland.

I was lucky that my parents took me to Disney World a few times as a kid, and a lot of my best childhood memories were formed there. This recent trip was my first time ever visiting Disneyland. I had the best time getting to ride LOTS of rides, meeting Minnie Mouse, and trying a Mickey Mouse-shaped fruity pebbles funnel cake that was as amazing as it sounds. One thing I couldn’t help noticing is that Disneyland is a VERY theatrical place. Although you wouldn’t necessarily expect the park to be theatre-related, during my time there, I found that Disneyland has an undeniably theatrical spirit.

My delicious fruity pebbles funnel cake

First, every single person who works at Disneyland is referred to as a “cast member,” not an “employee.” This is because the Disneyland cast members are pretty much performing at all times. Disney obviously places the utmost importance on the happiness of its visitors, and its cast members are entrusted with the job of creating magical moments for guests. To do this, they are always friendly, smiling, and using a specific themed language to add to the immersive experience of Disneyland. They want to make the overall experience the best it can be.

Secondly, Disneyland is basically a hub of all things needed for a show—costumes, sets, props, etc. Each land in Disneyland has its own unique feel and set pieces that transport you to that area: Fantasyland is marked by Sleeping Beauty’s castle and brightly colored cottages, while Frontierland is adorned with red rock, railroads, and western style trading posts. In addition, Disney cast members and many of the guests are in costume. One of the best parts of Disneyland is seeing the adorable kids visiting the parks dressed like their favorite Disney characters.

Lastly, Disneyland is packed with live performances every single day. While I was there, I saw Frozen Live at the Hyperion Theater. I had previously seen Frozen on Broadway, and while this was a condensed version of the story, the quality of both shows was pretty comparable. It’s geared towards families, of course, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and appreciated the diverse casting that Disney used in this production. I love that there are opportunities to watch live theatre all day, every day at Disneyland.

With all of its theatrical elements, it’s probably not surprising that I cherished my time at Disneyland. I greatly appreciate the effort Disney puts into making their parks an immersive, interactive, and memorable experience. We were lucky enough to be there on Disneyland’s 64^th birthday—commemorating 64 years of creating happiness and lifelong memories. Whether you’re a child or an adult, Disneyland can be a magical place for everyone. Most importantly, I love that Disneyland allows you to feel like a kid again, where everything is magical and anything is possible.

Celebrating Disneyland’s 64th birthday