Mandy Gonzalez Delivers a Powerhouse Tribute to Lin-Manuel Miranda at a New York Pops Concert in Carnegie Hall

Carnegie Hall shined brighter than usual as The New York Pops joined forces with Mandy Gonzalez for an evening titled Everything I Know: Mandy Gonzalez Sings Lin-Manuel Miranda, led by music director Steven Reineke. The concert, which first premiered with the Boston Pops, became even more special in New York because Lin-Manuel Miranda appeared onstage for the finale.

Gonzalez and Miranda’s collaboration goes back nearly twenty years to the basement of The Drama Book Shop, a memory she shared with humor and warmth. Miranda calls Gonzalez a “beast”, a description that felt perfectly earned as she showcased a voice filled with power, control, and emotional depth. She moved easily between bold anthems and gentle ballads, proving once again why she is considered one of Broadway’s most versatile vocalists.

The night opened with “One of a Kind” from Vivo, arranged by Alex Lacamoire, with Dan Lipton as musical director and Dick Scanlan as stage director. Gonzalez set an expansive and joyful tone right from the first notes. She then performed “Spanish Me, English Me” from Sesame Street, tying the song to her own Mexican-American and Jewish heritage.

Her performance of “Breathe” from In the Heights carried extra weight, since she originated the role of Nina on Broadway. She delivered it with quiet intensity, reflecting the pressures and doubts woven into the song. She also revisited her experience in the short-lived production Dance of the Vampires, sharing a self-deprecating story about reading the negative reviews with her parents the morning after opening night.

With “Preciosa / Almost Like Praying,” written in response to Hurricane Maria, Gonzalez expressed both grief and pride, highlighting Miranda’s ability to merge activism with music. She continued exploring lesser-known works with selections from 21 Chump Street, joined by Philippe Arroyo, who played a high school student falling for her undercover cop character.

No tribute to Miranda would be complete without Hamilton, and Gonzalez delivered an electric version of “Satisfied.” The audience joined in, creating a shared moment that filled the hall. After intermission, she brought humor and global flair to “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” from Encanto, singing parts of the song in German, Japanese, Ukrainian, and Chinese to celebrate its worldwide success.

She followed with “Dos Oruguitas” from Encanto, dedicating the performance to her parents’ love story, which crossed borders and survived wartime challenges. Gonzalez then performed “Delivery” from Working, complete with an apron reading “Lin-Manuel’s Burger Palace.” Reineke added a perfectly timed joke by handing her a dollar and saying, “Keep the change.”

The surprises continued as Christopher Jackson, a Hamilton original cast member, appeared during Lin-Man and the Beast: A Mixtape, delighting both the crowd and Miranda. Gonzalez later delivered a showstopping mashup of “New York, New York” and Miranda’s “Cheering For Me Now,” earning an immediate standing ovation.

For the encore, she performed “Fearless,” a song Miranda wrote for her and inspired by her social media movement to uplift others. The R.Evolución Latina Choir joined her, bringing the final lyric — “walls come down” — to a powerful close before Miranda walked onstage to share the moment.

The evening wrapped with reminders of upcoming New York Pops events, including the annual holiday concerts A Place Called Home on December 19 and 20 (details at the official site: Carnegie Hall) and the orchestra’s 43rd Birthday Gala on April 27, 2026, featuring the music of Stephen Schwartz.