Lin-Manuel Miranda Reveals Early Version of In the Heights

Before In the Heights became a Tony-winning Broadway phenomenon, the show began as a love letter to composer Lin-Manuel Miranda's native Washington Heights. The musical had many pre-Broadway incarnations before taking residence in the Richard Rodgers Theatre for nearly three years, and Miranda recently posted a clip from the show's first production, staged in 2000 at his alma mater Wesleyan University. Heights fans know the adorable Nina (originally played on Broadway by Mandy Gonzalez) as a struggling Stanford student, but in the original production the neighborhood sweetheart pursued her education at Yale University. In the clip, Nina sings "En Washington Heights" as she heads home after finishing her first year of college. While the song may not have made the final cut, it proves Miranda had a knack for songwriting even as a student. Take a look below!