Again this year, I am inviting teachers to contribute to this column. I know that readers especially appreciate their perspective and special glimpses into our Crissey classrooms. Thank you, Ms. Middleton, for providing this wonderful update on our Musical Artist of the Month, Lin- Manuel Miranda.
This year in music class, students will have an opportunity to learn about different musicians throughout the school year, as part of a yearlong unit called “Artist of the Month.” September’s artist of the month is Lin-Manuel Miranda. He is an actor, songwriter, singer, playwright, producer and film director known for infusing hip-hop into contemporary musical theater. Born in New York City in 1980, Lin-Manuel’s parents immigrated from Puerto Rico. His childhood was spent in Inwood, Manhattan, and he spent a month every year with his grandparents in Vega Alta, Puerto Rico. He went to Wesleyan University; majored in theater studies. After college, he worked as a high school English teacher, married his high school sweetheart and together they are raising two children. Mr. Miranda made his Broadway debut in the 2008 musical “In the Heights,” a production in which he starred in as well as wrote the music and lyrics. It was a success commercially and with the critics. While on a vacation in 2008, Miranda read a biography of Alexander Hamilton. Inspired by the life of founding-father Alexander Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda originally wrote a rap about Hamilton that he performed for the White House in 2009. This started the evolution that eventually became the Broadway musical “Hamilton.”
While the musical does take liberties with the true life of Mr. Hamilton, the work has brought a new audience to musical theater and revived the art form. Mr. Miranda received wide recognition for writing the music and lyrics for “Hamilton.” “Hamilton” has become a pop culture phenomenon since its 2015 Broadway premiere. He earned the Pulitzer Prize for drama and won 11 Tony Awards. The original Broadway cast of “Hamilton” was filmed for Disney+ and it was released in 2020, however, the film is rated PG-13 for language, war and suggestive content. In addition to “Hamilton,” Lin-Manuel Miranda has written music for the Disney movies “Moana” and “Encanto,” as well as appeared as Jack in the feature film “Mary Poppins Returns.”
Coming Up Tuesday, September 13: CPC Chick fil A dine about, 5 to 7 p.m., and CPC executive meeting.
Wednesday, September 14: Crissey fall pictures.
Wednesday, September 14: board of education meeting, 4:15 p.m.
Tuesday, September 20: CPC fundraiser kick-off.
Saturday, September 24: Springfield High School cheer youth clinic, 4 to 5 p.m.
