Skip to main content

Lin-Manuel Miranda created a phenomenon with Hamilton. But before he writing that Tony-winning musical, Miranda brought theatergoers In the Heights. Now director Jon M. Chu’s film version will leave audiences swooning, thanks to what could be a breakout movie role for star Anthony Ramos. But what exactly is Ramos’ romantic status right now?

Anthony Ramos and Lin-Manuel Miranda pose backstage at the new hip hop musical 'Freestyle Love Supreme' on Broadway
Anthony Ramos and Lin-Manuel Miranda pose backstage at the new hip hop musical ‘Freestyle Love Supreme’ on Broadway | Bruce Glikas/WireImage

Anthony Ramos gained acclaim for his dual role in ‘Hamilton’

In the Heights features Ramos in the lead. But the movie also has an ensemble supporting cast that includes Corey Hawkins, Leslie Grace, Olga Merediz, Jimmy Smits, and Miranda himself. Of course, fans of Hamilton know that Ramos has a history with Miranda. In fact, Ramos played a smaller role in regional theater productions of In the Heights in fall 2012.

But Ramos gained even greater acclaim when he originated the dual role of John Laurens and Philip Hamilton in the Broadway production of Hamilton. In that show, he played both best friend and son to Miranda’s Alexander Hamilton. Later on, Ramos debuted his version of In the Heights hero Usnavi de la Vega — a role Miranda originally played — on stage in 2018.

The actor met his longtime love on the Tony-winning Broadway show

Ramos’ collaborative relationship with Miranda led him to Hamilton’s original Broadway cast. But it also resulted in him meeting his longtime girlfriend — and now fiancée — Jasmine Cephas Jones. The couple met during rehearsals for the off-Broadway production of Hamilton, in which Cephas Jones played both Maria Reynolds and Peggy Schuyler.

Ramos and Cephas Jones went on to share the stage during the show’s Broadway run from 2015 to 2016. And in 2018, the couple became engaged. So far, they haven’t gone announced a wedding date but will reportedly wed sometime in 2021. The year promises to be a big one for their careers too, with Cephas Jones starring in the upcoming Starz series Blindspotting.

Related

‘Hamilton’: Did Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Musical Erase Key Details of the Main Character’s Love Life?

‘In the Heights’ is poised to make Anthony Ramos a full-on movie star

As for Ramos, he could be about to become a full-fledged movie star with In the Heights. After all, the 2020 release of Hamilton on Disney+ has only strengthened the mainstream appeal of more Miranda-penned music. And Chu’s previous movie, 2018’s Crazy Rich Asians, left fans ready to see what he would do next. Altogether, Ramos couldn’t ask for a better launchpad.

In fact, 2021 looks to be a major year in general for movie musicals. In the Heights — which hits theaters and HBO Max on June 11, 2021 — will be joined later in the year by a slew of other musical releases. However, In the Heights and Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story remake are the ones most poised for box office success and perhaps some awards consideration.

Best in Entertainment