The Best Of 'Hamilton' Creator Lin-Manuel Miranda's Impromptu AMA

By Kristy Puchko | Celebrity | February 1, 2016 |

By Kristy Puchko | Celebrity | February 1, 2016 |

Taking a cue from the hero of his Broadway hit Hamilton, songwriter/actor/genius Lin-Manuel Miranda writes every second he’s alive, like he’s running out of time. With two days off of the show, he flew off to work on his songs for Disney’s upcoming Moana. (Take a break!) And on the way, fielded questions on Twitter. Along with some fun facts from behind-the-scenes of the show, he answers the age-old elbow-lick query, and gives some advice on how to not throw away your shot.

I'll take questions til this plane takes off. I've had no coffee so this could go poorly. Hi!

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) January 31, 2016

How’s Life?

Very good. Would recommend. https://t.co/0jcWSG1Rw8

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) January 31, 2016

Where you headed?

To work on Moana on my days off. Back Tuesday. https://t.co/FDYRsQwnEy

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) January 31, 2016

What’s up?

This plane soon. https://t.co/SKTEDPo1Pm

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) January 31, 2016

When’s your favorite night of the week to perform and why?

Thursday. Lots of energy, bowling after. https://t.co/fV8VepgwbC

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) January 31, 2016

How’s Moana going?

It is going well.
I played a new tune for my wife and she got teary and she's the toughest. So you guys are dead. https://t.co/5hfJXK8jrC

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) January 31, 2016

How do you say Macbeth every night on stage??? I would be scared to!

The superstition applies to naming The Play, not the character. So I'm fine. https://t.co/ceChxlwCcg

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) January 31, 2016

What’s your current fave lyric in the show - what’s winking at you at the moment?

"Consolidate their gifs"—because that's all y'all do. Y'all Rochambeau. https://t.co/spULs9tfDC

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) January 31, 2016

What was Eminem’s reaction to Hamilton?

He liked it.
We talked hip-hop references for a long time—he caught one I didn't even realize I did. https://t.co/tNaSwVYYVX

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) January 31, 2016

You’re obv ver talented in many ways, but what’s your weiredest/most usless talent?

Claw machines. I can empty them.
My depth perception is just f*cking ridiculous. https://t.co/0X6OXT1F37

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) January 31, 2016

Do you ever sleep? At least planes are good for that.

As soon as the wheels go up. That's why I've had no coffee. https://t.co/CIuxZOS0M2

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) January 31, 2016

Do you ever think schools will use a curriculum that will incorporate Hamilton into history/lit/etc.? #curriculham

It's already started, I hear stories about it on here all the time. Grateful. https://t.co/U0npP0aLWD

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) January 31, 2016

Just wondering - are you able to lick your elbow?

I just tried and got a look from the flight attendant. But yes. https://t.co/qrz6I85zsA

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) January 31, 2016

The double casting fascinates me. What’s behind the choices?

Just seemed like the best way to do it. https://t.co/JYBgKdDwEU

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) January 31, 2016

Favorite Disney soundtrack?

Little Mermaid/Beauty on top, everything else close behind. https://t.co/Lb5XhqTjPE

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) January 31, 2016

Is there a specific reason you wrote “chick-a-plao” or was it just for fun?

you'll just have to read the book in April. I get into chickaplao in there. https://t.co/4McDU1ugXz

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) January 31, 2016

(This book. He’s talking about this book.)

You seem to have ignored that Ham and Madison initially had a good relationship. Why did you make that choice?

Didn't ignore it, had to cut it for time. It landed on our act break. Cut lyrics alluding to it in the upcoming book https://t.co/vI9rZm2rIW

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) January 31, 2016

How do you keep yourself endlessly motivated and enthusiastic about your work?

Step away when you're not.
Find another way.
Getting good is the process of finding lots of ways into the work. https://t.co/n6duhAVFwN

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) January 31, 2016

Is the cadence/delivery of “I’m a diamond in the rough” a super subtle Big Pun reference, or am I just heating things?

No that is absolutely my big pun love letter. Pretty much that whole first verse is. https://t.co/zuBjTLjffv

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) January 31, 2016

How do you find the energy to write with your onstage performance obligations?

I actually find that the structure of knowing I have a show at night forces me to organize my day better. https://t.co/huWsp1zFyh

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) January 31, 2016

Do you ever doubt your own abilities? How do you speed things along when ideas aren’t coming?

1. Constantly. So you keep learning & reading.
2. You CAN'T speed things along. Just be grateful it comes at all. https://t.co/A4ZjX0odfO

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) January 31, 2016

I'm at the studio, gotta work. Hope you had fun, I did!

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) January 31, 2016

Just another day at the office for Mr. Miranda.

Mr & Mrs Lasseter, @TheRock, this guy. pic.twitter.com/R9DMlHcoPb

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) January 31, 2016

Cardio and singing rehearsals.. Big day today of performing my song with Broadway king Lin Manuel Miranda today in the studio for our Disney's animated musical #MOANA. Lin's writing our film's music and if you know his talents (star and creator of HAMILTON) you know how epically dope of an artist he is. Today I will sing, I will rap and do it all in keys that don't exist - yet somehow make it all sound wonderful to the world's ear. 😂 The honey coated gravel voice has entered the damn building..👀 #LetsRoll #Disney #MOANA #MauiLives #BravadoInHisVoice #AndCottonInYourEar

A photo posted by therock (@therock) on Jan 31, 2016 at 6:13am PST

Kristy Puchko is an Angelica.