Hamilton: How Lin-Manuel Miranda is (Re)Making History

Hamilton doesn’t need much of an introduction; it’s Broadway’s must-see musical of the year…or decade. The show’s only flaw is that it’s almost impossible to get tickets to see it.

The 2015 musical that blossomed from the brilliant mind of Lin-Manuel Miranda made its Off-Broadway debut at The Public Theater and then found it’s home at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on Broadway late last year. Since then, the show has been deluged with acclaim from audiences and critics of all ages and backgrounds.

So what exactly is so revolutionary about the hip hop exploration of founding father Alexander Hamilton’s life?

Everything.

Miranda was inspired by Ron Chernow’s biography of Hamilton when he read it while on break from his other Broadway hit, In the Heights (2008). He then began composing raps that illustrated Hamilton’s achievements and duties such as being chief staff aide to George Washington. Miranda stars as Hamilton and is joined on stage by Daveed Diggs, Phillipa Soo, Jonathan Groff, Leslie Odom Jr., Renée Elise Goldsberry and others. The rest is history (pun obnoxiously intended).

The show, as well as its creator, has received praise for presenting a diverse cast, having powerful lyrics and being a formidable cultural reimagining of a man’s life. In regard to casting Hispanic and African American actors to portray Caucasian historical figures, Miranda commented that “this is what America looks like now” (The New York Times) and it shouldn’t be a surprising element. Miranda makes a valid point.

Shonda Rhimes, the mastermind behind shows like Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal, is lauded for writing characters who identify with different sexual orientations and races. Although she’s considered a trailblazer for doing so, Rhimes often says she’s not “diversifying” television. Rather, she’s “normalizing” it. Expressing diverse backgrounds shouldn’t be considered something “rare” or even extreme. It should be the norm. Our ever changing society is a testament to that; it’s no longer conventional to portray all white, heterosexual, cisgendered human beings. Miranda is the Rhimes of the stage.

It came as a disappointment to me when people responded negatively to NBC’s The Wiz Live‘s all-black cast.  Would it be fair to assume that these same viewers who criticized the casting would most likely not bat an eye if the cast was all white? This presents the concern: do people think theatre is designated only to an exclusive group of performers?

Theatre, like film, is a form of entertainment that presents a story to an audience. The main difference between theatre and film is that theatre performers interact directly with the audience. Without an audience, a theatrical production cannot be executed. If the audience represents different backgrounds, why shouldn’t the performers as well? Theatrical productions often emulate real life struggles, social relationships and aspirations. They are microcosms of the world’s communities thus providing support as to why Hamilton celebrates various backgrounds.

The show begins with Hamilton being introduced as a “bastard orphan” from the Caribbean who grows up to make a name for himself. We are also introduced to various other characters and the tone is instantly established; the show is meant to emphasize Hamilton’s struggles as he moves to New York to become a “new man”. This introductory rap and presentation of  various races immediately makes the story more accessible to a contemporary audience, who would’ve otherwise not related to the story as powerfully if the performers were all “conventional” and white.

The show’s representation of diversity is an obvious reason for Hamilton’s success. One should also consider why people love musicals in general: the performances and the feelings they elicit. The cast recording recently won a Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album. The cast also made history by performing live from the Richard Rodgers Theatre. For many, this was the closest thing they’d get to watching the show (me included, but my fingers are crossed). Their performance was followed shortly by Miranda’s highly applauded “acceptance rap”. But this is only the beginning of the many accolades to follow.

It should come as no surprise to anyone that Hamilton is sold out- until next year. The music is catchy, the cast is phenomenal and it provides a memorable, heartfelt experience. It’s guaranteed to make an indelible impression on anyone who’s lucky enough to see it. Although standard and premium tickets are not available, lottery tickets are. They are $10 and available for every show but I warn you thousands of fans enter each day. Forget the Hunger Games…these are the Hamilton games.

A show is only as great as its cast and its creator. There is no doubt Miranda is a visionary. He’s a creative genius who took a well known figure of history and made his story irresistible to the world. It’s no wonder that prominent pop culture icons are often present. (Guests most recently include Tatiana Maslany from Orphan Black, Marc Anthony and Kanye West). Celebrities aren’t the only ones who will be present at the shows; The Rockefeller Foundation has financed a program to provide students of low-income families of New York discounted tickets to select performances. Remember when I called this show revolutionary? Yeah. This is why. Miranda’s influence can be seen not only in pop culture but also in the lives of thousands of struggling students.

I can safely say that Hamilton isn’t going anywhere soon. That show will only continue to inspire and Miranda has much to look forward to. I would tell you to go buy tickets but we all know our only hope is those lottery tickets. May the odds be ever in your favor. In the meantime, you can purchase the cast recording on iTunes (my personal favorites are My Shot, Satisfied and The Room Where It Happens) and pre-order Hamilton: The Revolution, a book by Miranda and critic Jeremy McCarter that provides a backstage look at the world’s hottest show (official release date: April 12, 2016). A national tour of the production is also set for 2017.

The proud artist of Puerto Rican descent gave his son a shout out in his acceptance speech at the Grammys by rapping, “Sebastian, Daddy’s bringing home a Grammy for you.” Sebastian, your father is also making history.

Photo Credit: Hamilton / Joan Marcus