Let's rewind to the 2011 Tony Awards, hosted by Neil Patrick Harris. The decision was made to have him close the show with a rap number summarizing the evening. This meant that its writers — Lin-Manuel Miranda and Tommy Kail — had to write most of that rap during the show as the various winners were announced. It also meant that N.P.H. had to learn it well enough during the last half-hour or so of the show to perform it — off cue cards and/or TelePrompter — on the show. Not easy things to do.
This first video is Miranda and Kail in the basement of the Beacon Theatre, watching the show unfold and writing lyrics as things occurred. You'll see actress Nikki James stop by after she won a Tony for The Book of Mormon and you'll see Mr. Harris come by to begin learning what he had to go out and perform before the entire country. Well, as much of the entire country that watches the Tonys…
And here's the final version as it aired on live TV. It turned out pretty good. I'm thinking that Lin-Manuel guy could have had some sort of career after this…