EASTON, Pa. — An actor and playwright whose Broadway show "Hamilton" holds the record for most Tony Award nominations will speak at Lafayette College, it has been announced.
Lin-Manuel Miranda, who was the composer, lyricist and star of the Broadway show "Hamilton," will present at this year’s Thomas Roy and Lura Forrest Jones Visiting Lecture at 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, in Kamine Gymnasium in Lafayette's Kirby Sports Center.
Tickets are reserved for current college students, faculty and staff, but a livestream broadcast of the event will be available for the college community, alumni and friends.
Details regarding livestream broadcast access will be released next month.
“Lin-Manuel Miranda’s passion, creativity and commitment to inclusivity has forever changed not only musical theater, but the way we look at art. His work brought the Marquis [de Lafayette, the college's namesake] to life in a new century."Lafayette President Nicole Hurd
Miranda's discussion with Lafayette President Nicole Hurd will be “Opportunity and Art: A Conversation with Lin-Manuel Miranda.”
“Lin-Manuel Miranda’s passion, creativity and commitment to inclusivity has forever changed not only musical theater, but the way we look at art,” Hurd said in a news release.
“His work brought the Marquis [de Lafayette, the college's namesake] to life in a new century, and his achievements on and off the stage have exemplified the kind of lasting impact that dedication, drive and a powerful voice can bring to the world.
"Every day, Lafayette College encourages students to foster that potential, and it is an honor to welcome Lin-Manuel into our community.”
Blended history and art
Miranda blended history and art in "Hamilton," which featured the Marquis de Lafayette as a significant character, originally played by Daveed Diggs.
"The themes of human triumph and creativity woven throughout Miranda’s artistic pursuits echo the story of our founding and inspire the future as we approach our third century."Lafayette College release
As Lafayette College marks its bicentennial in 2026, "the themes of human triumph and creativity woven throughout Miranda’s artistic pursuits echo the story of our founding and inspire the future as we approach our third century," the school said in the release.
Hamilton won the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for "Hamilton," and the play won 11 Tony Awards from a record 16 nominations. It also won a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album.
In 2020, a filmed version of the Broadway production was released on Disney+, followed by a theatrical release in 2025 by Walt Disney Pictures.
Another musical by Miranda, "In the Heights," won four Tonys and a Grammy, and was adapted into a 2021 feature film.
Beyond Broadway, Miranda's work includes Academy Award-nominated and Grammy-winning songs for Disney films such as "Moana" and "Encanto."
He made his directorial debut with "tick, tick… BOOM!," which also received Academy Award nominations.
The 2026 Jones Visiting Lecture is sponsored by The Jones Fund.
The series was founded by Lafayette Trustee Emeritus Thomas Roy Jones in 1973 to provide Lafayette College students "with the opportunity to hear presentations and interact each year with individuals of exemplary accomplishment in the academic world or in public life."
