Hamilton was created by the American songwriter and actor Lin-Manuel Miranda. Miranda was born on January 16, 1980. At the young age of 45, Miranda has already accomplished so much. Not only was he the writer of Hamilton, but he also played the role of Hamilton in the original showing. Miranda is also known for writing the famous Broadway musical In the Heights, as well as songs for Disney movies such as Moana and Encanto. Miranda has been a part of many more projects, but these are just a few of his most popular.
Hamilton was originally a biography written by Ron Chernow about Alexander Hamilton. Alexander Hamilton was an author of the Federalist Papers alongside James Madison and John Jay. The main purpose of the Federalist Papers was to gain the support of the public and the political affairs regarding the ratification of the newly founded U.S Constitution. Overall, Alexander Hamilton had a very large role during the ratification of the U.S Constitution, which replaced the original Articles of Confederation.
The musical Hamilton follows the story of Alexander Hamilton as he made his way up in the government. It covers topics such as the American Revolution, the creation of the United States, Hamilton’s advancement in the government, and finally, his tragic death. Hamilton also includes well-known figures such as George Washington, John Laurens, Charles Lee, Aaron Burr, Marquis De Lafayette, Hercules Mulligan, Eliza Hamilton, and the Schuyler Sisters.
Lin-Manuel Miranda says that his musical, Hamilton, is “a story about what people do with the time they have, exploring themes of power, legacy, and the relentless drive of an immigrant’s ambition, told through the lens of the American founding father, Alexander Hamilton.” Though to some, the idea of watching a three-hour-long musical about America can seem boring, others completely disagree. “I enjoy spending my time watching Hamilton because I think that Lin-Manuel Miranda’s fascination with Alexander Hamilton’s story helped stem a drive of creativity in the musical that no one has seen before,” junior Isabelle Tyner stated.
Usually, when you’re watching or reading something historical, it can be quite disengaging because it often features black and white imagery or uses old-timey dialogue; however, that is exactly what separates Hamilton from other historical pieces. Hamilton is written in lyrical dialogue, meaning that it doesn’t use dialogue in between numbers, unlike other musicals. When a character does speak in normal conversation, it puts an emphasis on the emotional weight of that scene. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s usage of lyrical dialogue brings an exciting element to history that can make people all over the world enjoy American history for generations to come.
Hamilton, though it is still on Broadway, can be watched on Disney+. The Disney+ version includes all of the original cast members. For the past few weeks, Hamilton has been released in theatres for the 10th anniversary of the production. Many people who have already seen Hamilton have watched it in the theatre and sung along with all of their friends and family. See if Hamilton is showing at a movie theatre near you! Don’t forget to sing along! Don’t miss this experience of a lifetime!
