<p>So a Latino kid from NYC who loves theater goes to Wesleyan, where he blossoms and writes a show as a sophomore. He impresses a fellow student, who happens to be Norman Mailer's son and hooks him up with some show-biz types. A few years later, Lin-Manuel Miranda's musical is now the toast of Broadway:
<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/01/AR2008040102838.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/01/AR2008040102838.html</a></p>
<p>Here's another link that has some of the background you're talking about: 'In</a> the Heights' raises image of Latinos -- Social Issues, New York City, Wesleyan University -- Newsday.com</p>
<p>"In the Heights," the musical written by Lin-Manuel Miranda while he was a student at Wes, leads all Broadway with 13 nominations for the Tony awards -- including best actor for Miranda, best musical and best original score. Rather amazing triumph for this young man.</p>
<p>In</a> The Heights leads Broadway's Tony nominations | Lifestyle | Living | Reuters</p>
<p>The show was first performed in the '92 Theater right here on campus :)</p>
<p>Great night for Wesleyan at the Tony Awards. "In The Heights" wins three, and "Boeing Boeing," a comedy starring alum Bradley Whitford, also takes the prize for best revival.</p>
<p>Wow! That class of 2002 is something else! Bill Sherman also won a Tony for his musical work on the play. There is something about Wes that attracts and nurtures incredibly creative people.</p>
<p>my current pet theory is that being lower in the USNews rankings (10th, 11-nish) helps weed the superficial people out:
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/524364-admissions-liberal-arts-school-5.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/524364-admissions-liberal-arts-school-5.html</a>
:D</p>
<p>he spoke at our high school graduation (also his alma mater)</p>
<p>im so happy to agree with you and say that success stories like this are typical from Wes alums :D</p>
<p>In other award news, Matthew Weiner '87, creator and executive producer of TV's "Mad Men," has swept the Emmy nominations this year and on Saturday his show was named by the nation's TV critics the outstanding new program and the year's best drama.</p>
<p>AMC</a> » Matthew Weiner</p>
<p>Can we just make this the "brag about Wes alumns" thread?</p>
<p>In other Wes-TV and musical news, one of my personal fav. Wes alumns, Joss Whedon is back at it (as well as his brother Zack Whedon, also an alumn). They've created Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, a internet mini-series musical that crashed the servers on the first day, topped iTunes for TV episode and season on teh first day, has gotten rave reviews, and just might change the face of the TV-on-the-internet industry.</p>
<p>(Ok, well, maybe that last bit is counting chickens a bit too soon. But I would sure love it if it were true :D).</p>
<p>Holy Eff. Did Miranda write this when he was in high school / freshman in college?!!! </p>
<p>If so, that makes me feel like such an insufficient human being.</p>
<p>This is so inspiring
(especially as a latina myself!) :D</p>
<p>Also, check out this month's Vanity Fair (the one with Marilyn Monroe on the cover.) Somewhere amongst the thicket of ads there's a page devoted to "Wesleyan's Entertaining Class", done yearbook style with thumbnail headshots of 31 of our most esteemed alum. (Perhaps, someone at <em>Wesleying</em> will find a way of scanning it. :D)</p>
<p>And yes, Lin-Manuel is listed among them. :D</p>
<p>Ah, President Roth has copied it (presumably with VF's permission) here:
<a href="http://roth.blogs.wesleyan.edu/files/2008/09/wesleyanvanityfair.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://roth.blogs.wesleyan.edu/files/2008/09/wesleyanvanityfair.pdf</a></p>
<p>... Matthew Weiner '87, who actually won two Emmys last night. One for Best Drama Series, Mad Men, which he created, and one for outstanding writing of a drama, for the series' pilot episode. This is the first time a show on basic cable has won the award.</p>
<p>So far this year the winners of the big awards on Broadway (Best Musical, etc.) and TV are both Wes grads. What are the odds?</p>
<p>I don't get their music at all but they are so cute like Frodo and Sam.
Sorry I am a middle aged parent.
It gave me guts to spend cab $ from Meriden to go see Wes.</p>