Ever since it hit the Broadway stage, Hamilton has become a massive presence in our country’s pop culture. Combining modern society’s penchant for rap music with the history of an often forgotten Founding Father and producing it into a musical, Lin-Manuel Miranda became an icon for rap artists, theater nerds, and history buffs all across the country. The genius of Hamilton is so apparent that it was nominated for 16 Tony Awards in 2016, and ultimately won 11.

For years now, society has seen a slight decline in Broadway attendances, due to the inherent nature of our increasingly accessible entertainment options; why leave the house to attend a musical when you can sit comfortably in your living room watching Netflix or Hulu? However, that decline has not affected Hamilton, and conversely, it has smashed previous records for both attendance and acclaim. The musical has truly changed the Broadway scene, bringing an element of renown and relevance that it had been lacking since the first few years of Wicked. Due to the diversity of the score in Hamilton, people of all interests and backgrounds have been clamoring to get their hands on tickets, that are unfortunately, still selling for thousands of dollars.

So why is Hamilton so significant? Its popularity can be widely attributed to the brilliant soundtrack, script, and performance. But what does it mean in the context of our current turbulent culture?

Getting Millennials Interested in History

In a world where people are constantly pushing for new technological innovations, it’s refreshing to see an advocate of more classic, liberal arts mediums such as music and history. It is important as a society that we learn from our past mistakes, and know of the circumstances in which our nation was created. Hamilton allows the audience to truly immerse itself into the political turmoil that was brewing between the Founding Fathers as the Constitution was ratified. It glorifies the best parts of our history by bringing to life the joy felt by those who were living in the late 18th century, as well as the pain and disgust felt by those who opposed the establishment of America as a nation. Instead of simply learning about the Federalist Papers or the Election of 1800, we are able to see the build up, the social reaction, and the direct effects that they had on the people of the time and the precedents they set that we still follow today.

Color-Blind Casting

In theater, it can sometimes be difficult to cast while ignoring race or nationality. Especially for plays in which there are still references to slavery and racism, it raises the question of how the director wants to cast the show. Particularly in older scripts. it can be difficult to have colorblind casting when family ties, characterizations or personalities are based off of race. However, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s script enumerates all of the characters’ ties to one another, and subsequently he had an incredibly diverse cast playing the roles of what would have otherwise been predominantly white males. This has been a huge step forward for script and screen writers, since it has shown the positive effects of writing in lines that would have otherwise been left up to exterior interpretation. Additionally, there is also a huge increase in the amount of minority actors and actresses who can serve as role models, a figure that has been sorely lacking in pop culture for decades now. Inspiring both children and adults alike to be more engrossed in history and music, the diverse cast of Hamilton did an incredible job of intertwining modern day societal norms while preserving history.

Current Political Climate

As you listen to the soundtrack of Hamilton, one thing becomes very apparent. It is that despite our support of Alexander Hamilton who has risen above some unthinkable tribulations in his life, he is still very much a flawed individual. His political opponents, such as Thomas Jefferson or Aaron Burr are portrayed as being equally brilliant yet defective. We see all of these characters as being hardworking, with our nation’s prosperous future being their ultimate goal, but we can’t help but notice that their different approaches and personal disagreements are what end up slowing the process. We begin to attribute that to current politics, to the 2016 election and the seemingly irreparable gaps between (and within) the parties. Hamilton has helped us accept that people have different opinions and methods, and no matter how brilliant someone may be, they still have flaws that others have to accept. It’s a part of being human.

Hamilton has become such an icon in our modern culture, and has brought back a certain nostalgia associated with society before technology. People are clamoring to get to Broadway to see a show that makes you think, that makes you empathize, that makes history come alive. This show has reinvigorated Broadway of its ‘WOW’ factor, and has impacted our society in such a positive way that it has captured the attention of the public that usually doesn’t associate with musicals or history. The audience can learn so much from even just the soundtrack, that I encourage everyone to take a shot and try listening to Hamilton. For those who have already become entranced by the illustrious music, there is a documentary that PBS released just last week that covers the incredible journey of the musical that you can access right here.