Lin-Manuel Miranda To Return To HAMILTON For Puerto Rico Engagement In 2019

Pulitzer Prize/Tony Award-winning Lin-Manuel Miranda is taking his Broadway mega-hit musical, Hamilton: An American Musical, to Puerto Rico for a three week run in January 2019.

And Miranda says he plans to reprise his performance as the title role for the limited engagement.

From The Hollywood Reporter:

Hamilton will play a three-week run, Jan. 8-27, 2019, at Teatro UPR, the theater at the University of Puerto Rico’s main campus in the Rio Piedras section of San Juan. Built in 1939, Teatro UPR is considered Puerto Rico’s most iconic stage, and recently hosted Spanish language productions of Evita, Into the Woods, Master Class, The Sound of Music and Once on This Island.

Miranda's first musical, In the Heights, also played in Puerto Rico in 2010, with the actor-composer also reprising his role. Though a Puerto Rico run has been in the works, its announcement comes with an urgency following the devastation of Hurricane Maria. Since then, Miranda has been working solely and tirelessly on relief efforts, including releasing the all-star charity single "Almost Like Praying."

"Bringing Hamilton: An American Musical to Puerto Rico is a dream that I’ve had since we first opened at The Public Theater in 2015," stated Miranda. “When I last visited the island, a few weeks before Hurricane Maria, I had made a commitment to not only bring the show to Puerto Rico, but also return again to the title role. In the aftermath of Maria we decided to expedite the announcement of the project to send a bold message that Puerto Rico will recover and be back in business, stronger than ever."

The Broadway company of Hamilton has grossed $275 million at the Richard Rodgers Theatre thus far.

The show also has companies in Chicago and Los Angeles (through December 2017), a second national tour to launch in February in Seattle, and a London company will debut next month.

Randy Rainbow Trolls Trump Jr. With "The Room Where It Happened" Parody

Just in time for Friday! Randy Rainbow delivers again with this uber-clever parody of the Hamilton tune, "The Room Where It Happened."

So many Russians in the room where it happened...

Watch below. #brilliant

Randy Rainbow Trolls Trump/Pence With HAMILTON Parody

Randy Rainbow turns his creative focus to Vice President-elect Mike Pence's recent visit to the Broadway smash hit Hamilton: An American Musical, and his boss' Twitter melt-down in the aftermath of that escapade.

As many know, Pence was booed as he entered the Richard Rodgers Theater by many members of the audience. And at the end of the curtain call, Brandon Victor Dixon - one of the stars of the show - read a message from the stage concerning the cast and creators' concerns about the incoming administration.

Randy's musical Trump/Pence tribute is a parody of the Hamilton tune “You’ll Be Back,” originally performed by out actor/hottie, Jonathan Groff.

Rainbow skewers both Trump and Pence for the days long fallout from the Pence pack's night at the thea-ah-tah.

“Don’t denounce a Broadway play when you won’t denounce the KKK”

Brandon Victor Dixon Of HAMILTON: "There's Nothing To Apologize For, Conversation Is Not Harassment"

Brandon Victor Dixon, one of the stars of the blockbuster Broadway hit, Hamilton: An American Musical, sat down with CBS This Morning to discuss the brouhaha surrounding Vice President-elect Pence's visit to the show this past weekend.

After Dixon read a message to Mr. Pence during the curtain call - addressing him as "sir," speaking in a calm, rational voice about their anxieties and concerns for the upcoming administration - Donald Trump angrily took to his Twitter account to denounce the cast and message as 'harassment," and demanded an apology.

Pence, himself, said he enjoyed the show very much and doesn't feel the need for an apology.

When asked if there would be an apology forthcoming, Dixon said, “There’s nothing to apologize for. Conversation is not harassment.”

As I wrote over the weekend, if this is what sends our president-elect into a tailspin, he may need to consider taking a moment. Theater folks reading you a message is simple stuff, Donald.

You've got MUCH bigger fish to fry. Like explaining the $25 million settlement you just paid out in a class action lawsuit for fraud regarding the now-defunct Trump University.

Oh, and then there's Russia.

Watch below:

Mike Pence: I Wasn't Offended By Message From HAMILTON Cast

Appearing on Fox News this morning, Vice President-elect Mike Pence told Mike Wallace he was not offended by the message he received from the cast of the hit Broadway show Hamilton: An American Musical on Friday night.

Pence said he, his daughter and her cousins “enjoyed the great, great show.” He also told his daughter that the "boos" they heard when he entered the theater “is what freedom sounds like.”

Pence said, unlike his new boss, he wasn’t offended and that he didn’t want an apology. Bu he did add, “I’ll leave it to others to decide if it was the appropriate venue.”

Trump Continues To Distract From $25 Million Fraud Settlement By Attacking HAMILTON

Donald Trump continues to use the Hamilton/Mike Pence incident on Friday night to distract from the fact that he just settled a huge fraud lawsuit regarding his failed Trump University for $25 million.

After posting two tweets yesterday morning, the Donald took to Twitter again on the subject. First he tweeted the above missive, which he promptly deleted.

Didn't he just go after Hillary Clinton for deleting internet communications?

And then he posted the below tweet in the middle of the night. In the post, he again demands an apology from the cast for calling Pence "sir," telling the audience not to "boo" Pence, and expressing their concerns as constituents in a calm voice.

Along the way, he slams Hamilton as "highly overrated." The show is one of the most celebrated in Broadway history and sold out for the next 8 months. But, whatevs....

Is this really "presidential?"

The cast and producers of Hamilton, which I hear is highly overrated, should immediately apologize to Mike Pence for their terrible behavior

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 20, 2016

Radio Show: Election 2016 Post-Mortem with Political Activist Aaron Baldwin

With the 2016 election now firmly in the rear view mirror, political activist Aaron Baldwin joined me today on my BlogTalkRadio show, also named The Randy Report, to discuss the fallout of the presidential election including:

• The last minute collapse of the Hillary Clinton campaign

• The floundering Trump transition team caught unprepared for winning

• Trump still taking to Twitter for occasional meltdown

• Trump has already backpedaled on several key campaign promises - will he disappoint his followers?

• Sen. Jeff Sessions in as Attorney General

• RNC Chair Reince Priebus tapped for Chief Of Staff

• Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani angling for Secretary of State, but Mitt Romney is meeting with Trump for same position

• Former Trump campaign nemesis Sen. Ted Cruz eyeing U.S. Supreme Court seat

Plus, I share a fabulous little thing that happened on Broadway last night when Vice President-elect Mike Pence decided to take in the blockbuster hit, Hamilton: An American Musical.

Donald Trump Demands Apology For HAMILTON's "Harassment" Of Pence

President-elect Trump took to Twitter this morning saying his VP, Mike Pence, was "harassed" last night when Pence attended a performance of Hamilton: An American Musical.

What happened was this:

Upon entering the theater, the audience - not the cast - but the audience booed Pence.

And during the curtain call, Brandon Victor Dixon (who plays "Aaron Burr" in the play) read a message from the cast and creators of the show.

But this is how Trump framed the incident:

Our wonderful future V.P. Mike Pence was harassed last night at the theater by the cast of Hamilton, cameras blazing.This should not happen!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 19, 2016

The Theater must always be a safe and special place.The cast of Hamilton was very rude last night to a very good man, Mike Pence. Apologize!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 19, 2016

Brandon Dixon had this reply to Trump:

@realDonaldTrump conversation is not harassment sir. And I appreciate @mike_pence for stopping to listen.

— Brandon Victor Dixon (@BrandonVDixon) November 19, 2016

Now, I have to ask: "Harassed?" Really?

The message read to Pence during the curtain call was anything but "harassment." Read in a calm voice, asking the audience not to "boo," addressing Pence as "sir," the message to Pence asked that he "uphold our American values and to work on behalf of all of us."

That constitutes "harassment?"

Here's the text of the message as well as video.

"You know, we have a guest in the audience, and Vice President-elect Mike Pence I see you walking out but I hope that you will hear us a few more moments. There’s nothing to boo here folks. There’s nothing to boo here. We’re all here sharing a story of love. And I encourage you all to pull out your phones, and tweet and spread our message far and wide."

"Vice President-elect Pence, we welcome you and we truly thank you for joining us here at Hamilton: An American Musical."

“We, sir, we are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents, or defend us and our inalienable rights, sir."

“But we truly hope this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and to work on behalf of all of us,” Dixon said. “This is one American story told by a diverse group of men and women of different colors, creeds and origins.”

Tonight, VP-Elect Mike Pence attended #HamiltonBway. After the show, @BrandonVDixon delivered the following statement on behalf of the show. pic.twitter.com/Jsg9Q1pMZs

— Hamilton (@HamiltonMusical) November 19, 2016

Vice President-elect Mike Pence Gets More Than A History Lesson At HAMILTON On Broadway

Vice President-elect Mike Pence

Vice President-elect Mike Pence attended Hamilton: An American Musical on Broadway tonight, and got more than a history lesson.

In fact, you might say the cast of the hit musical "did not throw away" their shot.

As he entered the theater he was met by boos from the audience:

Here's Pence getting booed as he gets to his seats at Hamilton pic.twitter.com/IRQG68x1sB

— David K (@dkipke12) November 19, 2016

Throughout the performance, many of the show's famous lines were directed to Pence:

I'm at #Hamilton and so is Mike Pence. Crowd booed him like crazy, and gave a standing O at the line "immigrants we get the job done" 1/2

— Christy Colburn (@christymoose) November 19, 2016

2/2 Crowd went NUTS at King George's lines "when people say they hate you" & "do you know how hard it is to lead?" He had to stop the song.

— Christy Colburn (@christymoose) November 19, 2016

As the cast gathered on stage for their curtain call, Brandon Dixon addressed Pence directly, to the cheers of the audience.

"You know, we have a guest in the audience, and Vice President-elect Mike Pence I see you walking out but I hope that you will hear us a few more moments. There’s nothing to boo here folks. There’s nothing to boo here. We’re all here sharing a story of love. And I encourage you all to pull out your phones, and tweet and spread our message far and wide."

"Vice President-elect Pence, we welcome you and we truly thank you for joining us here at Hamilton: An American Musical."

“We sir, we are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents, or defend us and our inalienable rights, sir."

“But we truly hope this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and to work on behalf of all of us,” Dixon said. “This is one American story told by a diverse group of men and women of different colors, creeds and origins.”

Tonight, VP-Elect Mike Pence attended #HamiltonBway. After the show, @BrandonVDixon delivered the following statement on behalf of the show. pic.twitter.com/Jsg9Q1pMZs

— Hamilton (@HamiltonMusical) November 19, 2016

From The Hollywood Reporter:

"The cast, the creators, we all felt that we must express our feelings to vice president-elect Pence. This is not a normal time, this is not a normal election. This has not been a normal result. And in a democracy, one must let his and her voice be heard, and we were not going to the show tonight without expressing how we feel," said (producer Jeffrey) Seller. "Everybody should be able to see this show, regardless of their politics, but it does just so happen that the politics of this administration have been so negative toward minorities, people of color, gay people that we felt the need to speak up. As a cast comprised of minorities, women, gay people, it was necessary. We had to speak. We had to express how we feel."

Pence is known for his anti-gay legislation, which was criticized by several fans and theatergoers as they learned he was attending the show. Both O'Malley, who plays King George, and Javier Munoz, who now plays Hamilton, are openly gay and involved in LGBT advocacy. As governor of Indiana, Pence opposed gay marriage, signing into law a bill that made it legal for business owners to refuse service to LGBT customers, citing religious freedom. He is also known for supporting "conversion therapy."

New Music: The Hamilton Mixtape

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s long-awaited Hamilton Mixtape album is available for pre-order.

The album features hit songs from the show performed by popular artists, including "It's Quiet Uptown" by Kelly Clarkson, “Satisfied” by Sia,  and “My Shot” by Busta Rhymes and The Roots.

Click image to enlarge

The mixtape will be released December 2.

From USA Today:

First we have Clarkson doing a rendition of It’s Quiet Uptown. The song is from the musical’s second act, and is sung in the show after (spoiler alert for American history) Alexander’s son is killed in a duel. The mournful ballad fits perfectly with Clarkson’s soft pop style. You might expect to hear her cover right after Because of You on an album.

In a completely different preview track we have My Shot [Rise Up Remix] by The Roots featuring Busta Rhymes, Joell Ortiz and Nate Rues. In the show, Hamilton sings this song early in Act I, and it’s the song that establishes the character as the hero of the piece. Miranda has said the song took him years to write. In the show, the song also features Hamilton’s friends Jon Laurens, Hercules Mulligan and the Marquis de Lafayette. Miranda has also said that he based Mulligan’s rap style on Busta Rhymes. In the remix, Busta gets his shot at verses.

Here's the two advance tracks. Both are stunning.

(h/t JoeMyGod)

Sexy New Star Of HAMILTON Javier Muñoz On "The Late Show"

Javier Muñoz, the man who took over the lead role in Hamilton from Lin-Manuel Miranda, opens up to Stephen Colbert of The Late Show about what fuels his drive to play the founding father on Broadway.

Muñoz, who is openly gay and HIV+, says his battle with the disease has become a driving force behind his approach to playing "Alexander Hamilton."

Broadway's HAMILTON Will Fund Raise For Hillary Clinton Via Additional Performance

Click image to enlarge

Broadway blockbuster Hamilton is really showing up for the Hillary Clinton campaign by giving an additional performance to the hit Broadway musical with proceeds going to the Democratic presidential candidate.

The Hollywood Reporter has the details:

On July 12, the cast will put on an extra 11:30 a.m. matinee showing in Clinton's honor. The event is titled "Hamilton: An American Musical with special guest Hillary Rodham Clinton." Tickets start at $2,700 for a general seat and reach as high as $100,000 for an "event chair" entry, which includes "two Premium Seats and Wrap Party with Hillary and other special guests, and Invitation to the Democratic National Convention," according to Clinton's official website.

For $10,000, buyers will score a premium seat that includes a photo reception with Clinton; and for the $33,400 host ticket, donors will sit in a premium seat as well as enjoy the aftershow wrap party with Clinton and guests.

The Tuesday matinee will add an additional performance to the week's regular slate of eight shows. Despite the fundraiser being held in Clinton's honor, Hamilton creator and star Lin-Manuel Miranda and co-stars Leslie Odom, Jr. and Phillipa Soo are not expected to perform as they will be leaving the show following their final performance on July 9.

Ticket prices for the musical have soared as the Broadway hit has gained massive popularity, with premium seats at a current high of $849. Seats on the secondary market are going for as much as $4,000 apiece.

Hamilton's special matinee showing is presented by the Hillary Victory Fund, as part of its efforts to raise money for the Democratic candidate's "Hillary for America" campaign.

This could be a huge opportunity for some Hamilton and Clinton fans. Current top ticket price is $849 for best seats, but the show is sold waaaay out. You can buy tickets on the "secondary market" but they are selling for up to $4,000. So, $2,700 could be a deal if you are one of those who expect to donate the max amount to Hillary anyway.

My pockets aren't that deep, but I applaud the creativity in fundraising.

Lin-Manuel Miranda Tony Award Speech: "Love Is Love Is Love Is Love Is Love"

In his Tony Award acceptance speech tonight for "Best Score of a Musical," Lin-Manuel Miranda read a sonnet he wrote acknowledging life, love, and today's tragedy.

“Senseless acts of tragedy remind us that nothing here is promised, not one day,” he said. “This show is proof that history remembers. We live through times when hate and fear seem stronger. We rise and fall and light from dying embers, remembrances that hope and love last longer.”

That Time Art Garfunkel Almost Got A Beat-Down From Shonda Rhimes

Tony Award nominee Leslie Odom Jr. tells The Tonight Show's Jimmy Fallon about the night when TV wonder-producer Shonda Rhimes almost threw down with Art Garfunkel during a performance of Hamilton.

HAMILTON's Lin-Manuel Miranda Does Not Suffer Fools (Or Thieves) Lightly

Lin-Manuel Miranda, author/star of Hamilton

Pulitzer Prize-winner (and about to win a ton of hardware at this year's Tony Awards) Lin-Manuel Miranda took to Twitter recently to let the world know HE CAN SEE you folks in the audience who pull out your phones to record his Broadway blockbuster Hamilton.

Check this from yesterday:

Our illegal photographers tonight: white guy black cap, 3 rows back, 3 seats in.
Older woman 9 rows back, 7 seats in.
We. Can. See. You.

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) May 11, 2016

They're that specific because I report them to SM offstage. Then an usher comes to make them erase their pics. https://t.co/K3wXY98mek

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) May 11, 2016

You worked too hard to get those tix.
I worked too hard to finish this show.
So when I see your phone instead of your face...

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) May 11, 2016

...it's gutting. It sucks. I block you out. I'm sorry. Too many people are working too hard. You forfeit.

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) May 11, 2016

Aaaaaanyway, other than that, heluva show. Grateful for you always. Grateful we finished the thing. Grateful we get to do it for you.

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) May 11, 2016

2016 Tony Award Nominations Announced

The 2016 Tony Award nominations were announced this morning and, no surprise, the Pulitzer Prize-winning Hamilton leads all productions with a record-breaking 16 nominations.

What is surprising to me is the omission of Audra McDonald and her two previous Tony Award winning male stars (Brian Stokes Mitchell, Billy Porter)  in any of the performance categories for  Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed.

Click here for a list of notable snubs this year.


The full list of nominations follows:


Best Play
Eclipsed- Author: Danai Gurira
The Father - Author: Florian Zeller
The Humans - Author: Stephen Karam
King Charles III - Author: Mike Bartlett


Best Musical
Bright Star
Hamilton
School of Rock-The Musical
Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed
Waitress

Best Revival of a Play
Arthur Miller's The Crucible
Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge
Blackbird
Long Day's Journey Into Night
Noises Off

Best Revival of a Musical
The Color Purple
Fiddler on the Roof
She Loves Me
Spring Awakening

Best Book of a Musical
Bright Star - Steve Martin
Hamilton - Lin-Manuel Miranda
School of Rock-The Musical - Julian Fellowes
Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed - George C. Wolfe


Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
Bright Star - Music: Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, Lyrics: Edie Brickell
Hamilton - Music & Lyrics: Lin-Manuel Miranda
School of Rock-The Musical - Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber, Lyrics: Glenn Slater
Waitress - Music & Lyrics: Sara Bareilles

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
Gabriel Byrne, Long Day's Journey Into Night
Jeff Daniels, Blackbird
Frank Langella, The Father
Tim Pigott-Smith, King Charles III
Mark Strong, Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
Jessica Lange, Long Day's Journey Into Night
Laurie Metcalf, Misery
Lupita Nyong'o, Eclipsed
Sophie Okonedo, Arthur Miller's The Crucible
Michelle Williams, Blackbird

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
Alex Brightman, School of Rock-The Musical
Danny Burstein, Fiddler on the Roof
Zachary Levi, She Loves Me
Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton
Leslie Odom, Jr., Hamilton

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Laura Benanti, She Loves Me
Carmen Cusack, Bright Star
Cynthia Erivo, The Color Purple
Jessie Mueller, Waitress
Phillipa Soo, Hamilton

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
Reed Birney, The Humans
Bill Camp, Arthur Miller's The Crucible
David Furr, Noises Off
Richard Goulding, King Charles III
Michael Shannon, Long Day's Journey Into Night

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
Pascale Armand, Eclipsed
Megan Hilty, Noises Off
Jayne Houdyshell, The Humans
Andrea Martin, Noises Off
Saycon Sengbloh, Eclipsed

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
Daveed Diggs, Hamilton
Brandon Victor Dixon, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed
Christopher Fitzgerald, Waitress
Jonathan Groff, Hamilton
Christopher Jackson, Hamilton

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
Danielle Brooks, The Color Purple
Renée Elise Goldsberry, Hamilton
Jane Krakowski, She Loves Me
Jennifer Simard, Disaster!
Adrienne Warren, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed

Best Scenic Design of a Play
Beowulf Boritt, Thérèse Raquin
Christopher Oram, Hughie
Jan Versweyveld, Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge
David Zinn, The Humans

Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Es Devlin & Finn Ross, American Psycho
David Korins, Hamilton
Santo Loquasto, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed
David Rockwell, She Loves Me

Best Costume Design of a Play
Jane Greenwood, Long Day's Journey Into Night
Michael Krass, Noises Off
Clint Ramos, Eclipsed
Tom Scutt, King Charles III

Best Costume Design of a Musical
Gregg Barnes, Tuck Everlasting
Jeff Mahshie, She Loves Me
Ann Roth, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed
Paul Tazewell, Hamilton

Best Lighting Design of a Play
Natasha Katz, Long Day's Journey Into Night
Justin Townsend, The Humans
Jan Versweyveld, Arthur Miller's The Crucible
Jan Versweyveld, Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge

Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Howell Binkley, Hamilton
Jules Fisher & Peggy Eisenhauer, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed
Ben Stanton, Spring Awakening
Justin Townsend, American Psycho
 
Best Direction of a Play
Rupert Goold, King Charles III
Jonathan Kent, Long Day's Journey Into Night
Joe Mantello, The Humans
Liesl Tommy, Eclipsed
Ivo Van Hove, Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge
 
Best Direction of a Musical
Michael Arden, Spring Awakening
John Doyle, The Color Purple
Scott Ellis, She Loves Me
Thomas Kail, Hamilton
George C. Wolfe, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed
 
Best Choreography
Andy Blankenbuehler, Hamilton
Savion Glover, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed
Hofesh Shechter, Fiddler on the Roof
Randy Skinner, Dames at Sea
Sergio Trujillo, On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan

Best Orchestrations
August Eriksmoen, Bright Star
Larry Hochman, She Loves Me
Alex Lacamoire, Hamilton
Daryl Waters, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed
 
Recipients of Awards and Honors in Non-competitive Categories
  
Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre
Sheldon Harnick
Marshall W. Mason
Special Tony Award
National Endowment for the Arts
Miles Wilkin
Regional Theatre Tony Award
Paper Mill Playhouse
Millburn, NJ
Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award
Brian Stokes Mitchell
Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre
Seth Gelblum
Joan Lader
Sally Ann Parsons

Broadway's HAMILTON Slays SWEENEY TODD At 30th Annual Easter Bonnet Competition

The cast of the Pulitzer Prize-winning smash hit HAMILTON opened this year's annual Easter Bonnet Competition with Lin-Manuel Miranda "Hamilton" take on the Stephen Sondheim classic, SWEENEY TODD.

If you know ST, listen to the clever Miranda lyrics here :)

Broadway Blockbuster HAMILTON Wins Pultizer Prize For Drama

The Broadway blockbuster Hamilton joins a distinguished group of only eight other musicals to win the coveted Pulitzer Prize in Drama.

The producers of the show shared the news on Twitter this morning.

The award is given with an emphasis on “a distinguished play by an American author, preferably original in its source and dealing with American life.” In addition to the honor itself, there is a $10,000 cash prize.

The most recent musical to win the Pulitzer was Next To Normal in 2010. The other seven musicals to be awarded the honor, since the Pulitzer began bestowing the honor to dramatic pieces, are:

• Rent (1996)
• Sunday in the Park With George (1985)
• A Chorus Line (1976)
• How To Succeed in Business without Really Trying (1962)
• Fiorello (1960),
• South Pacific (1950)
• Of Thee I Sing (1932)

Congratulations to @Lin_Manuel for winning the 2016 @PulitzerPrize for Drama for @HamiltonMusical. #RiseUp pic.twitter.com/UtBmatSBw1

— Hamilton (@HamiltonMusical) April 18, 2016

"Hamilton" Performance From This Year's MISCAST Event

Check out this awesome gender-bending performance from this year's MisCast event in NYC.

MCC Theater's annual MisCast gala is one of the most exciting and unique theater events in town. Broadway’s hottest stars perform songs from roles in which they would NEVER be cast. And the results are thrilling!

Broadway Boys Luca Padovan (School of Rock), Joshua Colley (Les Miserables) and Douglas Baldeo (Kinky Boots) are looking for a mind at work, work in their rendition of 'The Schuyler Sisters' featuring Ana Villafañe (On Your Feet!).

Funds raised from MisCast help MCC Theater produce some of the most talked-about new work Off-Broadway and support their Youth Company and in-school partnerships that serve New York City public high school students, as well as literary development work with emerging playwrights.

The boy in the pink vest, Joshua Colley, is killing me. They all are fantastic.

News Round-Up: December 12, 2015

Some news stories you may have missed:

• Nick Jonas doesn't think of himself as a "gay icon" but feels more straight artists should embrace their LGBT fans more.

• The American Nazi Party really, really likes Donald Trump.

• Republican White House hopeful Dr. Ben Carson threatens to "leave" the GOP after rumors that Republican insiders were discussing the possibility of deal-making to decide the eventual nominee at the Republican National Convention.

• Soon you'll be able to send mail directly to Cuba for the first time in 50 years.

• Activist hacking group Anonymous puts Donald Trump on notice.

• Lin Manuel Miranda’s mega-hit Broadway show, Hamilton, will launch two tours in the US in 2016.