“Hamilton” is the breakout musical that has transcended past the Broadway community and peaked the interest of the nation. After performing at the Grammys, search results for the musical soared. But don’t bother going online for tickets, the show has virtually sold out every night for months. And if you do manage to find a ticket, it might run you close to a thousand dollars.
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical brings history to 2016 by infusing hip-hop beats and fast paced raps, along with Destiny’s Child-esque harmonies from the Schuyler sisters. The more contemporary music contradicts the stereotypical musical, which is what makes it such a phenomena.
Miranda has a history of bringing different faces and talents to the stage. He initially rose to fame after starring and creating "In the Heights," centered on a Dominican-American neighborhood Washington Heights in New York City. The production's Spanish raps, salsa numbers, and vibrant characters earned the show 13 Tony nominations and four wins. Along with that, he co-wrote "Bring it On," which used real competitive cheerleaders and starred a transgender character.
Miranda brought the same energy and flare of his past works to "Hamilton." Part of the appeal of the show is that the story of Hamilton is painted without the usual white faces. Aaron Burr is African-American, Eliza Hamilton is Chinese-American, George Washington is biracial, and Alexander Hamilton is Puerto Rican - there is no limit or criteria for who could play what. Renee Elise Goldsberry, who plays Angelica Schuyler, sees the diversity as “the opportunity to reclaim a history that some of us don’t necessarily think is our own.”
Against the backdrop of #OscarsSoWhite, Hollywood should take note to how diversity in storylines and verging off the nontraditional path brings positive results. Ironically, Hollywood is more than happy to have white actors play black characters (casting a white man in Michael Jackson’s new movie, Christian Bale as Moses, the list goes on), but when it comes to putting black characters in predominately white movies, it’s a cry for not being “accurate” or “portraying the true story.” Guess what Hollywood: diversity makes for better everything. Sales increase, popularity grows, and you can truly create a phenomenon.
So while it’s impossible to see “Hamilton” live in New York, the open-ended tour begins in Chicago this fall. The national tour starts in San Francisco next year, but till then you can be a distant fan and listen to the soundtrack on Spotify.
