Lin-Manuel Miranda Will Talk 'Hamilton' In Chicago Next Month
By Gwendolyn Purdom in Arts & Entertainment on Aug 29, 2016 2:12PM
As if the buzz around Chicago's fast-approaching production of Hamilton weren't amplified enough, The Chicago Humanities Festival announced Monday that the smash hit musical's creator Lin-Manuel Miranda will be dropping by the city to chat about it a few days before it opens. Miranda will discuss his history-making historical work, his past projects, his career and his life with Tribune theater critic Chris Jones on Friday, Sept. 23, according to a press release from the Humanities Festival's organizers.
The conversation will take place at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, ahead of the play's September 27 opening date and CHF's Fallfest/16: Speed festival, which runs from Oct. 29 through Nov. 12. Miranda, the cultural genius who's only one measly Oscar away from possessing a rarified EGOT, will no doubt have plenty to talk about at the event: in addition to the Pulitzer Prize-winning Hamilton, which had Chicago fans coughing up thousands for tickets in June, Miranda's set to appear on screen in 2017's Mary Poppins sequel; he penned songs for the new Disney animated movie "Moana" (perhaps the vehicle through which he'll nab that Oscar he's missing?); he'll be appearing on an episode of Comedy Central's Drunk History slurringly talking about—what else?—Alexander Hamilton; and he maaaaaay or may not show up on stage in runs of Hamilton in Chicago, D.C., L.A. or elsewhere.
Miranda's talk will unofficially kick off Fallfest/16, even though the rest of the festival's events won't be happening for more than a month afterward. So far, this year's lineup includes political activist Gloria Steinem, Daily Show host Trevor Noah, author Mary Roach and composer Philip Glass, among others. The full schedule of events and featured speakers/performers will be released on Sept. 6.
Tickets for Miranda's September event will go on sale for CHF members and Tribune subscribers August 31. Tickets for the general public will be available on Sept. 6.