Hamilton

Hamilton is the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, written and composed by the legendary Lin-Manuel Miranda, who starred as the title role for the show’s opening year. Inspired by rap and hip-hop, Hamilton follows the story of America’s founding father Alexander Hamilton, documenting his tumultuous relationship with Eliza Schuyler and his untimely death at the hands of Aaron Burr. Based on Ron Chernow’s book ‘Alexander Hamilton’, Miranda uses his real life story with a pinch of dramatic license to create one of Broadway’s biggest musicals. Unlike standard shows, Hamilton is composed of rap, ballads, hip-hop and musical theatre to create a smash-hit, record-breaking production.

Hamilton_Playbill

Lin-Manuel Miranda

Lin-Manuel Miranda

Lin-Manuel Miranda

Ron Chernow's novel 'Alexander Hamilton'

Jeffrey Seller, The Public Theater, Sander Jacobs and Jill Furman

Thomas Kail

Andy Blankenbuehler

Productions
Hamilton_Broadway

Original Broadway Production

Richard Rodgers Theatre - Opened 6 Aug 2015, closed 21 May 2017

Cast: Lin-Manuel Miranda (Alexander Hamilton), Leslie Odom, Jr (Aaron Burr), Phillipa Soo (Eliza Schuyler), Renee Elise Goldsberry (Angelica Schuyler), Daveed Diggs (Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson), Christopher Jackson (George Washington), Jonathan Groff (King George III), Jasmine Cephas Jones (Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds), Anthony Ramos (John Laurens/Philip Hamilton), Okieriete Onaodowan (Hercules Mulligan/James Madison) Replacements: Javier Munoz (Hamilton), Lexi Lawson (Eliza), Rory O’Malley (King George), Brandon Victor Dixon (Burr), Mandy Gonzalez (Angelica)

Hamilton_Tour

US Tour (2017)

US Tour - Opened 2 Mar 2017, closed 29 Nov 2018

Cast: Miguel Cervantes (Alexander Hamilton), Joshua Henry (Aaron Burr), Ari Asfar (Eliza Schuyler), Karen Olivo (Angelica Schuyler), Chris Lee (Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson), Jonathan Kirkland (George Washington), Alexander Gemignani (King George III), Samantha Marie Ware (Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds), Jose Ramos (John Laurens/Philip Hamilton), Wallace Smith (Hercules Mulligan/James Madison)



What was your favourite production? Add your thoughts in the comments box

Synopsis

Twitter Synopsis:

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s smash-hit rap and hip-hop inspired Broadway musical Hamilton follows the life of American founding father.

Add your own Twitter style synopsis (140 characters only!) in the comments box


Based on the real life of America’s founding father Alexander Hamilton, the musical opens with the company giving an introduction to Hamilton’s early life as an orphan in the Caribbean. In 1776, Hamilton seeks out Aaron Burr but rebuffs his philosophy, instead joining the company of three revolutionaries: John Laurens, Marquis de Lafayette and Hercules Mulligan. Impressing them with his speech skills, the quartet begin dreaming of their cause.

Meanwhile, the Schuyler sisters roam the streets of New York as the spirit of revolution builds in the air. A message arrives from King George in England, reminding them that he is willing and able to fight for the cause of the colonists. When the revolution begins, Hamilton, Burr and their friends join the army, who end up retreating from New York City. George Washington realises he needs help and enlists Hamilton as his right hand man, despite Hamilton wanting to fight on the front lines.

In 1780, the men attend a ball, where Eliza Schuyler instantly falls in love with Hamilton, as does Angelica. Angelica swallows her feelings for the sake of her younger sister, and Eliza and Hamilton soon marry. Burr privately admits to Hamilton that he’s having an affair with the wife of a British officer and Hamilton advises him to take action. Burr chooses to wait and see what his life has in store for him.

As revolution is rife, Hamilton asks Washington to give him command, which is given to Charles Lee instead. This proves catastrophic at the Battle of Monmouth, where Lee orders a retreat. Lafayette is promoted to replace Lee, which causes him to spread rumours about Washington. Hamilton is offended and Laurens offers to duel Lee for him. Washington finds out that Lee has been injured and orders Hamilton to return home to Eliza, who tells him that she is pregnant with his child. Lafayette convinces France to join the American cause, and the war begins to play in their favour. They realise that they need Hamilton and reluctantly order him back to cut off the British navy at Yorktown.

After days of fighting, the British surrender at Yorktown, and King George asks how the rebels expect to successfully govern their people. Soon, Hamilton’s son Philip is born and Burr’s daughter, Theodosia, is also born. Hamilton and Burr return to New York to pursue careers as lawyers and Burr becomes increasingly annoyed by Hamilton’s constant success. When Hamilton is chosen as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1787, Burr refuses to assist him. Hamilton is soon chosen to be Treasury Secretary for the newly appointed President Washington.

In 1789, Thomas Jefferson returns to the US as Secretary of State. Madison asks for Jefferson to help him stop Hamilton’s financial plan, which Madison believes will give the government too much control. Washington pulls Hamilton aside to force him to figure out a compromise. When he returns home, Angelica advises Hamilton to convince Jefferson that his plan is a good idea. Angelica and Eliza ask him to accompany them on a vacation, but he refuses, saying he needs to work.

When alone, Hamilton is visited by Maria Reynolds, who seduces him and they begin an affair. Her husband soon finds out and begins to blackmail Hamilton, who continues the affair. Hamilton discusses his financial plans with Jefferson and Madison, resulting in the Compromise of 1790, which moved the US capital from New York to Washington D.C. Burr is envious of Hamilton’s power and wishes he had the same. Burr switches political parties and beats Eliza’s father in a race for his seat in the Senate, causing Hamilton and Burr to fall out. Burr, Jefferson and Madison become irritated that Washington continues to back Hamilton, and they look for a way to damage Hamilton’s reputation.

Washington informs Hamilton that Jefferson has resigned to run for president, and he will be stepping down in the role. King George receives the news and gets ready for the US to fall under John Adams’ leadership. Adams and Hamilton fall out and destroy their party, whilst Burr, Jefferson and Madison believe that they have discovered Hamilton embezzling government money. In reality, the money comes from his affair with Maria Reynolds and Hamilton tells them of his affair, begging them not to tell anyone. Concerned that they know his secret, Hamilton publishes a public admission about the affair in hopes to save his political legacy. However, his reputation is destroyed and Eliza burns all of their letters, ruining Hamilton’s chance of being redeemed in the future.

After a number of years, Hamilton’s son Philip challenges a man to a duel after hearing him slander his father, but is shot. Philip dies and Hamilton begs for Eliza’s forgiveness. In 1800, Jefferson and Burr are tied in the race for president and Hamilton throws his support behind Jefferson, who ends up winning by a landslide. Burr challenges Hamilton to a duel and shoots him in the chest. Burr laments that even though he survived the duel, he is cursed to be the villain, only to be remembered as the man who killed Alexander Hamilton.

As the musical draws to a close, the company summarise Hamilton’s life, noting that no one has any control over how they will be remembered. Washington, Jefferson and Madison all praise Hamilton’s work. Eliza reveals that she fought to save her husband’s legacy, by opening an orphanage. As she dies, Hamilton shows her everyone that will care for her and protect her legacy, as she did for him.

Songs

Act I

  • “Alexander Hamilton” – Company
  • “Aaron Burr, Sir” – Hamilton, Burr, Laurens, Lafayette and Mulligan
  • “My Shot” – Hamilton, Laurens, Lafayette, Mulligan, Burr and Company
  • “The Story of Tonight” – Hamilton, Laurens, Lafayette, Mulligan
  • “The Schuyler Sisters” – Angelica, Eliza, Peggy, Burr and Company
  • “Farmer Refuted” – Seabury and Hamilton
  • “You’ll Be Back” – King George
  • “Right Hand Man” – Washington, Hamilton, Burr and Company
  • “A Winter’s Ball” – Burr, Hamilton and Company
  • “Helpless” – Eliza, Hamilton and Company
  • “Satisfied” – Angelica, Eliza, Hamilton and Company
  • “The Story of Tonight (Reprise)” – Laurens, Lafayette, Mulligan, Hamilton and Burr
  • “Wait For It” – Burr and Company
  • “Stay Alive” – Hamilton, Washington, Lee, Laurens, Lafayette, Mulligan, Eliza, Angelica and Company
  • “Ten Duel Commandments” – Laurens, Hamilton, Lee, Burr and Company
  • “Meet Me Inside” – Washington, Hamilton and Company
  • “That Would Be Enough” – Eliza and Hamilton
  • “Guns and Ships” – Lafayette, Burr, Washington and Company
  • “History Has Its Eyes on You” – Washington and Company
  • “Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down)” – Hamilton, Lafayette, Laurens, Mulligan, Washington and Company
  • “What Comes Next?” – King George
  • “Dear Theodosia” – Burr and Hamilton
  • “Non-Stop” – Hamilton, Burr, Eliza, Angelica, Washington and Company

Act II

  • “What’d I Miss” – Jefferson, Burr, Madison, Washington, Hamilton and Company
  • “Cabinet Battle #1” – Jefferson, Hamilton, Washington and Madison
  • “Take a Break” – Eliza, Philip, Hamilton and Angelica
  • “Say No to This” – Hamilton, Maria Reynolds, James Reynolds and Company
  • “The Room Where It Happens” – Burr, Hamilton, Jefferson, Madison and Company
  • “Schuyler Defeated” – Philip, Eliza, Hamilton and Burr
  • “Cabinet Battle #2” – Washington, Jefferson, Hamilton and Madison
  • “Washington on Your Side” – Burr, Jefferson and Madison
  • “One Last Time” – Washington, Hamilton and Company
  • “I Know Him” – King George
  • “The Adams Administration” – Burr, Hamilton, Jefferson, Madison and Company
  • “We Know” – Hamilton, Burr, Jefferson and Madison
  • “Hurricane” – Hamilton and Company
  • “The Reynolds Pamphlet” – Hamilton, Jefferson, Madison, Burr, Angelica and Company
  • “Burn” – Eliza
  • “Blow Us All Away” – Philip, Hamilton, Eacker, Dolly, Martha and Company
  • “Stay Alive (Reprise)” – Philip, Hamilton, Eliza, Doctor and Company
  • “It’s Quiet Uptown” – Angelica, Hamilton, Eliza and Company
  • “The Election of 1800” – Jefferson, Madison, Burr, Hamilton and Company
  • “Your Obedient Servant” – Burr and Hamilton
  • “Best of Wives and Best of Women” – Eliza and Hamilton
  • “The World Was Wide Enough” – Burr, Hamilton and Company
  • “Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story” – Eliza, Washington, Burr, Jefferson, Madison, Angelica, Laurens, Lafayette, Mulligan and Company
Awards

2016 Tony Awards: Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical (Lin-Manuel Miranda), Best Original Score (Lin-Manuel Miranda), Best Actor in a Musical (Leslie Odom, Jr), Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Daveed Diggs), Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Renee Elise Goldsberry), Best Costume Design of a Musical (Paul Tazewell), Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Howell Binkley), Best Direction of a Musical (Thomas Kail), Best Choreography (Andy Blankenbuehler), Best Orchestrations (Alex Lacamoire)

2016 Drama League Awards: Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off Broadway Musical, Distinguished Performance (Lin-Manuel Miranda)

2016 Pulitzer Prize: Drama (Lin-Manuel Miranda)

2016 Grammy Awards: Best Musical Theater Album

2016 Fred and Adele Astaire Awards: Best Choreographer (Andy Blankenbuehler)

2016 Dramatists Guild of America Awards: Frederick Loewe Award for Dramatic Composition (Lin-Manuel Miranda)

2016 Edward M. Kennedy Prize: Drama Inspired by American History (Lin-Manuel Miranda)

2015 Drama Desk Awards: Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical (Renee Elise Goldsberry), Outstanding Director of a Musical (Thomas Kail), Outstanding Music (Lin-Manuel Miranda), Outstanding Lyrics (Lin-Manuel Miranda), Outstanding Book of a Musical (Lin-Manuel Miranda), Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical (Nevin Steinberg), Special Award (Andy Blankenbuehler)

2015 Outer Critics’ Circle Awards: Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical, Outstanding Book of a Musical (Lin-Manuel Miranda), Outstanding New Score (Lin-Manuel Miranda)

2015 New York Critics’ Circle Awards: Best Musical

2015 Off Broadway Alliance Awards: Best New Musical

2015 Theatre World Awards: Outstanding Debut Performance (Daveed Diggs)

2015 Clarence Derwent Awards: Most Promising Female Performer (Phillipa Soo)

2015 Obie Awards: Best New American Theatre Work (Lin-Manuel Miranda, Thomas Kail, Andy Blankenbuehler, Alex Lacamoire

2015 Lucille Lortle Awards: Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Director (Thomas Kail), Outstanding Choreographer (Andy Blankenbuehler), Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical (Leslie Odom, Jr), Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical (Phillipa Soo), Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical (Daveed Diggs), Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical (Renee Elise Goldsberry), Outstanding Costume Design (Paul Tazewell), Outstanding Lighting Design (Howell Binkley), Outstanding Sound Design (Nevin Steinberg)

Leave a Reply