Ask a Star: Lin-Manuel Miranda

As "In the Heights" finishes its run on Broadway, creator and star takes fan questions.

[@ShakespeareanWannabe]

"I'm working on it, and when it comes out it'll be perfect." Well, he nailed that one.

[@daniellemusella1594]

Yep. If only he'd known what was coming.

[@emmaconder7854]

Nessa Skye I love your profile pic SO much! Perfect for this video and/or anything Lin-related!

[@katherineknapp6604]

DEFINITELY

[@tomeee8526]

3:07 Writing is easy, young man. Teaching is harder.

[@maggieneedham383]

+Tom B-H that just made my day

[@ariaevans595]

I just thought the same thing 😂

[@marinjohnson4368]

omg❤️❤️🙏🏻

[@annaoffive]

I just died... 😂😂😂

[@20centuryfox100]

HEY-O!

[@parismarie224]

"Is the Alexander Hamilton mixtape a real project..." oooh Wade YOU WEREN'T READY

[@notcharlieeebrown]

That was me, lmao I'm dying

[@wcfromaz]

On the contrary, Mel, I was ready! I asked this question in 2011, and met Lin for the first time in 2013 (he came to see a show I was working on at the Public Theater in NYC)- He's totally and authentically just as awesome as he seems. :) He opened at the Public later that year, and I was able to attend the first Broadway preview of Hamilton on July 13, 2015! I doubt he'd ever remember me, but this question (and a couple of twitter shoutouts) have kept me a huge fan and supporter of the project since its inception! :D

[@Itsdania77]

Mel Malfoy I read that as Kevin Hart. Like the "NUUU, SHE WASNT READY, SHE WASNT READY..."

[@samisntalesbian2349]

Mel Malfoy HAHAHA

[@areyoucereals]

OH MY GOSH THIS COMMENT THREAD FEELS LIKE ITS TOO SPECIAL FOR MY EYES

[@arellaflur5753]

Imagine growing up to realize that Lin Manuel Miranda was your 7th grade English teacher...

[@nagiosman5275]

I would actually freak out and cry.

[@lilliant.82]

Arella Flur, Wait, *WHAT*

[@childofthelivinggod.]

at first I was like: yeah dude, that'd be awesome ༼ •́ ͜ʖ •̀ ༽ But then after a second I was like; WAIT A SECOND-- *W A I T*

[@e-linamarie]

"one song a year" forty-three years later... Lin: I'VE DONE IT! HAMILTON IS FINISHED!

[@sirnate9065]

Haha! He took a year to write my shot, and a few hours to write helpless (he did have an earlier draft but little if any survived, so yeah. A few hours). That difference in times just seems absurd to me.

[@miaavila7121]

And only 45 minutes to write That Would Be Enough

[@evynmitchell536]

he wrote wait for it on a couple subway rides

[@Firedemon72]

evyn mitchell How does he write like he's running out of time?

[@Sabrina-xf4uw]

*46

[@iggystardustt6943]

I care so much about Lin-Manuel Miranda.

[@mmtittle]

Same. I saw this shirt I really want to order that says "I hope Lin Manuel Miranda is having a good day"

[@MyBeastyOtherAccount]

+Molly Tittle omg can you link me, I would love to have this lmao. my google sleuthing lead me to nothing

[@mayaakbay1676]

Same i really need this shirt haha!

[@emmayeemusic]

+Andreia Matos it's on redbubble.com

[@Ghostinaboat]

@@mmtittle were is that shirt

[@lianafreeman8954]

"i would stroll around the White House... naked" oh my god lin

[@MOaxol]

When?

[@saffodils]

+It'sEccaB 8:16

[@summerrayndoesstuff3975]

that laugh though

[@LPSdrewxellyvideos]

Lin: one song takes me about a year Me: plot twist there are only 46 songs

[@AnnaCristinaUkulele]

He isn't even 40 yet! haha

[@docwithsubtitles]

How does he write like he running out of time?

[@emmabennett7699]

Lucy O'Brien my shot actually took a year

[@reactorfactor2908]

Lucy O'Brien Then he be lying

[@bobbyjoe994]

But Lin is like 38

[@stormcloudsabound]

3:17 "it's part of a larger project" aka the BIGGEST SHOW ON BROADWAY (or it seems like it anyway)

[@Ghostinaboat]

He confirmed it's going to be a movie too

[@wiktoriajanecka675]

@@myrtpap9383 september (or something) 2021

[@mariasharp815]

Not only is he a genius, he's also adorable!

[@tigeyavengerpotter8276]

I can’t disagree with that statement

[@wolf4811]

Do you ever feel like everything's falling apart but then you see Lin in a video or read something he says and it feels like he's giving you a hug and you just know it's all gonna be okay

[@fivestarsforella3822]

I feel the same way...

[@BetteDavis19]

I know right hes like my dad

[@hannahsharp3641]

Duh yah I know how you feel

[@MarianaPz14]

It doesn't!!! It makes me feel worse because I love him more every time but I know I'll never be able to marry him.

[@joakuz]

Duh ALWAYS!

[@ardenvida4598]

"is the Alexander Hamilton Mixtape a real project?" ahhhhhhhhhhh the world before Hamilton... im crying

[@rachelgreene9419]

Yeah no I don't think that Hamilton Mixtape thing is gonna take off sorry

[@rykaro69]

It did. It's a HUGE success right now. This was uploaded while he was still writing it :)

[@AventuraLuver]

+Mlp Melody Strokes it was a joke

[@JordanJ1263]

+Mlp Melody Strokes that went straight over your head didn't it.

[@rachelgreene9419]

JordanJ1263 Hopefully she'll get it eventually. We'll just have to Wait For It

[@brefstank8398]

+Rachel Greene I want to be in the room when it happens.

[@elizakeating8415]

Creating an award-winning Broadway musical is easy young man, teaching is harder :P

[@ashleyrose6320]

Ask a star. This was posted five years ago. If only he knew what he would become.

[@JoshuaFagan]

He's so awesomely adorkable.

[@isaacmillan6821]

imagine having Lin as your teacher

[@alimica]

Isaac Millan I'd love school

[@katmccormick4200]

He was actually a substitute teacher before he made in the Hights (his first musical)!

[@lazzarin26]

Lin: American History Test! First Question! Who is the ten dollar founding father without a father?

[@Katherine-rh9pl]

Me : you

[@oliviacrandall6882]

Count me in

[@Horsesarethebest888]

And now Hamilton is going to sweep the 15-16 award season...

[@jlmeyer5]

I mean Hamilton should win like so many tonys

[@katiepriscott1962]

+Jennifer Meyer HAMILTON WON THE OTHER 51!

[@saraburns8442]

+Katie Priscott you win at life!

[@Alyssa_Reape]

And now Hamilton is out and it IS perfect. Ugh, we've come full circle

[@broadwaybaby05]

Five years later, you can't get a ticket to that piece of perfection.

[@allielee]

at leasts its on Disney+ !

[@livaliberte4275]

Nine years later you can whatch it on Disney plus or find it online

[@all_consuming_images]

He said chorus line and I was like "just you wait, just you wait!"

[@fiflag]

He said he couldn't separate Benny and Chris Jackson, now in Hamilton, I wonder whether he is able to see Chris Jackson and George Washington separately!

[@arbysroastbeef69]

Book Worm I under how confusing it is to see Benny as George Washington. OMG benny as president guys

[@liamcarmody4217]

Fiona Flagstad every time i see Chris Jackson anywhere I’m just like “HERE COMES THE GENERAL!!!”

[@kalebgodwin6328]

you were right hamilton is perfct

[@tovaastrom2780]

He is mind blowing. Seriously, just to think that something I love much as Hamilton & Heights came from his mind is surreal. He is such a cute and funny person too, and kind it seems! I want to meet him and just have a conversation with him... That would be enough. ❤️ (+those seven graders were lucky, huh?)

[@agneseditsstuff]

haha that would be enough

[@Sufiloves]

so proud to have been this great man's student. You really made us proud Mr. Miranda. This guy is a Genius!!! n one of the best teachers ever!!!

[@RhosynCalypso]

rubi1308 You are SO lucky!!

[@valentina3075]

Lucky!!

[@areyoucereals]

OMG WHAT WAS IT LIKE BEING HIS TEACHER? WHAT DID HE DO?

[@FlusteredBushStudios]

Wow you were his student?? Thats so cool!

[@sophiaredwood5825]

rubi1308 OH MY GOODNESS LUCKY, WHAT WAS IT LIKE?!

[@rileymaguire2972]

Wade: Is the Alexander Hamilton mixtape a real project or is it just a song Me five years later: OH YOU WERENT READY FOR THISSSS

[@emilym5870]

EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS IS SO ADORABLE

[@vrmpyr]

Emily M Omg gmm

[@bfallon7076]

HES SO ADORABLE HELP TOO MANY EMOTIONS

[@Theatrecompanion11]

Going back and watching this is crazy, like the mentions of Hamilton are so cool to hear.

[@Mymanga600]

When I saw the question about the Hamilton mixtape I laughed so loudly!

[@hena1937]

Young people should realize that it takes great intelligence and determination to reach heights in rap, comedy, and musical theater. I'm so impressed by him. I have to wonder if In The Heights Benny was based on RENT! Benny. I think the second is so misunderstood. Surprisingly to me I think he is my favorite character.

[@ElanaElyce]

+hena1937 It was definitely inspired by RENT. He is so incredible.

[@lizhanlon3020]

The Hamilton mixtape is a big thing... Just you Wade

[@madeleinemagnant7513]

after the whole naked white house stroll thing he was blushing so hard and he's just so cute

[@juliamartins1151]

Maddie Magnant IKR "that's a terrible use of power" HE LOOKED SO DISAPPOINTED AT HIMSELF

[@oliversr6]

He did NOT throw away his SHOT!

[@Haysalto]

"I'm averaging about a song per year" this is so true??😂 but Hamilton was so worth it

[@clairegaylor8788]

He said in an interview My Shot took a year! Insane.

[@ceceamory7643]

When you put it into perspective: 46 amazing fantastic incredible perfect songs in 6 years. And that's just absolutely unbelievable. The more I think about Lin, the more impressed I am. He's basically my inspiration for life lol

[@ceceamory7643]

***** Right

[@penelopeades2170]

watching this once Hamilton is amazing thinking, "A project? Please you were working on a masterpiece young Lin"

[@blackfamily2341]

"ghetto revolutionary who wants to change the world" hmm where have I heard that before

[@professionalnerd4055]

ALEXANDER HAMILTON

[@annechristine2097]

8:23 🎤🎼Never gon' be President now, never gon' be President now🎤🎼😂😂

[@kiraparrish8059]

Omg I can't tell if it's sad or endearing that he doesn't think he is that smart, he is probably an actual genius

[@softplacetoland]

Only Lin Manuel Miranda takes an interview with a hoodie and jeans on. He even wears the hoodie hood up for the first half 🤣

[@meganhash7840]

3:15 *STARTS SCREAMING*

[@areyoucereals]

Megan Hash I think that’s the same with all of us

[@alex0589]

wait for it

[@allielee]

@@alex0589 Wade for it

[@hakunamattata437]

to say i love him is the understatement of the year....

[@CorinneMichelleMusic]

FORESHADOWING HE WAS TALKING ABOUT HAMILTON OOMGOMFG

[@geraldthebear6552]

Rain drop Drop top Lin Manuel- Miranda is non stop

[@nathaliej3768]

Lin's dad jeans tho 😂

[@misspriss2482]

When you are a badass genius, no one cares what jeans you're wearing.

[@mushroomuhm]

He acts like my best friend. He doesn't act like he's a rich snob. HE'S SO COOOOOOOOOOOL!!!!!!!!!!!

[@ysabarro]

GUSHING ABOUT LIN TO EVERYBODY GAAAAAHHHHH :">

[@laurelrogers5]

I didn't know until today that he was a teacher. I wonder what his former students think of him now... 😂

[@caitlynallen9508]

That laugh at 8:00 gives me life

[@birdlawco]

HE SURE MADE A GREAT JOB OUT OF HIS SMALL AMOUNT OF FREE TIME

[@jellidoodles7938]

Have you ever looked at a person and you said to your self “I don’t personally know this human but I’d take a bullet for them” I feel this way for anyone in the hamilcast ESPECIALLY LIN

[@ItsNotSarahh]

I'm glad he had the hood on for that short time in the beginning because it made it possible for me to still picture him with the ponytail. (NOT that I don't like his short hair, it's very adorably)

[@Gymgirl314]

He was right.. Hamilton IS perfect

[@gloomboyszn]

Its funny how we are all responding 5-7 years later after he wrote his even more popular Hamilton

[@FanGirl-xz1nf]

"Yes the Hamilton Mixtape is a thing..." Now there is an entire Broadway musical, and Lin is the star. When I got to see it, through the first act, every five minutes I would think to myself, I'm here, I'm really here, and I'm watching Hamilton! If I had the money, I would really like to bring my good friends who also love Hamilton to see it because it was such an amazing experience.

[@happybalaga4716]

Vanessa in 1 word: tsundere

[@skeeverats]

He is such a dork

[@goldenn819]

4 years later that "Alexander Hamilton Mixtape" is a hit musical loved my millions

[@emmaconder7854]

Lin, you are SOOO great in every way! You are like a comforting older brother that can make everyone and ANYONE feel better, even on they're worst possible days. I wish I had the amazing privilege of meeting you, but since I know that will not happen, I have to take what I can get, i.e. listening to every song and watching every KZbin video with you in it. Thank you, Lin-Manuel Miranda for the blessings you have given me, the bad moods you have lifted me out of and the anger you have cooled with your humor and wit and just... being you. You have inspired me to try and do the same for others, to try to help others as much as I can, to get them, and therefore me, out of depressing mindsets. So with the most heartfelt sincerity I can portray through a KZbin comment, thank you Lin-Manuel. Thank you for helping at least one teenage girl through her hardships and whose life is so much better with your influence in it.

[@emmaconder7854]

@Elizabeth Turley Good idea, I will 😁

[@jilliancurrier136]

"I'm averaging about a song a year" damn it took 46 years to write Hamilton 🤔

[@BreannaBrenko]

“Mr Miranda, can you help me with question 7?”

[@voldemort4289]

I'm a simple person, I see Lin Manuel Miranda, I click.

[@larissaferreira5554]

When you come here 7 years late

[@talangarcia3860]

Looking back... "The Hamilton mix tape is just a project leading to larger project." Look how big Hamilton The Musical is now!

[@kennyg240]

"It's part of a bigger project" *LITERALLY BREAKS BROADWAY ENTIRELY AND LEAVES EVERYONE SHOOK*

[@leahs174]

My friend: do you like hip-hop? Me: does Lin-Manuel Miranda count as hip-hop?

[@puellamagica3359]

god i love you so much. how are you even a real person

[@igotVoldemortsnose]

Hell yeah it was part of a bigger project, that's now opening for the Grammys! It's so cool watching this now :)

[@Lady_Aberd]

it's great watching him achieve his dreams- Hamilton and seeing the original Chorus Line cast. :)

[@sophies794]

He's such a good guy, when he said he'd give half of the $96,000 to charity ahhh

[@jakeeg6580]

Who's watching this in 2016?

[@irlpeace]

Me!!

[@equestrianvivian7886]

Me!

[@kristenasato372]

Me!! And guess what??? Hamilton is a thing in 2016!!!

[@LazyLizzy]

It's like we're traveling back in tiiiiiiiiime!

[@juliaheras9090]

jakee G me!!!

[@chrispatrickhansen5040]

I wonder if that "Hamilton" thing he mentioned ever turned into anything...

[@WelcomeToTheScene1]

MY PRECIOUS SON

[@allielee]

*cAll mE sOn OnE mOrE tIMe*

[@Jassibeanx]

I so wish to go back in time and tell this Lin what Hamilton has done for the world! I would die to se that facial expression ❤️

[@allielee]

the outfit in this video.... no choice but to stan

[@leafaep8942]

*HES JUST A LINNAMON ROLL. WHAT DID WE DO TO DESERVE HIM?*

[@joakuz]

I love him. He's giving me so much hope ❤️

[@rysart2301]

I can’t even keep watching the video Lin is so cute 🥰 and Great

[@kimsalvador2208]

it's so nice to look back at this

[@LAndreaDeLeon]

"walk around the white house naked"..priceless

[@alexslaughter9582]

"It'll come out and it'll be perfect" IT DID COME OUT AND HAMILTON IS PERFECT. OOOOOOOOOO WE WERE NOT READY

[@lizziehargrove4310]

video: *no comment! i’m just-* **an ad pops up** ad: *”JAKE FROM STATEFARM AT THREE IN THE MORNING?!”*

[@pal3shelter]

OH MY GOD I KNOW RIGHT SHUT UP JAKE FFROM STATEFARM M8

[@DoNotResusikate]

My hero

[@birdlawco]

THE PROJECT CAME OUT PERFECT

[@lyd17]

"And when it comes out, it'll be perfect."

[@laurieedge446]

I just want to say wow! You are amazing and I really hope you keep writing for a very long time.

[@dani010203stor]

1:37 i think that's like asking a parent who their favorite son is

[@That_Ozian]

He's such a sweet little dorky genius

[@selaboswell5753]

If you could see the cast of any broadway musical which would it be? me: HAMILTON!

[@haleydunning3819]

this is so funny to watch now!!!

[@thedragonofsprinkles4519]

Lin LIKES Assassin's Creed!!!!! That made my day.

[@pyukumuku-6645]

This dude never ages

[@svolk18]

"i am working on it in my spare time. I don't have any spare time"

[@bkwrm10]

When it's done it will be perfect. YES IT WAS

[@misspriss2482]

"I can't separate Chris Jackson from Benny." Just you wait, just you wait. :)

[@emmeashby9200]

He hasn't changed at all 😂

[@DragonPrincessAoife]

MAN, he is funny. "NO COMMENT!" HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

[@angel02sanchez]

I think of Lin has the perfect goodfather.

[@vertigoed.]

#LinManuelMiranda2022

[@arig02]

HIS LAUGH AW