Hamilton is the hottest show of 2015. It sold-out its run at the Public Theater. Instead of moving to Broadway for the 2015 Tony® Awards, the writer and producers held the show Off-Broadway for the 2015-16 Broadway season.
“Cultural transfer starts with imitation, but eventually the imitation gets better than the original. Immigrants of all colors are making great contributions to our country now that will have an impact for generations to come. This was the magic of Alexander Hamilton, and it is the magic of “Hamilton” by Lin-Manuel Miranda.”
~ New York Latin Culture
Lin-Manuel Miranda is a New Yorker with a Puerto Rican heritage. Miranda first gained prominence by writing the 2008 Tony® Award-winning Broadway musical “In the Heights.” That was about the Caribbean communities in Washington Heights, New York City which is now mostly Dominican.
Hamilton Heights is the neighborhood just south of Washington Heights. We wonder if that played a role in getting Miranda to pick up the Ron Chernow book about Alexander Hamilton. If this were true, Miranda’s next show might be “Morningside” after Morningside Heights, the home of Columbia University, or perhaps a tale of the Harlem Renaissance. How about “The Rose of Spanish Harlem” after the Aretha Franklin song. Then Miranda has all of Manhattan to cover, although “West Side Story” has already been done. This just keeps getting better.
The United States is a country of immigrants. New York City is a city of immigrants. Hamilton was a poor immigrant. Let’s be honest, we give immigrants a hard time, but they make important contributions to our society. Both Alexander Hamilton and Lin-Manuel Miranda are great Americans who are part of the ever-changing story of our country.
It’s highly likely that “Hamilton” will become an American standard that stays with us for years. It’s education, inspiring, and fun. That’s Broadway.
Hamilton Awards
“Hamilton” won on “Best Musical” Obie Award, Lucille Lortel Award, Outer Critics Circle Award, New York Drama Critics Award, and a Drama Desk Award.
In an unusual move, “Hamilton” held its transfer from the Public Theater to Broadway so it could compete in the 2016 Tony® Awards instead of in 2015. “Hamilton” was nominated for a record 16 Tony Awards, and won 11.
Lin-Manuel Miranda won Tonys for Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, and Best Original Score. Leslie Odom, Jr. won Best Actor in a Musical. Daveed Diggs won Best Featured Actor in a Musical. Renée Elise Goldsberry won Best Featured Actress in a Musical. Paul Tazewell won Best Costume Design of a Musical. Howell Binkley won Best Lighting Design of a Musical. Thomas kall won Best Direction of a Musical. Andy Blankenbuehler won Best Choreography. Alex Lacamoire won Best Orchestrations.
Alexander Hamilton, a Real American
Alexander Hamilton (1755/57 – 1804) was born in the Caribbean island nation of Nevis, one of the small islands of the Lesser Antilles, east of Puerto Rico. Fatherless and orphaned as a child, Hamilton made his way to New York City at age 17 where he was noticed for his talent, making his way to a degree from what is now Columbia University.
Hamilton is one of our country’s founding fathers. He played a role in the American Revolutionary War as an aide to George Washington, founded the Bank of New York (now The Bank of New York Mellon), helped develop the American Constitution, founded our American financial system, and founded the first American political party, the Federalist Party. When did Hamilton sleep?
As the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, Hamilton crafted the deal that allowed the U.S. to pay our Revolutionary War debt by selling bonds. As part of the deal, our nation’s capital was moved from New York City to Washington D.C. This was the foundation of our U.S. financial system which has now grown into the world’s financial system.
School children in the United States learn about the 1804 duel between arch-rivals Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton that ended Hamilton’s life. The founding father is buried in Trinity Church downtown. He deserves a long, restful sleep and our eternal gratitude. He did pretty good for an orphan from the Caribbean.
This article was originally published on September 1, 2015.
Hamilton in New York City
The show is currently running in New York, Chicago, London, and on a U.S. Tour. Playwright and star Lin-Manuel Miranda is no longer in the show. However, he will star in a three-week run at Teatro UPR in San Juan, Puerto Rico from January 8 – 27, 2019.
Hamilton Tickets
Hamilton is the hardest show ticket to get in New York City. In November 2017, it is selling tickets for March – August 2018. Tickets are running from about $350 – $2,000.
There is a digital lottery for $10 tickets sold two days in advance. Enter the lottery at www.hamiltonbroadway.com or through the Hamilton app (Apple and Android).
Box Office
Richard Rodgers Theatre
226 West 46th St, New York, NY 10036
(between Broadway & Eighth Ave)
Monday – Saturday: 10 am – 8 pm
Sunday 12 – 6 pm
Phone
Ticketmaster (800) 653-8000
Online
www.hamiltonbroadway.com