The idea for the project started during rehearsal breaks for Miranda's first Broadway musical,In the Heights.[3] During shows, the performers rap and beatbox, backed by keyboards.[4] Unlike traditional, scripted musicals, the audience is intended to be engaged and participate in the show, providing suggestions and occasionally even being brought on stage.[2][5] Before being performed on Broadway, there were performances atArs Nova in 2004, 2006 Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Montreal Just for Laughs Festival and theEdinburgh Festival Fringe in 2005,[1][3][6] as well as many other performances including Joe's Pub, Google Zeitgeist, Greenwich House Theater, Mo Pitkin's, and others.
Members of the group appeared in several episodes of the 2009The Electric Company revival, on which Miranda, Sherman, Jackson, and Sullivan were regular music contributors.
The group created an 11-episode television series that aired onPivot in 2014. Now available for a fee on Prime video and YouTube[7]
The group performed its Off-Broadway and Broadway shows in 2019–2020 in celebration of their 15th anniversary.[1]
The story of the group and musical is featured in the 2020 documentaryWe Are Freestyle Love Supreme,[8] directed byAndrew Fried, who began filming the group in 2005.[9] The film contains footage shot over the 15 years of the group's history.[8]
Cast members have included the following, though other members have appeared, sometimes unannounced.[3][4][5] The opening night performance on Broadway featured multiple guest stars.[4][10]
Vocal performers
The following performers have performed rap orbeatboxing on the show:
Freestyle Love Supreme was performed on Broadway at the Booth Theatre from October 2, 2019, through January 12, 2020.[2][4]
On October 7, 2021, the group began a three-month limited run back at the Booth Theatre. After four months on Broadway, the show finished the Broadway run on January 2, 2022.[12][13]
The show arrived atThe Venetian Las Vegas Showroom in Las Vegas on November 10, 2022. It closed on January 29, 2023.[16][17]
Their performances consist of freestyle "games" including: What Y'all Know, On the Fence, True, Day in a Life, Foundations of Freestyle, Pet Peeves, Home, Second Chance, Deep Dive and more.
^"The Ars Nova Revolution".ARS NOVA. 26 February 2014.Archived from the original on July 18, 2020. RetrievedJuly 18, 2020.THE ARS NOVA REVOLUTION: FROM FREESTYLE LOVE SUPREME (ARS NOVA, 2004) TO HAMILTON (BROADWAY, 2015)
^"Freestyle Love Supreme".freestylelovesupreme.com.Archived from the original on February 12, 2023. RetrievedFebruary 11, 2023.FREESTYLE LOVE SUPREME VEGAS PLAYED ITS FINAL PERFORMANCE ON JANUARY 29, 2023.
Harvey Fierstein / Marco Paguia, David Oquendo, Renesito Avich, Gustavo Schartz, Javier Días, Román Diaz, Mauricio Herrera, Jesus Ricardo, Eddie Venegas, Hery Paz, and Leonardo Reyna / Jamie Harrison, Chris Fisher, Gary Beestone, and Edward Pierce (2025)
