If you’ve ever wondered what the Twitter hashtags #Ham4Ham and #RiseUp were, I might be able to provide you with some insight.
These hashtags are references to Hamilton, a musical that has been running on Broadway for over nine months at the Richard Rodgers Theatre. The master behind the music, lyrics, and book are none other than Lin-Manuel Miranda—you may already be familiar with his past work In the Heights (2008). Coincidentally, this musical also opened on Broadway at the Richard Rodgers Theatre. Miranda’s inspiration behind this show came from historian Ron Chernow, who authored the biography Alexander Hamilton in 2004 and became a historical consultant for the show.
The show’s protagonist is Alexander Hamilton, one of the seven key Founding Fathers of America. It follows his humble beginnings as an orphan living in the Caribbean, his dreams of seeing an America free from Great Britain’s firm grasp—all the way to his ultimate demise by his once-best friend.
As a loyal fan of the Broadway genre, this show certainly distinguishes itself from the rest of the pack. It retains some classic Broadway elements, such as wicked ensemble numbers, amazing orchestrations, and a rich story line. But its relentless beat, powerful lyrics, and infusion of 21st-century rap music makes it a gem. In fact, critics have claimed that the only musical that can compete with Hamilton for “The Greatest of Our Generation” status is RENT—Miranda himself accredited RENT as a major influence in his conception of Hamilton.
Personally, I believe that there are many other musicals that are contenders for this title aside from RENT—all for different reasons. During the early 1980s, Broadway was in its worst financial decline, yet it was revived in 1982 when Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats opened in London’s West End and ran for 19 years. Also by Webber, The Phantom of the Opera (1986, West End) is the longest-running musical in music theatre history and is arguably the most widely-known musical in the entire world. Another show that cannot be forgotten is Les Misérables, the touching story of love, redemption, and tragedy set during a revolutionary period in France. Another lesser known but equally qualified musical is Chess, a story revolving around a politically-charged chess tournament between an American and a Soviet grandmaster during the Cold War era.
Similar to the aforementioned musicals, there is love, hate, revenge, rivalry, compassion, greed, lust, and jealousy—all of the essential ingredients to a great musical. However, Hamilton ups its game by reaching out to a broader audience—a younger audience.
This younger audience is not only falling in love with the Broadway genre; they are also benefitting from the show academically! History teachers in the U.S. are using the show’s cast recording to pique their students’ interest in the subject and as an aid to highlight important historical details during the American Revolution. Essentially, the musical brings to life stories from 18th century America.
Another Broadway culture-changing aspect of Hamilton is its diverse cast—the only Caucasian playing a major role in the musical is Rory O’Malley, who plays King George III. Not only does this market the musical to a more diverse audience, but it also reflects modern American society and gives aspiring performers the hope to persevere through the challenges that comes with working in an industry that consists of a Caucasian majority.
It’s time for you to take your shot now—a listen of Hamilton’s mind-blowing cast recording. If you’re in the mood for something sassy, give “Guns and Ships” a listen. If you need some motivating jams, go for “My Shot.” If you prefer something more sentimental, I highly recommend “Satisfied”—it may turn on the waterworks, especially if you follow along with the lyrics.
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