Hamilton. Possibly the most influential and popular musical of our time. Winner of 11 Tony Awards, including the Award for "Best Musical", Hamilton has changed the idea of Broadway Theater. It is no longer known for show tunes and passionate ballads. It is now seen as a home for rap battles, sick beats, and incredibly unique stories. So what factors led to this amazing show?
1. President Barack Obama
There are numerous reasons why President Obama made it possible for Hamilton to exist. For one, the creator of the musical, Lin Manuel-Miranda, first performed a song from his then unperformed play at the White House Evening of Poetry, Music and the Spoken Word in May of 2009. This song was called “Alexander Hamilton” and would later be the opener to the musical. President Obama joked with Jon Stewart in an interview that Miranda “work shopped” the play at the poetry reading. Also, by having a man of color as the highest ranking official in the United States, President Obama allowed for the audience to picture people of color play historical figures such as George Washington, Aaron Burr, Marquis de Lafayette, Thomas Jefferson, and even Alexander Hamilton himself. Miranda, former actor for Alexander Hamilton, is a Puerto Rican man playing a white Founding Father. George Washington, Aaron Burr, Marquis de Lafayette, and Thomas Jefferson are all played by African American men. The diversity of the cast is celebrated by the fans of the play. President Obama, politics aside, has broken many racial barriers and allowed for characters of our history to be played by anyone of any race.
2.The Perspective of Rap and Hip-Hop
The view of rap and hip-hop by society has changed drastically throughout its history. Formally viewed as “music for thugs and criminals,” rap is now seen as a legitimate art form. Many people have begun to recognize the complexity and intricacy of rap. (Unfortunately, many also still view it negatively.) Rap and hip-hop is a huge part of what makes Hamilton so special. The play features battle strategies, professions of love, celebrations of victory, and the forming of the United States in raps. Teachers are using this soundtrack in their classrooms as a way to teach children the history of America using language they enjoy. Instead of long ballads, Miranda wrote first person narratives in the form of rap and hip-hop to attract a young audience and change the way history is viewed.
3. Arts in the White House
As mentioned before, Hamilton’s first debut was at a poetry reading hosted by the Obama Administration at the White House. First Lady Michelle Obama said, “The arts and humanities define who we are as a people. That is their power -- to remind us of what we each have to offer, and what we all have in common. To help us understand our history and imagine our future. To give us hope in the moments of struggle and to bring us together when nothing else will.” To the Obama Administration, the arts is very important. Not only did the White House allow for Hamilton to be revealed to the world, but it has facilitated workshops that partner with the cast to bring the musical to students. These workshops, known as Bam4Ham, have reached many students with the curriculum and ways to expand the play into the students’ own local art communities.
4.Technology and Social Media
Hamilton was a huge success on Broadway. It was such a success that the price of two tickets cost over thirteen thousand dollars, roughly the same price as thirty-six iPad Airs or a nineteen-week Caribbean cruise. However, the musical was still accessible to almost everyone. The musical soundtrack was released on iTunes and Spotify, and it also has a large social media presence. It has over four hundred and fifty thousand followers on Instagram and over three hundred and forty thousand followers on Twitter and Facebook. In today’s society, millennials not only want to experience the show, they want to connect with the actors, see the behind the scenes, and watch the creative process. Social Media and technology has allowed for fans of the musical to have a personalized experience, which creates a deeper affection for Hamilton.
5. A Craving for Creativity
Hamilton changed the musical game. Not only did it feature a unique soundtrack and a diverse cast, but it told the story of a man most history teachers only spend five minutes teaching. It tells a story full of war, conflict, love, heartbreak, infidelity, and death. It is an emotional roller coaster that one can’t help but be swept up in. Alexander Hamilton doesn’t make this story special. The way the story is told makes it special. People can see when something is special, and that is why Hamilton is so successful.
"Who lives, who dies, who tells your story? Will they tell your story?"
Don’t worry Alexander Hamilton. They told it.
