It’s no secret “Hamilton” is quickly becoming one of the most successful Broadway musicals of its time. Winner of 11 Tony Awards, but nominated for a record-breaking 16, "Hamilton" is without a doubt the most sought after ticket at the box office. But what exactly is it about the show that has fans (including me) willing to “Wait for it?"
I’ll admit I was pretty confused by the concept of historical rap at first listen. After hearing friends rap the entirety of “Aaron Burr, Sir,” I was definitely skeptical of the show and its soundtrack. But the importance of using hip-hop music to tell Alexander Hamilton’s story quickly became evident. At the time of the U.S. revolution, Hamilton’s ideas were so new and progressive that they were often misunderstood by his political counterparts: Burr, Jefferson, Adams, Madison (the list of politicians who doubted Hamilton goes on and on). What better way to represent Hamilton’s cutting-edge ideas than with the most up-and-coming music style? I mean, the cabinet battles in the form of rap battles is just pure genius. And the revolutionary nature of Miranda’s musical doesn’t end with its style of music. The show’s original cast is widely diverse, featuring actors from varying backgrounds despite the Caucasian ethnicities of the historical figures they portray. With Alexander Hamilton’s immigrant identity in mind, the show’s diverse casting makes a strong statement regarding some of the U.S.’s current immigration policies. And given recent events, "Hamilton’s" attention to issues of race and immigration is certainly something our country can benefit from.
This past week, the show lost several of its original cast members, namely playwright, composer and lyricist Lin-Manuel Miranda. While the new actors portraying Hamilton, Eliza and Burr will undoubtedly be fantastic, watching “Hamilton’s” founding father step down has definitely left fans a bit heavyhearted.
All seriousness aside, the songs of "Hamilton" are ridiculously catchy. And Hamilton’s life story is absolutely crazy yet somehow so relatable. I mean, Hamilton singing about the millions of things he hasn’t done is always 100 percent relevant. But I think the most exciting part of listening to the music is following Hamilton’s life story. While the soundtrack at first seems like a catchy collection of rap songs about our nation’s history, the plotlines eventually unravel and the musical numbers seem more like pieces of a bigger picture. I personally find myself absorbed in "Hamilton’s" political standings and his love life every time I choose to sing along to the lyrics. Even though the story is set in revolutionary America, we have a lot to learn about our country’s current state (and our own lives) from the musical.
So thank you, Lin-Manuel Miranda, for rewriting the game.
