Miranda created Freestyle with theatre pals (including Heights director Thomas Kail, Tony-winning orchestrator Bill Sherman and actor Christopher Jackson) before In the Heights exploded on the scene, and he occasionally steps into bookings of the show when his schedule allows. The players on Aug. 5 are drawn from FLS's performer pool. The confirmed players are Miranda, Anthony Veneziale, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Chris "Shockwave" Sullivan and Arthur Lewis.
The show, directed by Kail, is billed as a "fusion of hip hop, melody and story telling" in which "six versatile performers provide non-stop action throughout [a] whirlwind of music, comedy and freestyle rap." Audience suggestions fuel the evenings, which are never alike.
Director Kail (in addition to directing In the Heights, and earning a Tony nomination for it) staged Broke-ology at Williamstown Theatre Festival and Lincoln Center Theater and will direct the new Broadway play Lombardi this fall.
Starting June 22, Miranda will play Usnavi, the role he created in In the Heights, in the Los Angeles engagement of the national tour. The Broadway company continues at the Richard Rodgers Theatre. He will also star in the upcoming film version of the musical.
The Gramercy Theatre is at 127 E. 23rd Street in Manhattan. Freestyle Love Supreme tickets for the general public go on sale 10 AM June 18 at ticketmaster.com. Tickets prices are $17 (advance), $19 (day of show). VIP seats are available at $35. For tickets and more information, visit livenation.com or www.freestylelovesupreme.com.