Broadway is set to reopen later this year, and no one could be more excited than Lin-Manuel Miranda .
On Tuesday, June 8, the actor stopped by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where he and the late night host celebrated Broadway’s upcoming return with a star-studded musical number.
Deemed “Broadway’s Back” and set to the tune of “You’ll Be Back” from Lin-Manuel Miranda’s smash hit Hamilton, the skit see the pair paying tribute to a multiple different Broadway hits, including songs from West Side Story, Dear Evan Hansen, and The Book of Mormon, in addition to many others.
For the legendary performance, the duo was also joined by a group of Broadway stars like Jimmy Smits, Olga Merediz, Phylicia Rashad, Kristin Chenoweth, Christopher Jackson, and Laura Benanti.
Just last month, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that Broadway would reopen on September 14, with tickets for productions reopening at 100% capacity in theaters once they reopen.
“NEW: Broadway shows will be ready to open September 14 at 100% capacity. Tickets go on sale starting tomorrow,” Cuomo tweeted at the time. ”Broadway is [a] major part of our state‘s identity and economy, and we are thrilled that the curtains will rise again.”
Hamilton, Wicked, and The Lion King will be the first shows to make their grand reopenings when Broadway restarts after more than a year of being shut down amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
This good news for Broadway comes as another stage favorite by Lin-Manuel Miranda is making its way to the big screen.
In The Heights, the new movie adaptation of Miranda’s 2008 Tony Award-winning musical, is coming to theaters on Friday. The show first premiered at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, the same stage where Hamilton will reopen on September 14.
In partnership with the upcoming film, Presidente, the iconic Dominican Pilsner, announced they will be giving one deserving recipient a life-changing $96,000: the same amount as the winning lottery ticket that inspires one of the biggest musical numbers in the movie.
In the film, residents of Washington Heights envision what they would do with the money, from pursuing higher education to saving a family-owned business. In anticipation of the film’s release in theaters and on HBO Max on June 11, and in honor of the vibrant, hard-working and tight-knit community celebrated in the film, Presidente wants to hear how you would spend that money to pursue your passions.
Presidente Chairman Alex Rodriguez, who grew up in Washington Heights, will lead a small panel tasked with reviewing submissions and selecting a worthy recipient of the money.
To enter, consumers will need to upload a photo to Facebook and/or Instagram explaining how $96,000 could change your life, and tag and follow @presidenteusa + @Intheheightsmovie using #contest.
