Interview with Hamilton star/creator Lin-Manuel Miranda

Lin-Manuel Miranda is arguably the most in-demand performer on Broadway right now and he is looking set on world domination. With his smash hit musical Hamilton still the hottest ticket in town, with a couple of Disney projects the likes of Moana and Mary Poppins Returns in the pipeline, as well as future film adaptations of In The Heights and Hamilton, it looks like there is just no stopping the New York native.

I recently caught up with the man himself on behalf of my colleagues at LondonTheatre.co.uk to ask about next year's West End transfer of Hamilton, as well as his Olivier Award win for In The Heights...

Thomas Hayden Millward: In the midst of all this 'Hamilton' craziness, may I also congratulate you on your first-ever Olivier Award for the London production of 'In The Heights.'

Lin-Manuel Miranda: Oh, thank you very much! That was an unexpected honour!

THM: Whilst 'Hamilton' is deservedly dominating the Awards Season in New York, it must have been nice to get acknowledgement for your previous work on 'In The Heights' over in London?

LMM: Yes! You know I still haven't seen the production yet! I'm hoping to sneak over this Summer and go and see them.

THM: Is it a strange feeling for you that 'In The Heights,' which is such a Washington Heights-centric musical, is playing to audiences behind King's Cross Station over there in London?

LMM: Actually, on the contrary, it's really validating. When 'In The Heights' first opened on Broadway, people said that it was so specific. Are people outside of New York going to be able to relate? We got that again when we went on tour. But you know, I've never been to Russia and when I see 'Fiddler on the Roof,' that village of Anatevka feels like my neighbourhood. So it just feels like we've done our job well. The specific problems of this community feel universal.

THM: And how excited are you about bringing 'Hamilton' to London, with the help of Sir Cameron Mackintosh?

LMM: I am so excited! We can't wait! We're hoping to bring it over next year. We'll get the same questions: "It's so American. Will it play?" But hopefully if we've done our jobs well like we did on '[In The] Heights,' this story of revolution and telling your own story will also play well over there as well. And also, we really take the p*ss out of King George, so I can't wait to see how that plays!

Hamilton is currently booking through to 29 January 2017 at Broadway's Richard Rodgers Theatre. Click HERE to check for cancellations!