ILS Students Want to be in “The Room Where it Happens”
November 16, 2021
After more than six years after its debut, the hit Broadway musical Hamilton is still running smoothly. Most known for its beautiful soundtrack and ground-breaking acting, it has also been credited for creating a bridge between rap and musical theater.
What is Hamilton?
It is a two-act Broadway musical that tells the story of Alexander Hamilton during and after the American Revolution. It details him fighting as a soldier and working closely alongside George Washington. It premiered in 2015, off-Broadway, but after its Broadway debut the same year it immediately became a huge hit. Its popularity increased through the next few years. They even performed several songs at the White House for the Obamas in 2016. At the 70th Tony Awards, Hamilton was nominated for 16 awards, and won 11. It also won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2016.
“It’s the most amazing performance I’ve ever seen,”, said sophomore Juliana Echeverri.
Creation
It was created first by Grammy award-winning actor, singer, songwriter, and producer Mr. Lin Manuel Miranda. He also starred and created the Broadway musical In the Heights, whose movie adaptation was released earlier this year. Miranda helped create the soundtrack for many Disney movies, like Moana (2016) and Vivo (2021), and starred in Mary Poppins Returns (2018). Over the course of his career, he has won:
“I first discovered Hamilton when I saw a clip of Lin-Manuel Miranda performing the opening number (solo) in front of President Obama back in 2009,” said drama teacher Mrs. Lianne Rodriguez.
Miranda began the creation of Hamilton in 2009, after reading all about Alexander Hamilton’s life and becoming fascinated with it. He managed to bring together both rap and musical theater, and he has stated that one of his goals was to make sure that everyone could enjoy at least one aspect of the show. For example, there are a variety of songs on the soundtrack and different moods throughout the course of the show. Not only rap and musical theater are incorporated, but also history and the American Revolution.
“[Hamilton’s wife] leaves an incredible legacy of her own. And I think that’s what moves people, is the notion of what do we do with the time we have on this planet.”
— Mr. Miranda said to CNBC in December 2017.
So, if you are interested in learning about history while also enjoying a musical theater piece and rap songs, check out Hamilton on Disney+.
