Lin-Manuel Miranda Shares His Promise to Puerto Rico on CBS Sunday Morning | Playbill

Broadway News Lin-Manuel Miranda Shares His Promise to Puerto Rico on CBS Sunday Morning The In the Heights and Hamilton creator visits the remains of his grandparents’ home in Puerto Rico and explains why there is still work to be done.
Lin-Manuel Miranda Anthony Behar/Fox/PictureGroup

“I will do anything to support the island, but I don’t for a second pretend I know what’s best for the island because I don’t live here,” Lin-Manuel Miranda said on the November 12 installment of CBS Sunday Morning. “My job is to amplify the concerns of Puerto Rico.”

Though Miranda was not born in Puerto Rico, his parents were, and he grew up spending summers with his grandparents in Vega Alta, outside of San Juan. The Pulitzer Prize and Tony winner has proudly declared his lineage for years—particularly in his Tony-winning Best Musical In the Heights—but now he’s using his voice to advocate for his ancestral land. Fifty-three days post Hurricane Maria, much of Puerto Rico still remains without power and in need of aid. To date, the Hispanic Federation has raised $20 million to support the United States commonwealth, and that's not including Miranda’s single “Almost Like Praying,” which he wrote and recorded with Latino pop stars to support relief efforts. The single has sold over 150,000 copies on iTunes to date.

Read More: 6 LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA PERFORMANCES YOU’VE (PROBABLY) NEVER SEEN—BUT NEED TO

Miranda also addressed his post-Hurricane Maria tweet to Donald Trump, for which he has no regrets. “Disasters are moments when leaders unite us,” said Miranda. “They’re no one’s fault and he starts attacking people on the front lines.”

As Miranda continues his charitable efforts to support the island, he will also return in the title role when Hamilton plays the University of Puerto Rico in 2019.

Read More: LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA WILL STAR IN HAMILTON IN PUERTO RICO

“I have nothing but faith in the character and resilience and brilliance of the Puerto Rican people,” he said. “If they’re given a fair shot to come back, we’ll have an even better Puerto Rico than before.”

 
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