Hamilton the Musical
February 19, 2016
Most Americans learn about Alexander Hamilton, one of the country’s founding fathers, in history class. Who would think that Americans could also learn about Hamilton through a Broadway musical?
Hamilton, a Broadway musical that is shockingly popular, has all the critics talking. The musical is a biography on Alexander Hamilton, showing the struggles and triumphs he faced during his life. What’s shocking is that the musical is all in a rap,hip-hop, and R&B style, which is very foreign and different from most Broadway musicals.
New York Times critic, Ben Brantley, wrote in his article,
“A show about young rebels grabbing and shaping the future of an unformed country, “Hamilton” is making its own resonant history by changing the language of musicals”
Charlie Rose, a journalist for 60 minutes, asked Lin Manuel, creator of Hamilton, why he chose to express the story in rap. Manuel replied,
“Yes. I believe it is uniquely suited to tell Hamilton’s story. Because it has more words per measure than any other musical genre. It has rhythm and it has density. And if Hamilton had anything in his writings it was this density.”
Hamilton had its first opening last year on August 6 at Richard Rodgers Theater, and is still performing and selling tickets. Prices range from $57-$177. The run time is two hours and 55 minutes.
The creator of Hamilton is Lin Manuel Miranda. He is not only the composer of all the music in the musical but also the star of the show, Alexander Hamilton.
Prior to creating Hamilton, Lin Miranda Manuel worked as a lyricist for the movies In the Heights, and Bring It On The Musical.
Lin Manuel wrote the play in inspiration after he read a biography written about Hamilton, by Ron Chernow, back in 2004. He used his musical ability and theatrical experience to create this unique and refreshing Broadway play.
Lin Manuel remarked during an interview for 60 minutes.
“The thing about Hamilton is he spoke in paragraphs. So the opening sentence of our show is this crazy, run-on sentence. “How does a bastard orphan, son of a whore and a Scotsman, dropped in the middle of a forgotten spot in the Caribbean by providence, impoverished in squalor, comma, grow up to be a hero and a scholar?” That’s the question we’re gonna answer for the next two hours and 45 minutes.”
Many celebrities have taken interest in the musical. On opening day Sarah Jessica Parker, Samuel L Jackson, and Diane Sawyer were seen in the audience. Even President Obama came to see the groundbreaking show.
The Broadway musical, Hamilton, continues to inspire and excite all of its viewers and critics. It has set the stage for a new generation of Broadway musicals.
Sources :
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/hamilton-broadway-musical-60-minutes-charlie-rose/
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-ca-cm-hamilton-hip-hop-notebook-20151031-column.html