When you think of popular musicals, you generally don't think about them having anything to do with the earliest point in American history. But that's exactly what you get with current Broadway hit "Hamilton." Based on and around the events of founding father Alexander Hamilton's life, this musical explores what it means to be remembered and how everything we do shapes our lives. This musical has become an absolute phenomenon in the past few months since it's release. You cannot purchase tickets to see the show until January of 2016 at this point. But what is it about this musical to do with a founding father that has so captivated the world?
There are a couple different reasons that this musical is doing so well. One of the first things is that this musical is not done in the typical musical style. It is actually a musical made up almost entirely of hip-hop and rap music. As of right now, there are only about three other musicals that have been all hip-hop music, one of which is even written by the same guy who composed the music for "Hamilton." The reason that the music is one of the driving factors is that it blends into what is being heard today over the radio. The cast was even at the BET Awards this past weekend and rapped with famous hip hop band, The Roots. Having such a popular form of music drive the show attracts a much wider audience than it would originally. It's going to attract in a different kind of person that isn't usually a theatre goer. It also makes the subject more modern and easier for modern audiences to relate and understand. It helps to normalize a story with many parts we would never see today. The music really makes this musical a stand out from others on Broadway.
The casting of this show is also something that makes it so unique. Even though all the original historical figures were white, only one character King George, is played by a Caucasian actor. The rest of the cast is made up of actors of many different races. It's another way that this show is able to push its historical plot line into the 21st century. The cast up on stage looks like the American public today. America now is so much more diverse than it ever was in the middle of the 18th century. We have now become a nation of immigrants where anyone of any race, creed or class can live. And that is no more obvious than on the stage of "Hamilton." It helps so much to have the cast look like modern America. The modern audience is able to view themselves in this show, despite it being set back in 1776.
Probably the main reason though, is that the plot is easy to relate to. You have lyricist/writer/composer/actor Lin Manuel Miranda to thank for that. It took Miranda over six years to get the final product of "Hamilton" up on a stage. He was sparked with the idea of writing a musical about Alexander Hamilton after reading a biography about him done by award-winning author Ron Chernow while on break from his other Broadway show "In the Heights." He went over every line and every word dozens of times before the musical made it's way to the stage. Miranda wanted this show to have power and purpose in every word. And it does. You hear it in every song, every line, every breath. The plot of this story ends up being so moving to the audience because we hear the power and purpose. We feel the triumph, the heartbreak, and the struggle along with Alexander, Aaron Burr, Thomas Jefferson and Eliza. It hits a chord in us that we didn't even recognize was there as we realize that. Hey, maybe the founding fathers do have something in common with us today. That's all because of Lin Manuel Miranda, the current genius of Broadway.
There are many reasons that this musical is making such an impact. It will go down as one of the best and most memorable musicals in history for it's vivid storytelling, passionate verse and its depiction of the human condition. You'll want to see this production when you can. But until then, the entire album is available on NPR, Spotify and iTunes. You are not going to want to miss out on this historical (pun intended) show.
