Miranda will receive the 18th Monte Cristo Award this April, honoring his talents as both a writer and actor.
Every year, the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center honors one individual that displays talents similar to those of O’Neill himself, specifically “pioneering spirit, unceasing artistic commitment, and excellence” in their respective fields. Past honorees include actors such as Meryl Streep and Christopher Plummer; playwrights like August Wilson and Neil Simon; and directors including Harold Prince and George C. Wolfe.
This year, the honor will go to perhaps the most prominent figure in American theater today, Lin-Manuel Miranda. Miranda, whose first musical In the Heights debuted at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, will receive the award on April 30th of this year. Best known for writing the music and lyrics of Hamilton and originating the title role, Miranda has also worked extensively in film and other theatrical productions. Miranda won a Pulitzer Prize and multiple Tony Awards and a Grammy Award for Hamilton, alongside an Emmy for songwriting and an Oscar nomination in 2017 for writing the song “How Far I’ll Go” from Moana.
Miranda’s charity, The Miranda Family Fund, announced this past May that they would help artists of color attend the O’Neill’s National Theater Institute, allowing students access to world-class education in theatrical arts. With this award, he will continue to help the theater provide scholarships to students of color going forward.
The ceremony will be April 30th at the Edison Ballroom in New York. For more information, go to www.theoneill.org/montecristoaward
