After making it big in New York, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway hit “Hamilton” just arrived in Puerto Rico.
On Friday, the show kicked off its three-week residency at San Juan’s Centro De Bellas Artes, but it’s not all just for fun. The musical hopes to raise a minimum of $15 million toward the Flamboyan Arts Fund, an initiative spearheaded by Miranda and his family to support arts on the island.
On its website, the fund called creative endeavors a way to “build hope, stimulate the economy, and enrich people’s souls” following the devastation of Hurricane Maria, which tore through the island in 2017.
Miranda will star as his lead character, Alexander Hamilton, for a total of 24 performances.
On opening night, the performer received shoutouts and congratulatory messages on social media from colleagues and former educators, including his 8th grade teacher and the president of Hunter College.
Among those expected to appear at the limited number of Miranda’s performances are more than 30 members of Congress, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi, CBS News reported.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this article stated that Miranda’s alma mater was Hunter College. Miranda attended Hunter College High School, but spent his college years at Wesleyan University.