Hamilton the Musical
It’s not just a Broadway show about a revolution—Hamilton is one in itself. Written by and starring Lin-Manuel Miranda (who also composed the music and lyrics for the Tony Award-winning “In the Heights”), “Hamilton” is a fresh musical rebel: from its multi-racial cast to storytelling through hip-hop, rap, ’90s pop and ballads without losing any of that Broadway theatricality. The life of founding father Alexander Hamilton is a story primed for feature film drama: an illegitimate son born in the British West Indies—an immigrant—whose ambitions led him to become a Revolutionary War hero and influential politician. He even weathered a public sex scandal and died too soon at about 49 years of age, mortally wounded in a duel by his nemesis Aaron Burr. The cast recording, currently streaming on NPR, satisfies all of the hype; listen to the rhythmic opening number, “Alexander Hamilton,” and you’ll be hooked regardless of your musical preferences.
