“Why do you write like you’re running out of time?”
Well, Lin-Manuel Miranda, songwriting extraordinaire and musical genius, maybe it’s because I have an Odyssey article due in a matter of hours? Alexander Hamilton wrote for a very different reason, though. He was building a nation.
Ever since the show made its debut in August 2015, history has had its eyes on the Broadway smash-hit–it has already broken a handful of records. Chances are, you’ve probably heard the news that the Broadway hit “Hamilton” recently received a whopping 16 Tony nominations, more than any other show in Broadway history. Out of those 16, it captured 11. It also garnered a Pulitzer Prize.
And notably, “Hamilton” has contributed to the current theater season being “the most diverse in Broadway history,” according to an article in The New York Times. This is huge. As stated in a review of Paul Tazewell’s captivating costume design for the musical, “they decided everything from the shoulders down would reflect the period, and everything from the neck up would be modern,” and that truly is the perfect description of it. A modern sound, a palette of colorful talent.
After being unbelievably fortunate enough to have attended a performance of “Hamilton” at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in the Fall, thanks to the generosity of my high school’s Opera Club, I can attest that it is entirely deserving of all of the praise it’s receiving. Standing in front of Richard Rodgers Theatre, in retrospect, my feelings translated to, "look around, look around, at how lucky we are to be alive right now" ("history is happening in Manhattan and we just happen to be in the greatest city in the world").
It was my first Broadway musical, and I loved feeling the tangible energy, a major piece of history being beautifully transcribed into a musical in, yes, the greatest city in the world, the intense feelings translated to an art form, and—most importantly—the cadence and non-stop propulsion of words, upbeat lyrics. It captured history, love, lust, family, an endless uphill climb, motivation, a sense of self and purpose. It was a testament to rap and worthy stories being told in a fresh form. It was nothing short of incredible.
Because of the explosive messages and the way they were presented, this musical was an absolute sensation. Among these messages include an obsession with writing as a way of life, honesty, integrity and perseverance. The musical teaches its viewers that no matter how seemingly impossible challenges seem, or despite any setbacks you face, if you work hard enough at something, nothing can stand in your way. As evidenced by Alexander Hamilton’s rescuing himself from the depths of an uncertain future and building his potential from the ground up, we are responsible for our own destiny. As long as we write like we need to survive, or do whatever it is that we live for, and put every ounce of energy and determination toward it, it can be achieved. Start your own revolution.
“There’s a million things I haven’t done, but just you wait.”
It’s a matter of infinite hope, having a potential for greatness. The notion of building a nation, single-handedly writing 51 essays in Federalist Papers, studying and fighting and arguing and practically perfecting the practice of law. America was built to be the land of the free and the land of opportunity, and Hamilton’s life, albeit cut short in a duel but still lived nobly, stands as the embodiment of those qualities of a nation.
The musical will forever leave an impact far beyond the stage. It’s an incredibly exciting prospect that history classrooms across the country and world could use the performance and soundtrack as a means of education, the most powerful tool out there. Education in an engaging, fun, exciting form: Art, music and passion.
"Legacy. What is a legacy? It's planting seeds in a garden you never get to see."
I'm so happy this musical's creators can catch a glimpse of the legacy they're leaving, to see the garden in full bloom. Don't throw away your shot at being inspired–do everything you can to get yourself a ticket to this show.
