Even for those who don’t follow musical theater, it has become impossible not to know what Hamilton the musical is. Breaking out onto the scene in 2015 at the Public Theater, Hamilton grew to be an instant hit.
The New York Times has called it “bold, rousing, sexy, tear-jerking and historically respectful,” while the Wall Street Journal named it “the best and most important Broadway musical of the past decade.”
The lyrics, book and music are all written by Lin-Manuel Miranda who is arguably this generation’s Andrew Lloyd Webber—Miranda first gained Broadway fame after he wrote the lyrics and music for the hit “In the Heights” which opened at the Richard Rodgers Theater in 2008.
Hamilton has been nominated for 16 Tony Awards, the most of any other musical to date, and is poised to take a number of them home. The production is a biographical depiction of founding father Alexander Hamilton’s life, staring from his time as a young man to his final days. The musical intertwines Hamilton’s personal life, along with his public and private relationships.
Miranda’s style of rapping within his songs has made the musical appealing to people across generations. Hamilton is a fresh take on classical theatre, all the while providing interesting well-written songs. The musical itself consists of 46 songs, which moves the production along through both acts. When the cabinet of George Washington meets to discuss topics such as French neutrality, and assuming state debt, the songs are rap-battles between characters instead of typical musical numbers.
“Would you like to join us, or stay mellow.
Doin’ whatever the hell it is you do in Monticello?
If we assume the debts, the union gets
A new line of Credit, a financial diuretic
How do you not get it? If we’re aggressive and competitive
The union gets a boost. You’d rather give a sedative?
A civics lesson from a slaver. Hey neighbor
Your debts are paid cuz you don’t pay for labor
“we plant seeds in the South. We create.”
Yeah, keep ranting
We know who’s really doing the planting.”
Within moments of releasing the cast album on iTunes, it shot to one of the top ten rap-albums, and grew to take the number one spot—the album even took home the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theatre Album at the 2016 Grammy Awards, cementing its popularity and success.
Due to the great success of the production, tickets to Hamilton are not only hard to come by but even harder to purchase. A week before the Tony Awards ticket prices are averaging $750 per seat, and after whispers of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s final show taking place in July, ticket prices are sky-rocketing to nearly $10,000 per seat. People are biting at the bit to see the production, but also mastermind Miranda in all his glory as Alexander Hamilton.
Just recently it was released that the popular musical is going on a national tour, allowing for people all over the country to get a chance to see the musical of the century. The tour will be hitting cities like Washington D.C., Boston, Chicago and Charlotte.
Even if a ticket to Hamilton may be out of reach, or doesn’t line up with your schedule—the soundtrack itself is worth a listen. Hamilton the musical is not only making history, but is telling history in a modern and unique way.
