Hamilton, the R&B / pop-based musical, first rose to prominence on Broadway in February 2015.
Since then the musical, written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, has gained a huge following, winning 7 Olivier Awards and 11 Tony awards. It also received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2016.
But what makes this musical so special?
In 2018, I was lucky enough to see the original West End cast perform in London and I was completely amazed. Bringing R&B to the West End stage has helped to bring the world of musical theatre back into popular culture and encourage new audiences to see a show for themselves. One of the most important features of this musical is that it strives to cast actors from BAME backgrounds only. This has done wonders in the fight for the representation of these communities within the world of musical theatre.
The show presents the American Revolution beginning in 1776 to the founding of the United States of America by following Founding Fathers such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and of course, Alexander Hamilton. I think that casting non-white actors to tell this story sends an important message which shows how far we have come as a society in the path to equal rights and opportunities.
Although the #BlackLivesMatter protests have proven that the battle has still not yet been won, Hamilton plays a key role in fighting for equality within the entertainment sector. With the Founding Fathers being enslavers themselves, the use of these actors gives a definite sense that this show is a modern take on the events of the Revolution. This is a great way for musical theatre as an industry to appeal to a wider audience and in turn, this helps raise awareness of social issues and inequalities.
Combining the representation of minority groups and the education of key historical events makes Hamilton all the more important to a modern world. Furthermore, this show can appeal to new areas of society that the musical theatre industry has not previously been able to reach, which makes this show truly amazing.
While it is necessary to point out the background details of the show, the storyline itself is, as always, equally important. The musical presents the ups and downs of Alexander Hamilton’s life with outstanding show-stoppers. The standout songs include The Schuyler Sisters, My Shot and Yorktown.
I particularly love the hints toward relevant historical documents written at the time, such as Common Sense by Thomas Paine and the Declaration of Independence. These small details make a big difference in the quality of the musical because they prove that research has been undertaken to ensure that the events are being told as accurately as possible, so Hamilton is a great watch for history lovers.
After reading this article, if you are still unsure about why Hamilton has gained so much popularity since its first performance in 2015, I strongly recommend that you go and see it for yourself.
Once lockdown ends, you can see a performance at the Victoria Palace Theatre in London or, if you’re planning to cross the Atlantic anytime soon, the show is also being performed at the Richard Roberts theatre on Broadway. However, if you don’t want to leave your sofa, Hamilton can also be found on Disney+.
Edited by Hannah Youds