Hamilton, a new musical on Broadway, is quickly becoming one of the most successful shows to hit the stage. Written entirely by Lin-Manuel Miranda and based on a biography of Alexander Hamilton’s life written by Ron Chernov, the show has taken off. Despite my love for Miranda’s other major work, In the Heights, I was skeptical of a rap musical about the life of a founding father. But after listening to the first song, I was hooked. I listened to the entire show, watched all of the interviews, and waited for the Grammy performance. And the more invested I became in Hamilton, I realized that it is the start of a theater revolution. I’ve been trying to pinpoint what I find so moving and intriguing about Hamilton, and here’s what I’ve come up with.
The cast is made up of minorities. With a few exceptions, the cast is made up of Latino, Asian, and African-American performers. And, for those who don’t know, Broadway is predominately white. (If your argument is The Lion King… don’t. Just don’t). Hamilton is giving Broadway a much needed update.
The music is brilliant. One of the genius components of the score are the references to other artists and styles. Some of the references are subtle, and some are more noticeable. My personal favorite is the Beatles-esque “La da da” featured in King George’s songs. Another piece of the score’s brilliance is the use of different instruments and styles for each character. I
personally like to compare the pop/R&B style of Eliza’s songs to the heavy use of rap in Angelica’s songs.
And, finally, Hamilton is an inherently feminist musical. If you’re ready for this article to start wrapping up, I’m just getting started. Although there are more male characters than female characters (welcome to American history), each of the women are powerhouses in their own way. The females have great depth, emotional arcs, and distinguished personalities. The two leading ladies, Eliza and Angelica, are captivating. And, get this: Eliza and Angelica have opinions and thoughts and ideas! (Sarcasm absolutely intended). Angelica’s character in particular identifies the gender role she feels pressure to fulfill. She raps, “I’m a girl in a world in which my only job is to marry rich. My father has no sons so I’m the one who has to social climb…”. I don’t want to give too much away to those who haven’t listened to the show, but keep your eyes on the Schuyler sisters.
And I haven’t even started to scratch the surface of the show’s depth. Featuring a cast of racial minorities, multiple styles of music, and issues from the foundation of America that parallel the 21st century, Hamilton has started an uprising on Broadway. For those who haven’t listened, I hope you consider giving it a try. To my fellow Hamilton fans: stay young, scrappy, and hungry.