As much as I would love to make fun of the timeless ubiquity of Hamilton once more, this news is heartwarming and I cannot. For three weeks, Lin-Manuel Miranda will return to his star-making role in the modern Broadway classic when the play heads to Puerto Rico in 2019.
Miranda left the Broadway production in July 2016, followed by the remaining original cast. Variety reports:
Miranda, who is Puerto Rican-American, said the devastation of Hurricane Maria had increased the urgency of an already pre-existing plan to bring the show to San Juan. “When I last visited the island, a few weeks before Hurricane Maria, I had made a commitment to not only bring the show to Puerto Rico, but also return again to the title role,” Miranda said. “In the aftermath of Maria we decided to expedite the announcement of the project to send a bold message that Puerto Rico will recover and be back in business, stronger than ever.”
Hamilton will run from January 8 through January 27 at the University of Puerto Rico, which previously hosted Spanish-language productions of Evita and Into the Woods.
Hurricane Maria has caused persistent damage and left a majority of the island’s residents still without electricity. Addressing Congress on Tuesday, Natalie Jaresko, the executive director of the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico, said recovery efforts are needed “on an unprecedented scale.”