Lin-Manuel Miranda just did an awesome thing for a young ‘Hamilton’ fan who makes masks
Even in quarantine lockdown, Lin-Manuel Miranda is a busy guy.
He recently launched “EduHam at Home,” a free digital program for students and their families so they can learn all the facts about his smash hit show, “Hamilton.”
On Sunday, the New Yorker helped Raul Esparza and other stage stars with a virtual birthday celebration for Stephen Sondheim called “Take Me to the World.”
But Miranda is not too busy to help those, especially little people, grappling with the pandemic. He even reached out to a young girl/huge “Hamilton” fan in Hollywood, who is making face masks for her Mitzvah Project.
“As I near my Bat Mitzvah, my journey into Jewish adulthood, it is customary to find a meaningful good deed project,” Elliana Zucker explained on her Facebook page, “Elliana’s Mitzvah Masks.”
The 12-year-old’s original idea was to collect beauty supplies for hospitalized kids, but the pandemic made that “impossible,” she wrote.
Mom Lisa Zucker says Elliana decided to join in to help first responders and healthcare workers, providing masks with her newfound sewing skills taught by a neighbor on the porch back in early March.
A few weeks ago, Zucker heard Elliana fan-singing “Dear Thedosia” while busy sewing and decided to reach out to Miranda through his website. To her surprise, his reps responded, asking for the family’s address.
On Friday, the handwritten letter arrived. The mega producer/composer wrote on personal stationery: “From the Desk of Lin-Manuel Miranda.”
“As we all do our part by staying home you’ve chosen to take on a little more. May the music of ‘Hamilton’ continue to accompany you in your honorable endeavor,” the star wrote.
Elliana, whose bat mitzvah is set for January 2021, was blown away by the letter from her “idol.”
“I felt really good,” said the sixth-grader of her handmade cotton and flannel masks. “I felt like I was making a difference but doing something fun at the same time.”
It’s also pretty neat to see handwriting and not text on screen.
“It kind of reminds me of sleepaway camp when you don’t have phone and you get a letter,” said the history buff who has 10-year-old sister and 6-year-old brother. “It’s old school.”
Since mid-March, Elliana’s colorful, printed masks have gone to the Hollywood Police Department, U.S. Coast Guard, a few Publix and Winn-Dixie stores and nearby nursing homes, her mom reported.
The almost teen, who has seen “Hamilton” once, can’t wait for a second go-around.
Her fave song? “Who Lives, Who Dies to Tell Your Story.”
“It’s kind of combining all the characters and telling their accomplishments,” said Elliana, “which i think is very, like, awesome.”
