At last night's Tony Awards, four Tonys were awarded to the cast and crew of In The Heights, a musical about a Dominican bodega owner and his crew in New York City's Washington Heights neighborhood. Incorporating hip hop, salsa, merengue, and R&B, In The Heights took home some of the top honors of the night, including best musical and best choreography. Most notable, however, is In The Height's writer and composer Lin-Manuel Miranda's acceptance speech, which featured him dropping a freestyle verse as he thanked his mother, father, sister, brother, God, and likely anyone else who is usually mentioned during those speeches. Interestingly, In The Heights beat out Passing Strange, a musical about a Black teen from a dysfunctional Oklahoma family who leaves for Europe to then become the darling of the avant garde scene there. Although musicals are really not my bag, kudos to two musicals featuring people of color receiving top nods from the musical establishment.
[H/T: HHDX]
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