OT: Hamilton musical

[billhilf]

Has anyone seen Hamilton on Broadway? I'm obsessed with the soundtrack and I'm not really much of a theatre guy. Lin Manuel Miranda (the writer) is a genius. I am a history teacher and my students are all super into it also. Going to see it July 12 and paid a pretty penny on stubhub but I'm sure it will be worth it.

Anyone see it? Does it live up to the hype?

 

[RU_Coming_Along]

Why did they make a musical about Darius Hamilton?

 

[MorrisAsh]

I saw it two weeks ago with my wife. My only other Broadway musical was Les Mis but have seen many Broadway plays. It was unlike any performance I've seen. That bring said, I didn't hear all the hype so I didn't have pumped up expectations.

The musical tells a a side of the Founding Fathers story that you've never heard. Also, blazes through Hamilton's colorful life.

A few times you'll ask wtf is going on. The music is an interesting mix of Broadway chorus, hip hop and R&b. If you hate hip hop, you won't like the show so don't waste the large amount of money on tickets. Still a very memorable show!

 

[billhilf]

Thanks for the info. I listen to the soundtrack every day so I know I love the music. I have a picture in my mind of what it will look like performed. Pretty much everyone I've heatd who has seen it says it is superb.

 

[Zak57]

Alexander Hamilton is my favorite historical figure and when Chernoff wrote the biography I tore through it in a week. When I first heard about the play I had no idea they would do it in the way they did and couldn't wait until it came out. I never thought it would be acclaimed though because it's a bio of a historical figure most people look over. I've been trying to get tickets for a somewhat decent amount ever since the hype started though and alas no luck yet.

 

[Kbee3]

Alexander Hamilton is my favorite historical figure.....

I don't get that. Out of all of the historical figures....too numerous to list....I don't see how he would even make anyone's top ten ?

 

[Zak57]

I don't get that. Out of all of the historical figures....too numerous to list....I don't see how he would even make anyone's top ten ?

He basically built this country into a powerhouse economically.

 

[RUTBAY]

I don't get that. Out of all of the historical figures....too numerous to list....I don't see how he would even make anyone's top ten ?

You need to read one of his biographies. He is easily one of my top 5 founding fathers. My order is Washington, Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson, Adams

 

[billhilf]

He sort of embodies the American dream...grew up a poor orphan in the carribean, came to America and basically rose to the top, before ultimately causing his own downfall and eventually killed by a rival. His life is like a Shakespearean tragedy....as they say in the musical, "his ship is in the harbor now see if you can spot him, another immigrant coming up from the bottom."

 

[Kbee3]

You need to read one of his biographies. He is easily one of my top 5 founding fathers. My order is Washington, Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson, Adams

My comment wasn't meant as a putdown of Hamilton. Yeah he was great. I just don't understand how he could be someone's #1 historical figure. Ahead of George Washington ? Ben Franklin ? Abe Lincoln ? FDR ? Dalton Trumbo ?

 

[heygents]

I saw In the heights which was the first Lin Manuel Miranda musical and it was great.

Would love to see Hamilton as well.

 

[RUTBAY]

My comment wasn't meant as a putdown of Hamilton. Yeah he was great. I just don't understand how he could be someone's #1 historical figure. Ahead of George Washington ? Ben Franklin ? Abe Lincoln ? FDR ? Dalton Trumbo ?

Yeah no problem. Obviously people relate to what interests them. I think for me his story is something that I find very impressive and as an historical figure he is very under appreciated. His role in getting the economy working early as the first Secratary of the Treasury is often overlooked and things could have turned out much differently without him.

In my opinion he is easily the most compelling of the three authors of The Fedralist Papers and therefor his role in the formation of how our nation is organized culminating in the Constitution saved us from a fate similar to the French Revolution.

 

[anon_ivydyf0amkzay]

Saw it with my beard...she loved it...a lot...I hated it!

Way overpriced...but I got a free ticket...

Kinky Boots with Wayne Brady was much better...but I loves me a good drag show!

 

[formerlyknownasrutgers100]

My comment wasn't meant as a putdown of Hamilton. Yeah he was great. I just don't understand how he could be someone's #1 historical figure. Ahead of George Washington ? Ben Franklin ? Abe Lincoln ? FDR ? Dalton Trumbo ?

lol u cite Trumbo who no one under 30 has even heard of in that list

 

[RUhasarrived]

This musical may save him from being taken off of the ten in favor of a woman.Since Jackson hated national banks,he wouldn't mind being off of the twenty.Plus,with cash users the 20 couldn't be avoided as was the SBA coin.

 

[acsb]

It was fantastic. I have seen it twice. I doubt you would be disappointed.

 

[derleider]

This musical may save him from being taken off of the ten in favor of a woman.Since Jackson hated national banks,he wouldn't mind being off of the twenty.Plus,with cash users the 20 couldn't be avoided as was the SBA coin.

Yeah - I think the case for removing Jackson is alot more solid - even if just for the one reason you cited.

 

[RURod]

Saw the show with my wife last fall. She loved it, still talks about it. Won some major brownie points.

I enjoyed the show, but personally I preferred the Chernow Hamilton biography (Chernow also authored excellent one volume bios of Washington and John D. Rockerfller ("Titan")).

And the Stalinist Trumbo is not on my list of inspiring historical figures.

 

[Zak57]

My comment wasn't meant as a putdown of Hamilton. Yeah he was great. I just don't understand how he could be someone's #1 historical figure. Ahead of George Washington ? Ben Franklin ? Abe Lincoln ? FDR ? Dalton Trumbo ?

Love Washington also but Hamilton is the one who influenced him the most. He wrote a lot of Washington's papers including his farewell address.

 

[JoeRU]

I don't get that. Out of all of the historical figures....too numerous to list....I don't see how he would even make anyone's top ten ?

Federalist papers alone cements his spot

 

[Zak57]

Kbee looking slow after that post yesterday.

 

[Kbee3]

Kbee looking slow after that post yesterday.

Geez, and I left out Jesus, Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Isaac Newton, Einstein, Chuck Berry....just to name a few more.
Alexander Hamilton ? Really ?

 

[rtjpl]

Well here is another view point. I thought it was awful. We see 5-6 Broadway plays a year and I would rank this one near the bottom. I have to admit I am not a fan of rap music and found it disturbing that the founding fathers were rapping. I thought that the concept was good but the execution was bad. The fact that all of the founding fathers were people of color was a bit weird. Especially when one of them are accused of being a slave owner. I loved In The Heights but this is a train wreck.

 

[RUDouglass]

I saw it last month and have tickets again in June. I see 3-4 shows each year plus a few regional productions. It's by far the best show I've ever seen. LMM is a genius and the show is transforming Broadway. If you like the cast recording you will love the show.

They are performing the opening number on the Grammys next week, which shows you how its infiltrated pop culture!

 

[Kbee3]

He said Hamilton was his favorite historical figure. He didn't say Hamilton was the greatest person to ever live.

No chit. And I was just wondering WHY Hamilton.
BTW, I suggest a reading of the Gore Vidal book "Burr".

 

[rutgersal]

No chit. And I was just wondering WHY Hamilton.
BTW, I suggest a reading of the Gore Vidal book "Burr".

kbee3. its America. people are allowed to choose their favorite historical figures. Get a life.

 

[Kbee3]

kbee3. its America. people are allowed to choose their favorite historical figures. Get a life.

That's why I said "And I was just wondering WHY Hamilton". I nowhere suggested we should make it illegal to have Hamilton as one's favorite historical figure. Or that we should gather as a group, grab a rope, and look for a tall tree to hang Hamilton-lovers from. I was just curious about what would make him #1 in someone's eyes. No more than that. I've always been curious.

 

[Zak57]

As I said I think his policies are what shaped this country into the powerhouse it became through the help of all others of course. I'm a total Washington/Hamilton fan as it's just my favorite period of American history and I think they did the most to shape the course of the country.