Even if you don't consider yourself a theater fanatic, you've no doubt heard of "Hamilton, " the show about Alexander Hamilton that is sweeping the nation and breaking the barrier between musical theater and pop music. Many people have professed to be obsessed with this musical, and based on my experiences, there are a few telltale signs that "Hamilton" is a bigger part of your life than you ever anticipated it would be.
1. You hear people talking about "Hamilton" in public
and instantly want to join in and share your enthusiasm about this great
American musical.
"Hamilton" is a great conversation starter because there is so
much about it to discuss, from how it is making U.S. History the coolest subject
in school,
to how President Obama has publicly praised it many
times, to the fact that it will probably win in double digits at the Tony
Awards.
2. You wish you were still in high school so you could
take AP U.S. History again with "Hamilton" as
a part of the curriculum.
You may not want to relive high school for any other reason than for the opportunity to experience the founding of America from the perspective of this spectacular show.
3.
To you, Alexander Hamilton and the founding fathers are more like rap stars and
celebrities than mere political figures.
They're young, scrappy, and hungry, and they created a
lot of the country that we take for granted today.
4. You sigh internally whenever you see a picture on Facebook of another lucky soul who got the chance to see "Hamilton" before you did. Perhaps one day...
With patience, determination, and a magical donation
of $400, you
will get to see "Hamilton" on Broadway one day, and it
will be the greatest theatrical experience of your life.
5. Your mind is pleasantly blown when you realize that "Hamilton" is currently at #14 on the iTunes charts, slightly higher than Justin Bieber's "Purpose."
How lucky we are to be alive right now.
6.
Your mind is filled with instances that you are not throwing away your shot,
under any circumstances.
If Lin-Manuel repeats a lyric approximately 37 times
in one song, it is probably a mantra worth living by every day.
7.
You now appreciate Aaron Burr as much more than the one-dimensional villain that history makes him out to be.
This show could practically be called "Aaron Burr: The Musical ."
8. You live for any possible videos of "Hamilton" songs, whether they be bootleg recordings, official Grammy performances, or #Ham4Ham videos.
It's the little "Hamilton"-related things that make life worth living.
9.
You find yourself frequently bursting into spontaneous "Hamilton" singalongs with
your friends who love it as much as you do, if not more.
It's a great feeling when you realize that you're not
the only one who has been listening to
"
Hamilton" continuously for months.
10.
In fact, sharing songs from "Hamilton" with your friends has made you realize
that some of them are much better rappers than you previously realized.
Rap may be a skill you're perfecting only because of "Hamilton," but it's a useful skill nonetheless, in case another musical of this nature emerges.
11.
You’ve decided that if you have three daughters, they will be named Angelica, Eliza,
and Peggy. Work, work.
Because who wouldn't want to have daughters as fabulous as the Schuyler sisters?
12. You thank your lucky stars every day that Lin Manuel Miranda was put on this earth and is pursuing his dream to the fullest.
"Hamilton" is everywhere right now, which is as it should be. It's about time that a Broadway show got this much acclaim from the general population. There is no shame in admitting it if this show is a huge part of your life. Don't throw away your shot; embrace it!
