Written By Dayshaun Powe
Arts & Culture
Nearly seven years before Lin-Manuel Miranda dawned the stage as the rapping founding father Alexander Hamilton, he appeared on the same stage as someone a little less known: Washington Heights bodega owner, Usnavi de la Vega. In the Heights is a four-time Tony Award winning musical that had more than 1,000 performances on Broadway before ending its run at the Richard Rogers Theater. It was also the first official musical Miranda wrote. The show covers multiple residents of the New York neighborhood of Washington Heights during summertime. Throughout the summer, the residents have to deal with blackouts, gentrification, and even winning lottery tickets. The show tackles issues like staying true to yourself, taking pride in your culture, and something that isn’t new to Miranda: “What is legacy?” With the goal of representing his neighborhood, Manuel used the classic sound of show tunes mixed with hip-hop, rap, and iconic sounds from around Washington Heights.
The impact of Miranda’s cultural sensation is still felt today. With a new musical based on the 70s classic The Warriors slated for 2027 previews, Miranda shows no sign of stopping.