Watch CBS News

Tony Awards 2016: Barack and Michelle Obama introduce a performance from "Hamilton"

How do you know your Broadway musical is a big deal? When the president and the first lady introduce it at the Tonys.

That's exactly what happened for Lin-Manuel Miranda, whose live performance from "Hamilton" was preceded by a recorded message from Barack and Michelle Obama.

In the video, the Obamas recounted how Miranda attended a poetry jam at the White House and, instead of performing something from his previous Tony-winning musical, "In the Heights," he debuted his first attempt at the project that would become "Hamilton."

"I confess, we all laughed, but who's laughing now?" Barack asked.

Here, by the way, is that White House performance:

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.