Lin-Manuel Miranda ’98 grew up loving the theater from his earliest years. While a high school student at Hunter, it is reported that he spent time reading scripts in the aisles of the Drama Book Shop when he was too young to have money to buy them. Now, the Grammy, Tony, and Emmy winning writer and actor has taken steps to save the storied institution.
The Drama Book Shop has been an important resource for aspiring actors, composers, and playwrights for over a century. In 2018, as rents grew ever higher, it became clear that the book shop would be forced to close its doors. Miranda and three of his creative partners from Hamilton purchased the book shop, along with the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment. As joint owners, the city, Miranda, and his colleagues will find an affordable space for the store in Midtown Manhattan. It is anticipated that the Drama Book Shop will reopen in Fall 2019.
