Alexander Hamilton, the youngest founding father of America, has found the limelight once more- and in the most unexpected of ways. The musical 'Hamilton', which began as an off-Broadway production, employs Hip-Hop, R&B, and Rap to tell the man's contribution to the birth of the USA. With a moving introduction, setting up the story for Hamilton's life, love, and tragic death. Founder of America's financial system, the world's first voter-based political party, the United States Coast Guard, and The New York Post, it is hard to imagine how a man so intellectual can be captured by (predominately) rap music; yet Lin-Manuel Miranda somehow pulls it of. With outstanding reviews, it seems that 'Hamilton' is here to stay.
Hamilton- the man, not the musical- was born in the West Indes, to a single mother, and orphaned as a child, it seems that he had nothing. Through the help of wealthy local men, he managed to gain sponsor for college education, attending what is now Columbia University. Quickly making friends with other revolutionaries, such as Aaron Burr, and the Marquis de Layfett, Hamilton managed to climb his way to the position of General George Washington's second in command. After the war, the man was elected to Congress, before resigning to practice law. Consistently involved in politics throughout his life, Hamilton kept meeting fellow politician Aaron Burr, until following an insult, Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel in 1804, fatally wounding him. Despite that, Hamilton's legacy has clearly lasted, his image on the ten dollar bill, and his life story being sung on Broadway, and it seems that it will stay that way.
The musical 'Hamilton' has similarly humble origins, beginning as an off-Broadway production. Debuting on the 20th of January 2015, high demand and popularity demanded an extension of its showing first to April 5th, and then to May 3rd. It seems that this was enough- the love for 'Hamilton' prompted it to be accepted to Broadway, opening on August 6th 2015- and it has been running since. With a cast full of black and Hispanic actors portraying Caucasian historical figures, Miranda has stated “Our cast looks like America looks now, and that’s certainly intentional ... It’s a way of pulling you into the story and allowing you to leave whatever cultural baggage you have about the founding fathers at the door ... We're telling the story of old, dead white men but we're using actors of color, and that makes the story more immediate and more accessible to a contemporary audience." It is this casting decision, combined with the use of more contemporary music, which makes the musical more relatable to a younger audience.
Throughout history, revolutions have been given force by the support of the younger generation, and so it makes sense that the tale of a revolution should employ the music of youth. Hamilton was certainly a remarkable man, and Miranda’s recognition of that, and creative adaptation of his story likely makes him worthy of the term remarkable too. ‘Hamilton’ is currently playing on Broadway, and if you have the means, I strongly suggest that you see it (so I can be incredibly jealous of you).
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