Hamilton: Broadway's New Smash
This new biographical musical by Lin Manuel Miranda brings hip-hop to the story of the Founding Fathers.
November 2015
Allie Donofrio '18
"Who lives, who dies, who tells your story?" These are the last words sung by the entire cast of the new phenomenon Hamilton before the curtain closes. That was probably the question being asked after Alexander Hamilton was killed in a duel with his political rival, Aaron Burr.
Hamilton, only forty-nine-years-old when he died, lived a life of glory and tragedy. Hamilton’s legacy lives on through his place on the ten-dollar bill, but his story isn’t as well-known as those of the other Founding Fathers. Then along came Lin-Manuel Miranda, the Broadway veteran and creator of the musical In The Heights. Miranda bought the eight-hundred page biography, Alexander Hamilton by author Ron Chernow, to read on a flight. Miranda wasn't even halfway through with it when he began frantically searching the Internet for any trace of a musical about Alexander Hamilton existing. He was shocked to find that one didn't. He knew that Hamilton’s story had to be told, so he made one himself.
But Miranda's concept wasn't what is typically seen on Broadway - he wanted to tell the story through hip-hop.
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He started out small, working on a project titled The Hamilton Mixtape. He performed at the White House for President Obama in 2009. The song performed was titled "Alexander Hamilton," and, after undergoing many revisions, is now the opening song on the cast album. Before debuting his song, Miranda described exactly why he chose hip-hop to tell the story: "He was born a penniless orphan of illegitimate birth,” Miranda explained, “became George Washington’s right hand man, became Treasury Secretary, caught beef with every other Founding Father, and all in the strength of his writing. I think he embodies the word’s abilities to make a difference.”
"This is the story of American then, told by America now." |
Apart from being one of the only hip-hop musicals to ever exist, the cast is almost entirely comprised of people of color. In an interview with CBS, Miranda explained, “This is the story of American then, told by America now. It looks like America now.”
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The cast is made up of some new faces and some who've had experience on the Broadway stage. Leslie Odom Jr. portrays the charismatic Aaron Burr, Hamilton’s first friend, who was the last face he ever saw. Veteran Broadway actress Renée Elise Goldsberry is Angelica Schuyler, Hamilton's quick-witted sister-in-law, and newcomer Phillipa Soo acts as Hamilton's loving and loyal wife, Elizabeth Schuyler. Important figures in history, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Marquis de Lafayette also have many appearances throughout the show. Creator Lin-Manuel Miranda takes center stage, playing the esteemed role of Alexander Hamilton himself.
The music itself is catchy and toe-tapping. While it mainly consists of hip-hop, Miranda also blends components of pop and R&B, adding further to the diversity of the show. It’s the kind of music that gets into your head for days at a time. It’s the kind of story that never leaves you. It’s obvious that the question now can be answered. “Who tells your story?” Mr. Hamilton, we all do.