Lin-Manuel Miranda's father shares the power of "Hamilton" with Chicago youth

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The groundbreaking play, "Hamilton," by Lin-Manuel Miranda, is still selling out in theaters in Chicago. But Miranda would be nowhere if it weren't for a man who was in Chicago Thursday sharing the power of that musical with local children.

Luis Miranda and his wife, Luz, had Lin-Manuel 17 years ago.

"This Puerto Rican family is now in charge of Hamilton's history," said Miranda.

Miranda is was in town Thursday talking about the Hamilton Education Program. Over 25,000 kids, including some from Chicago schools, create pieces based on history, and they get to see a performance of Hamilton. The Forefront Social Impact Group sponsored the event.

"We basically are a community of organizations and people doing good in the world whether it ben educating children, housing the homeless or feeding the hungry," said Eric Weinheimer, CEO of Forefront.

Several of the actors performing in Chicago's production of "Hamilton" spoke to the crowd and the students about the sweeping impact of the musical.

"Whenever I see these kids on stage they're Lin-Manuel, that's who Lin-Manuel was when he was growing up," said Miranda.

Miranda recalled his son at 11 years old, performing in a choral group on television.

"You could see Lin-Manuel just beaming and I tell my wife, he's never going to be part of a chorus line, he's not blending, he's just being him," he said.