“How does a bastard, orphan, son of a whore and a
Scotsman, dropped in the middle of a
Forgotten spot in the Caribbean by providence
Impoverished in squalor
Grow up to be a hero and a scholar?”
This is the question that opens the new, hit musical "Hamilton." For the next two and a half hours, the audience will be learning the answer to this question. Composer Lin-Manuel Miranda has been working on these lyrics for seven years. While on vacation after his great success with "In the Heights," Miranda picked up a biography on Alexander Hamilton. After reading it, he came to the conclusion that Hamilton “embodies hip-hop” and that this had to be his next musical project. In 2009, he was invited to the White House and performed what would be the opening number of his hit musical. Today, "Hamilton" is one of the hottest tickets on Broadway, with every performance sold out until January. Celebrities from Amy Schumer to President Obama and his family are coming in to see the musical. So what is all the hype about?
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"Hamilton" is about the rise and fall of founding father Alexander Hamilton. Narrated by his life-long foe, Aaron Burr chronicles Hamilton’s life from the time he arrived in America through the war and up until his death. I know it sounds like history class, but Miranda believes otherwise. “This was a guy that used words to get everywhere. He wrote his way into Washington’s good graces. He caught beef with every other founding father… and then the vice president shot him!” Miranda uses music and lyrics to explain that the men that started this country had petty fights and emotions just like the rest of us. He makes history accessible again. The music Miranda has written is like nothing Broadway has seen before. Miranda has been able to seamlessly write hip-hop music to explain the Revolutionary War, rap battles to show cabinet meetings, and emotional ballads to remind the audience that these famous men had families and problems too.
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However, this isn’t the first rap musical. In fact, Miranda won a Tony award for writing his first rap musical, "In the Heights,"in 2008. So we can’t quite label it revolutionary just for being a rap musical alone (even if the raps are INSANE). What makes this musical so important is that, for the first time in years, it has broken the cultural gap and dived into mainstream pop culture. Suddenly, people who have never been to the theatre before are streaming this cast album and realizing that musical theatre isn’t just campy songs and time steps.
"Hamilton’s" cast album is being recognized by huge companies as an album to listen to. Earlier this October, Spotify not only put "Hamilton"on their “Viral Hits” playlist, but it was the promotional picture for that week!
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During the Golden Age of Broadway, show tunes could often be heard on the radio, but it’s been dwindling ever since the late 60s. The last time an original song from a Broadway musical hit the radio was in 1996 with Jonathan Larson’s “Seasons of Love.” Though "Hamilton"hasn’t hit the radio yet, many speculate that this could be the show to bridge the gap. Al Yankovic stated for New York Times article that, “For decades there has been a disparity between the kind of music that one hears on the Broadway stage and the kind that one hears on the radio or in the clubs. By working with a more contemporary musical palette, Lin-Manuel is erasing that line in a major way.”
It’s not just the music that makes this musical so modern. While casting his masterpiece, Miranda made a very deliberate decision to cast people of color as all of our major founding fathers. When asked about his choice, Miranda said, “The show reflects what America looks like now.” Many shows on Broadway have started adopting “color-blind” casting in their shows, but no other show on Broadway right now has as many Hispanic or African American actors as leading roles. This musical is giving other Broadway musicals the opportunity to change that. In a more recent interview, Miranda even said that he wouldn’t be opposed to seeing women play the founding fathers in the future. Furthermore, this musical has some top-notch female characters. They are strong, independent, and (I think) have some of the best songs in the show. In his notes on the lyrics of the musical, he explains that the musical is as much about Eliza Hamilton (Alexander’s wife) as it is about Alexander. In fact, the musical ends by explaining her accomplishments, and thus telling her story.
Like it or not, this musical is making major changes to the industry. With a seven-year long project, Miranda has revolutionized what Broadway musicals can be about, what the music can sound like, and who can be cast in them. Not only is he changing the industry from a creative side, but he’s also pushing boundaries by helping students from inner-city schools have access to the show. I would argue that "Hamilton"is the most important musical to hit Broadway since "Spring Awakening"in 2007. No other musical since has changed the game this much. This kind of creativity on Broadway is so important to keep the industry alive and thriving. The world has it's eye's on Miranda and "Hamilton"right now, and I can't wait for what we get to see next.
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If you need anymore proof that this is one of the greatest musicals of our time, here are some clips!
