How Lin-Manuel Miranda’s show conquered the world with US history and intricate hip-hop
DeAngelo Jones, Shaq Taylor, Billy Nevers and KM Drew Boateng take centre stage in ‘Hamilton’. Photo: Danny Kaan.
In 2007, a year before his first musical transferred to Broadway, Lin-Manuel Miranda was an extra on The Sopranos. You might remember the scene. Towards the end of season six, Tony (James Gandolfini) and his right-hand man Paulie (Tony Sirico) take a road trip to Miami.
Arriving at their destination, the boys begin to wonder what happened to the motel they used to stay in. It looks to have been replaced by a larger establishment, and a nervous bellman (Miranda) isn’t quite as helpful as they’d like. “Excuse me,” says Tony, “this place, is it new?”