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When I was a teenager, I interned during summers of 1994, 1995 + 1996 for a Broadway producer - Maria Di Dia, an amazing woman, who became a lifelong mentor to me.
At night time, I would usher at The Delacorte Theater (free Shakespeare in Central Park).
A #Hamilton
https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt=""> thread.
At night time, I would usher at The Delacorte Theater (free Shakespeare in Central Park).
A #Hamilton
Those 90’s summers in NYC were life-changing.
I met people who became friends for life - fell in love for the first time - learned how to move my hips + dance salsa (thanx @MarcAnthony) - saw tons of theater (original cast of Rent) and listened to Nas, Biggie + Jay on repeat.
I met people who became friends for life - fell in love for the first time - learned how to move my hips + dance salsa (thanx @MarcAnthony) - saw tons of theater (original cast of Rent) and listened to Nas, Biggie + Jay on repeat.
Maria had an amazing assistant, Patrick Willingham, who would go on to company manage @bluemangroup (which Maria general managed), then run Blue Man Group’s company and then in 2011 became the Executive Director of the @PublicTheaterNY - which produces Shakespeare In The Park.
In 2014, I was at the @PublicTheaterNY watching a play when I was flipping through the playbill and saw Patrick listed as the ED.
I sent him a congratulatory note and told him I would do anything to support The Public, as those summers at The Delacorte were so special to me.
I sent him a congratulatory note and told him I would do anything to support The Public, as those summers at The Delacorte were so special to me.
Patrick and I had lunch and he asked if I’d be interested in joining the young partners board of the @PublicTheaterNY.
It was a dream come true.
This place had produced some of the greatest theater in history.
A Chorus Line, Noise/Funk, The Normal Heart, For Colored Girls...
It was a dream come true.
This place had produced some of the greatest theater in history.
A Chorus Line, Noise/Funk, The Normal Heart, For Colored Girls...
As we ended our lunch, Patrick said to me:
“Just wait to the new season. We are producing @Lin_Manuel’s new musical #Hamiltonhttps://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt="">. I know you Mikey (people who’ve known for me a long time call me Mikey https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😜" title="Winking face with tongue" aria-label="Emoji: Winking face with tongue">). You are gonna love it.”
I happily accepted the offer to join the board...
“Just wait to the new season. We are producing @Lin_Manuel’s new musical #Hamilton
I happily accepted the offer to join the board...
Fast forward to February 17, 2015.
Opening night of #Hamiltonhttps://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt=""> at the @PublicTheaterNY.
I had heard about it during our board meetings, I saw Lin’s performance at the poetry night at The White House a few years prior...but nothing prepared me for what I saw that night.
Opening night of #Hamilton
I had heard about it during our board meetings, I saw Lin’s performance at the poetry night at The White House a few years prior...but nothing prepared me for what I saw that night.
I sat inside The @PublicTheaterNY on opening night of #Hamilton https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt=""> and after @Phillipasoo, @ReneeGoldsberry + @JasCephasJones brought down the house with “Helpless” + “Satisfied,” I cried.
I sat in my seat, stunned.
I dreamt our generation would one day create theater like this.
I sat in my seat, stunned.
I dreamt our generation would one day create theater like this.
I love the theater. I’ve seen A LOT of it. My BA from UCLA is a theater degree. It’s been my life.
But I’d never seen (and still have not seen anything) like #Hamiltonhttps://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt="">.
That night, I knew I had witnessed the greatest musical in American history.
I wanted everyone to see it!
But I’d never seen (and still have not seen anything) like #Hamilton
That night, I knew I had witnessed the greatest musical in American history.
I wanted everyone to see it!
We ran into Lin at the after party + showered him with the praise he deserved. Genius. Masterpiece. GOAT.
But, the other performances were also fucking phenomenal.
@leslieodomjr - brilliant!
@DaveedDiggs - blew us all away.
@ARamosofficial - a newhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⭐️" title="Mittelgroßer Stern" aria-label="Emoji: Mittelgroßer Stern">
But, the other performances were also fucking phenomenal.
@leslieodomjr - brilliant!
@DaveedDiggs - blew us all away.
@ARamosofficial - a new
. @Phillipasoo x @ReneeGoldsberry x @JasCephasJones were in a league of their own. Iconic.
@ChrisisSingin + @OakSmash + Jonathan Groff’s performances will last forever.
+ @JMunozActor who was the alternate Hamilton, but later played Hamilton on B’way- was remarkable!
@ChrisisSingin + @OakSmash + Jonathan Groff’s performances will last forever.
+ @JMunozActor who was the alternate Hamilton, but later played Hamilton on B’way- was remarkable!
While there is no doubt that #Hamilton https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt=""> has changed theater forever, I’d be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge those who paved the way.
Mad respect for @clydevalentin + @Kamilahf + @yesimsarahjones + @LemonAndersen + @Flaconavaja + Danny Hoch + @bamuthi + @UniversesNYC + @HiARTSnyc!
Mad respect for @clydevalentin + @Kamilahf + @yesimsarahjones + @LemonAndersen + @Flaconavaja + Danny Hoch + @bamuthi + @UniversesNYC + @HiARTSnyc!
I’m forever thankful to the @PublicTheaterNY for giving me some of the greatest experiences of my life, from ushering at The Delacorte as a kid to now serving on the Young Partners Board.
If you love #Hamiltonhttps://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt="">, please support your local theater + performers as times are tough.
If you love #Hamilton
