Lin-Manuel Miranda Surprises Bring It On Cast At Southwark Playhouse

Lin-Manuel Miranda surprised the young cast of the British Theatre Academy’s critically acclaimed production of his musical ‘Bring It On’ by watching the final show of their sold-out London summer season at Southwark Playhouse.

Lin-Manuel Miranda and the cast of Bring It On

Talking to the cast after the show, he told them: “You did an amazing job, it’s a very challenging show. I’m so proud and this was so wonderful. You made my wife cry! I came all the way from Cardiff, I wouldn’t have missed it! It was awesome. It was the first time i’ve seen it since 2013 and it just all came flooding back to me.”

The British Theatre Academy’s youth production, directed and choreographed by Ewan Jones in The Large at Southwark Playhouse from 2 August - 1 September, has beeen one of London Theatre’s summer sensations, earning 4 star rave reviews from many of the national critics.

Nominated for a Tony Award for Best Musical, ‘Bring It On’  takes audiences on a high-flying journey that touches on themes of friendship and acceptance. Tthe show features an original story by Tony Award winner Jeff Whitty (Avenue Q), music and lyrics by Tony Award winning composer, Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton, In the Heights), music by Pulitzer and Tony Award winning composer, Tom Kitt (Next to Normal) and lyrics by Broadway lyricist, Amanda Green (High Fidelity).

Matthew Chandler, Founder of the BTA and season producer, said: ”What an incredible night! We certainly couldn’t have asked for a more amazing way to cap off the summer season and end the spectacular run of ‘Bring It On’”.

Today the BTA reveal that a total of 12,350 people have watched ‘Bring It On’ and Goodnight Mister Tom’ at Southwark Playhose and “Spring Awakening’ and ‘Litle Women’ at Stockwell Playhouse. And due to the success of the season, The British Theatre Academy is offering free theatre training to over 1,000 new young performers this year.

Photos by Eliza Wilmot