So for those who do not what "Hamilton" is, it is a newer musical that is currently running on Broadway and has been there since August of 2015. This show is based on the life of one of the founding fathers, Alexander Hamilton. Lin-Manuel Miranda based it on the 2004 biography "Alexander Hamilton" by Ron Chernow. This show is more than just a normal musical as the songs stylistically are rap. Although I have not seen the show, this shows music has the power to cover multiple boundaries, and that is why there will now be a list of the top five reasons "Hamilton" should be used in the high school curriculum.
1. It's a history lesson in a new form.
Credit to: flipboard.com
The show not only tells the story of a founding father whose story rarely gets told, but it also follows him and the other founding fathers through the American Revolution. It gives a different look into each founding father that rarely gets seen.
2. The show makes learning about history easier and interesting.
Credit to: www.billboard.com
As a college student who has a love for musicals in general but not as much of a love for U.S. History, I have learned so much from this show about the Revolution and some of our founding fathers. This show gives a new medium to the students to learn about the U.S. The show itself has already hosted workshops for high school age students in New York about learning how to rap and about history. This show has the power to excite a new generation about not only history, but also musical theater.
3. It of course speaks to all the kids in the arts in high school.
As an arts kid I can speak to the fact that I not only love the musical score but the lyrics as well. The show also proves to those in the arts that a musical does not always have to be jazz hands and kick lines or someone breaking out into the song "Circle of Life." It could even bring non-arts kids into the theaters and classrooms because of this.
4. The show crosses all boundaries, including racial boundaries.
In this show where pretty much all of the songs are quick and rap, the songs would be best fit sound and style-wise to a non-historically accurate cast that includes African Americans, Latinos and all people from all walks of life. Lin himself has answered this question many times that yes the show is about a time in history, but it is in this day and age; connecting the two together is a beautiful thing. There are female cast members playing the parts of soldiers, and Angelica Schuyler was played by Renee Elise Goldsberry, who is an African american woman. I feel like this speaks to the idea that is throughout the show that no matter where you came from you can rise up no matter what.
5. The Schuyler sisters are empowering to young girls and women.
Once again I must point out how this a show based on Alexander Hamilton's life, which includes telling the story of how he met his wife Eliza Schuyler and her two sisters Angelica and Peggy. These women were in the spotlight, particularly Eliza and Angelica historically, and the show showed their strength and how selfless they were. Angelica, for instance, loves Hamilton but knows that her sister loves him as well and moves to the side so that Eliza can be happy. Eliza also was strong enough to be the wife of Hamilton, who at one point had an affair, and despite this she later on led the charge in making sure he had a legacy left behind after he died.
