Well, goodbye, Gov'ner.
Over a thousand fans traveled from as far as Pennsylvania on Sunday evening to bid bon voyage to award-winning actor, playwright and Inwood native, Lin-Manuel Miranda — who hosted Sunday night's screening of Disney's original “Mary Poppins” at the United Palace Theatre as he prepares to move to London to film a remake.
Miranda, who launched the historic theater’s “Reawaken Wonder at a Timeless Movie Palace” campaign to raise an additional $300,000, has been involved with the theater since 2013, when he hosted the 5-year anniversary concert of his breakout Broadway hit “In the Heights” and several movie events.
But shortly after Miranda's presentation, fans in the audience were the one to put on a show for him — surprising him by creating a massive card of red and yellow of placards that spelled out a modified line from "Mary Poppins," saying, “Goodbye Lin Manuel Don’t Stay Away Too Long.”
Albert Garcia, 24, traveled in from Reading, Pennsylvania for her first chance to see Miranda on stage.
“It’s Lin, I mean — it’s Lin,” said Garcia — who played Usnavi in the “In the Heights” rendition in Pennsylvania.
Avid Maldonado, 23, from The Bronx, agreed. “I’m here to see Lin present whatever he’s going to say… That’s why I’m here. I’ve seen Mary Poppins,” Maldonado said with a laugh, adding that he's been a fan of his fellow Puerto Rican actor since seeing him perform in “Freestyle Love Supreme,” “Hamilton” and “In the Heights.”
Stephanie Alvarez, 23, said Miranda's career is an inspiration.
“When I was young, I didn’t think people like us could be such big stars on Broadway,” said Alvarez, of The Bronx, "Now, getting to see people you can relate to on a Broadway show, it’s such a defining moment for us. We can actually achieve so much and break so many barriers. He’s just so inspirational.”
Miranda was tapped to do Disney’s “Mary Poppins” sequel earlier this year and left Hamilton in July, after winning 11 Tony awards.
The "Reawaken Wonder at a Timeless Movie Palace” film screenings will continue through the fall with “Juan de los Muertos (Juan of the Dead)” on Sunday, Oct. 30, then “The Wizard of Oz” on Sunday, Dec. 11. The holiday classic, “It’s a Wonderful Life” will screen Sunday, Dec. 18.
The campaign is looking to purchase new stage speakers and surround sound to complete the "rebirth of the iconic movie theatre," organizers said.
