New York, NY — December 2nd, 2025 — In a bold step toward transforming the landscape of musical theatre, today marks the official debut of El Musical, a platform created to inspire, support, and promote Latiné voices within the musical theatre world. Founded by Dr. Manuel A. Morán, Artistic Director of Teatro SEA and Principal of Grupo Morán, LLC, the initiative is built on three fundamental pillars: representation on stage, artistic excellence, and investment in our community, and is destined to transform the landscape of Latiné performing arts in New York, across the Americas, and beyond.
Award-winning songwriter, actor, director, and producer Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator of the musicals HAMILTON and In the Heights, and whose work has redefined musical theatre worldwide, joined the initiative’s Advisory and Mentoring Board along with his father Luis A. Miranda, Jr. (activist, writer, philanthropist and producer – most recently represented on Broadway by Buena Vista Social Club).
“The success of HAMILTON and In the Heights has inspired countless people around the world to write stories that haven’t been told before, and that are urgent to be told on the musical stage. Developing a musical is long, hard work, and we are thrilled to endorse this new initiative that will provide much needed support for musicals from the page to the stage,” said Lin-Manuel Miranda and Luis A. Miranda, Jr.
El Musical was created with the mission of building bridges between creators, producers, and the commercial sector, establishing an ecosystem where creativity, inclusion, and financial sustainability coexist. By merging artistry with commercial viability, the platform guides artists from concept to production through a comprehensive development cycle — incubation, production, and investment— offering mentorship, workshops, and a hybrid philanthropic and social-impact funding model that ensures Latiné musicals can thrive equitably and sustainably.
“For decades, Latiné creators have helped shape the sound and soul of American musical theatre, yet systemic barriers have often kept their works from reaching full production or investment opportunities.El Musical aims to change that,” said Dr. Manuel A. Morán. “Incubate, Produce and Invest are three actions that speak the same language: access, excellence, and sustainability. El Musical is the beginning of long-term change.”
Other members in El Musical’s Advisory and Mentorship Board, include: Rosalba Rolón (Artistic Director, Pregones/PRTT); Luis Salgado (Director-Choreographer, Salgado Productions); Olga Garay-English (Latinx National Theater Initiative); Dr. Manuel Calzada (Chancellor, Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico); Rafa Sánchez (Artistic Director, Repertorio Español); Brisa Arelis Muñoz (Executive Director, Musical Theater Factory); Sammy Lopez (Producer, P3 Productions); Isabel DeJesús (Chair of the Board, Teatro SEA, and Financial Advisor); Elsa Mosquera Stefenberg (Principal, Agora Cultural Architects); Cedric Leiva (Producer, DominiRican Productions); and Odette Maher Rodríguez (Public Relations and Cultural Advisor).
El Musical’s first project is the development of a new bilingual musical Telenovela Dreams / Sueño de Telenovela, written by Manuel Morán, Jaime Lozano, and Manuel Calzada. The show had two staged readings on November 22nd and 23rd, following an intensive 29-hour workshop earlier this Fall — in collaboration with Pregones/PRTT. The readings were open to theatre professionals and potential investors interested in supporting its future full-stage production.For information, the public can visit www.elmusical.nyc.