Lin-Manuel Miranda Raps Thanks at In the Heights Closing (Video & Transcription) | Playbill

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PlayBlog Lin-Manuel Miranda Raps Thanks at In the Heights Closing (Video & Transcription) Tony Award winner Lin-Manuel Miranda wrapped the Broadway run of In the Heights, the hip-hop and Latin-flavored musical for which he wrote music and lyrics and to which he recently returned to star in his original role of U Andnavi, with a rap of thanks at the show's closing performance Jan. 9.


Included in Miranda's shout-outs were everyone from the current cast and crew to the "alumni association" of departed cast members who returned for the closing (including former Vanessa Karen Olivo, whose hand he briefly clutched for support), to the show's librettist, Quiara Alegria Hudes; director, Thomas (Tommy) Kail; producers (including Kevin McCollum, Jeffrey Seller and Jill Furman); orchestrators Alex Lacamoire and Bill Sherman; designers (including Anna Louizos, Paul Tazewell and Nevin Steinberg); and the crew, including stage manager Beverly Jenkins.

To watch video of the curtain call and Miranda's rap, and to read a transcription of the rap, look below:

I used to dream about this moment. Now I'm in it.
I didn't write a speech, so I'm just gonna wing it.
I try to say somethin' that's gonna last.
How 'bout a hand for this futha-muckin' cast?

I'm free-stylin', it's what I have to do.
I want you to give another hand to the cast and crew!
Come on our, Beverly Jenkins. What are you thinkin'? After the show, we're goin' drinkin'!

Now please, give an incredible hand for the futha-muckin', unforgettable band!
I know I got y'all in a state of agitation.
Please welcome our alumni association!

The best cast on the whole damn planet.
I'm gettin' emotional – Karen, hold my hand, damn it!
All right, I'll try to keep it finer.
We got a couple of futha-muckin' designers.
You know, we dress and do pizzazz well;
That's thanks to costume designer Paul Tazewell.

For the set, what we're standin' here for.
You see the f*ckin' Chinese menus in the door?
You see all of the really different bisos?
That's our set designer, Anna Louizos.

All right, designers, we're on mind merge.
I'm rappin' fine, but I'm gonna rap finer.
I dropped my drumsticks, I'll pick 'em up first.
Hear us, thanks to sound designer Nevin Steinberg.

All right, now let's be real, face it.
If it weren't for these next folks, I'd still be in the basement.
I don't know what to do what to do, sir,
So I just want y'all to give the loudest applause you can for our producers. Kevin McCollum, Jeffrey Seller and Jill Furman!

All right, reach me a f*ckin' tissue.
This is just the latest issue.
Don't want to forget Sonny Everett, we'll miss you.

All right, let's go to the next issue.
Okay, I know we're doing all right here.
I want to introduce y'all to my left and right ear.
They keep this mother-f*ckin' burnin'.
To Alex Lacamoire and Bill Sherman.

And now we're goin' on a rampage.
If y'all don't know, Bill Sherman got married on this damn stage!
All right, I'm just tryin' to make my brother laugh,
But I gotta introduce y'all to my other half.
Without her, I wouldn't know how to do this.
Please give a hand to my sister, Quiara Hudes. [Applause].

All right, now it's gettin' emotional.
Thanks to Celia for gettin' born when she froze the show.
Now, words fail, when I'm talkin' 'bout the f*ckin' Tommy Kail.
Yeah, he's the reason we're all up here.
I want to make that fact really clear.
He said, "Bring something in every Friday."
And every Friday, every Friday for eight years –
Here we are, eleven years later!

Oh, my gosh, look at all of y'all's cameras.
I'll allow it this once!
Tommy Kail, get on out on the stage.

Okay, we're runnin' out of time, b*tches.
Word to my wife and family – l'chaim, b*tches!
Now, I know how obsessed some of y'all are gettin',
But listen, In the Heights and closin', this is spreadin.'

Yeah. And up here, on this lectern,
One day, you'll be somewhere Midwestern.
Somewhere, chillin' in some outer theatre lobby.
Some little high schooler's gonna be playin' Usnavi!

(Drowned out by applause) I don't know how to brag this.
That little white kid is gonna know what a Puerto Rican flag is!
And wherever you all roam,
Remember, for a time, this Broadway was home.
Good night, thank you.

 
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