The 'Little Wolf' Connection: 5 Ways Lin-Manuel Miranda And Jorge Rivera-Herrans Are Reshaping Musical Theater

The worlds of Broadway royalty and viral online theater have officially collided. As of late 2025, the connection between *Hamilton* creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and *EPIC: The Musical* mastermind Jorge Rivera-Herrans is far more than a simple comparison; it is a powerful story of mentorship, shared heritage, and a dynamic shift in how new musicals are brought to life. This article explores the deep, personal, and professional ties between the two most influential Puerto Rican composers of their generation, detailing the latest updates on their respective groundbreaking projects.

The buzz surrounding this pairing is reaching a fever pitch. With Rivera-Herrans's *EPIC* series continuing to dominate streaming platforms and Miranda's own diverse slate of projects—including the highly anticipated *Hamilton* film debut in September 2025—the future of musical storytelling is being written by these two visionary artists. Their collaboration, built on mutual respect and a shared cultural background, is setting a new, accessible standard for the entire industry.

The Rising Star: Jorge Rivera-Herrans Biography and Profile

Jorge Miguel "Jay" Rivera-Herrans is rapidly becoming one of the most talked-about names in contemporary musical theater. His career trajectory is unique, moving from a pre-med student to a viral composer who has redefined the concept album format.

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• Full Name: Jorge Miguel Rivera-Herrans
• Nickname: "Jay"
• Hometown: Dorado, Puerto Rico
• Initial Career Path: Studied pre-medicine before shifting focus to the arts.
• Primary Roles: Playwright, Composer, Lyricist, Actor, Singer-Songwriter.
• Major Work: *EPIC: The Musical*, a nine-part series of concept albums retelling Homer's *The Odyssey* in a modern, rock-opera style.
• Current Project: *ILIUM*, a planned musical retelling of Homer’s *The Iliad*, following the success of *EPIC*.
• Artistic Style: Known for blending traditional musical theater with modern genres, anime tropes, and video game mechanics, creating a highly accessible and engaging sound.

1. The Unexpected Mentorship: Lin-Manuel Miranda’s ‘Little Wolf’ Endorsement

The most concrete evidence of a direct and personal connection between the two artists came from Lin-Manuel Miranda himself. In a public social media post, Miranda shared that he had a "great lunch with Little Wolf Jorge Rivera-Herrans." This single post instantly validated Rivera-Herrans's work and positioned Miranda as a clear mentor and supporter.

This public endorsement is invaluable. Miranda, the creator of global phenomena like *Hamilton* and *In The Heights*, has a reputation for championing emerging voices. For him to refer to Rivera-Herrans as "Little Wolf" suggests a deep, affectionate, and personal relationship, placing the younger composer under Miranda’s wing.

Furthermore, reports indicate that Miranda has been actively promoting *EPIC: The Musical* in private circles, even telling people at parties to listen to the viral concept album. This advocacy is a powerful signal to the Broadway community that Rivera-Herrans is a talent to watch, moving him from a viral sensation to a serious theatrical contender.

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2. The Shared Heritage: A Puerto Rican Legacy in American Theater

A central, unspoken bond between Miranda and Rivera-Herrans is their shared Puerto Rican heritage. Miranda was born in New York City and is of Puerto Rican descent, while Rivera-Herrans was raised in Dorado, Puerto Rico. This cultural connection provides a powerful narrative link, positioning them as successive generations of Puerto Rican artists dominating the American musical landscape.

Rivera-Herrans is frequently compared to Miranda, often being called "the next Lin-Manuel Miranda." While such comparisons can be heavy, the shared background in the arts—both being multi-talented composers, lyricists, and performers—highlights a growing legacy. This cultural commonality fuels the curiosity of fans and critics alike, who see a clear line of influence from *Hamilton*'s revolutionary storytelling to *EPIC*'s modern mythological retelling.

3. The Innovation of Storytelling: From Broadway to YouTube

Both composers are defined by their ability to innovate the musical theater format, but they use different platforms to achieve their goals. Miranda broke the mold by injecting hip-hop and rap into the historical narrative of Alexander Hamilton, a move that fundamentally changed Broadway.

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Rivera-Herrans, however, is a pioneer of the digital age. He built *EPIC: The Musical* not on a stage, but on YouTube and streaming platforms. By releasing the musical as a series of concept albums (referred to as "sagas"), he cultivated a massive, global, and highly engaged fanbase before the show ever saw a traditional stage. This model of "viral online community" building is a direct challenge to the traditional theatrical development process.

The success of *EPIC*—which retells the story of Odysseus from *The Odyssey*—demonstrates that high-quality musical theater can bypass traditional gatekeepers. This accessibility is a key theme of both artists’ work: making complex stories and diverse voices available to the widest possible audience.

4. The Power of Mythology and Historical Retellings

A core thematic similarity is their shared passion for retelling foundational stories through a modern lens. Miranda took the dry, historical figure of Alexander Hamilton and turned him into a relatable, ambitious immigrant. He made history feel immediate and relevant.

Rivera-Herrans is doing the same with classical mythology. *EPIC: The Musical* transforms the ancient Greek epic of *The Odyssey* into a contemporary, character-driven saga. His next project, *ILIUM*, promises to do the same for *The Iliad*. By using modern music genres, Rivera-Herrans makes these millennia-old stories of gods, heroes, and monsters feel as fresh and urgent as a video game or a Netflix series.

This approach of recontextualizing classic narratives is a powerful engine for topical authority. It allows both artists to explore universal themes of ambition, legacy, war, and love, connecting with a diverse audience that might not otherwise engage with history or classical literature.

5. What’s Next: The Future of Their Respective Empires

The professional orbits of Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jorge Rivera-Herrans are currently expanding, ensuring they will remain at the forefront of the industry well into the future.

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Upcoming Projects

• *Hamilton* Film Release: The filmed version of *Hamilton* is scheduled to debut in theaters in September 2025, bringing the Broadway masterpiece to a new cinematic audience.
• *The Warriors* Concept Album: Miranda is wrapping up the recording of a new concept album for a musical co-written with Eisa Davis, based on the 1979 film *The Warriors*. This project demonstrates his continued commitment to developing new, non-traditional theatrical works.
• Film Adaptations: Miranda continues to helm high-profile film projects, further cementing his status as a multi-platform powerhouse.

Jorge Rivera-Herrans’s Next Steps

• *ILIUM* Development: The next musical in his epic series, *ILIUM*, is already in development, continuing the mythological saga and building on the massive success of *EPIC*.
• Industry Transition: With Miranda's endorsement and the massive streaming numbers, the next major step for Rivera-Herrans will be the transition of *EPIC* from a concept album to a full-scale, physical stage production, potentially on Broadway or the West End.

The "Little Wolf" connection is more than just a passing friendship; it represents the passing of the torch in modern musical theater. Lin-Manuel Miranda has opened the door for new voices, and Jorge Rivera-Herrans is walking through it, using digital innovation and sheer talent to build his own empire, one saga at a time. The enthusiasm from Miranda serves as the ultimate stamp of approval, assuring fans that the future of the art form is in capable hands.