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New York Times
06-08-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
The ‘Hamilton' Effect: 10 Revolutionary Years on Broadway
The American Revolution lasted seven years. 'Hamilton,' the groundbreaking musical about one of its unsung heroes, has now outlasted it. It has also spawned a revolution of its own. Little on Broadway looks the way it did on Aug. 6, 2015, when 'Hamilton' opened; that's what happens when a show runs 10 years, sells more than four million tickets and earns more than $1 billion — not counting tours, international productions and the 2020 movie. And though some predictions about 'the 'Hamilton' effect' have not panned out, the ones that did have dramatically altered musical theater, affecting casting, content, marketing, pricing, outreach and even stardom. Here are nine ways of looking at the changes that Lin-Manuel Miranda and his colleagues wrought; please share your own insights in the comments section. After all, as 'Hamilton' says, 'History has its eyes on you' — and now vice versa. Race-Conscious Casting To study the portraits of our founding fathers and their known associates is to face an unceasing parade of white men. 'Hamilton' had other ideas. Burnishing the bona fides of the musical as a hip-hop narrative and making a place in the show (and in American history) for the likes of Miranda and friends and collaborators such as Daveed Diggs and Christopher Jackson, the production cast actors of color in the roles of America's forebears and some of the women who loved them. This casting underlines the idea of the United States as a nation of immigrants (even though the lead actors were not themselves immigrants) and questions the inclusivity and exclusivity of what these white men accomplished. 'Hamilton' is certainly not the first show to employ race-conscious casting (a 'photo-negative' 'Othello,' starring Patrick Stewart, is an early example), but this move has proved unusually influential, even as its playful, trenchant achievement has rarely been equaled. — Alexis Soloski New Music Much as 'Hair' supposedly did with rock music of the 1960s, 'Hamilton' did with the sounds of the new century. Or so critics said, predicting that hip-hop would soon merge into mainstream musical theater. It didn't: We had misunderstood what Miranda was up to. His songs for 'Hamilton' (as for 'In the Heights,' which preceded it) certainly include hip-hop beats and rap-style lyrics, along with hat tips to stars like Jay-Z and the Notorious B.I.G., but they aren't pop any more than 'Hair' was. They are fully theater songs, filtered through an imagination that had long since absorbed Gilbert and Sullivan, Sondheim, Kander and Ebb. The lyrics do pretty much what they do in 'Fiddler on the Roof': insistently point the ear to key content. You hear it even in the title character's first utterance, linking the name 'Alexander Hamilton' to the phrase 'a million things I haven't done' — a wonky rhyme by traditional standards but a dead-perfect rhythmic echo that bonds the man to his ambition. (Say it out loud.) 'Hamilton' may have brought new tools to the craft, and succeeded where other efforts, like the Tupac musical 'Holler if Ya Hear Me,' failed, but it didn't start a trend. It's too wrapped up in the old one for that, and too singular to be copied. — Jesse Green That'll Be $849, Please. It's hard to remember just how unhinged the lust for 'Hamilton' tickets grew when the musical was at the height of its cultural cachet. For Miranda's final Broadway performance, in July 2016, scalpers were asking an average of $10,900 for a single seat. The public's willingness to pay serious money to be in the room where the show happened, especially with the original Broadway cast, was supply and demand in action — and the producers wearied of seeing secondary sellers rake in tens of millions of dollars on the back of the show's success. Nearly a year into the run, hoping to edge scalpers out and keep more of the profits, 'Hamilton' jacked its top ticket price way up, from $475 to a record-setting $849, which seemed to be the sweet spot for scalpers. Smartly, the show paired that change with a promise of a lottery offering 46 tickets at $10 apiece for each performance. But one production breaking a pricing taboo invites others to follow. Bruce Springsteen charged $875 for his Broadway show in 2017, and the Bette Midler revival of 'Hello, Dolly!' that year went even bigger, at $998 — the price 'Hamilton' had charged over the 2016 holidays. So, last season's kerfuffle about $921 tickets for 'Othello,' and $799 seats for 'Good Night, and Good Luck'? 'Hamilton' got there first, and got away with it. — Laura Collins-Hughes Pop Culture Juggernaut Even if you'd never seen a musical, 'Hamilton' was impossible to ignore, from Broadway to the middle of the country and beyond. Celebrities turned out in droves to see the show, including the Obamas, Beyoncé and Jay-Z, Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Oprah, Emma Watson, Alicia Keys and Lena Dunham. The cast members became stars in their own right: Miranda hosted 'Saturday Night Live' in 2016, and he and others went on to have success on TV and in film and music. 'Weird Al' Yankovic released a polka medley of several songs from the show, 'The Hamilton Polka.' 'The Hamilton Mixtape' featured a who's who of hip-hop and R&B stars — Common, Wiz Khalifa, Nas, Alicia Keys and more — performing songs from the musical. Riffs on the show popped up on popular television series, like 'The Simpsons,' 'Succession,' 'And Just Like That … ' and 'Ted Lasso.' On 'Modern Family,' a parodic version of 'Alexander Hamilton' was recorded as part of a character's college application ('How does an artsy, well-read, child of divorce … '). For the first time in years, a musical's popularity transcended not only New York City, but the theater world. — Sarah Bahr Ham4Ham for the People Tickets were expensive from the start, spurring hundreds of fans to line up outside the Richard Rodgers Theater each day to enter a live lottery for $10 seats. To keep the hopefuls from going stir crazy while waiting, and to thank them for their support, Miranda started Ham4Ham, an informal entertainment that turned him into a kind of showman for the people, a 46th Street Ed Sullivan. But from the first installment — on July 15, 2015, two days after previews began — Ham4Ham was not much about Miranda himself; he was more a host than a star, sharing what he called the theater's front stoop with 'Hamilton' cast members, performers from other shows and even the Classical Theater of Harlem singing Christmas carols in the cold. Sometimes using taped elements, and going fully virtual during the pandemic, Ham4Ham has been produced intermittently ever since, most recently on May 30, when two Norma Desmonds blew the street down with nothing but moxie and a bullhorn. What has made the series so joyful, and also a brilliant marketing tactic, is just that combo of maximal showbiz and minimal means. It's a reminder that Broadway is not just a business but a neighborhood, and sometimes even a street party. — Jesse Green A Political Legacy One of the earliest public glimpses of 'Hamilton' came several months after Barack Obama's inauguration in 2009, when Miranda delivered the first track off his Alexander Hamilton concept album at a White House poetry night. He returned to the White House in 2016 with a full cast for a performance that included 'One Last Time' — in which George Washington, played then by Christopher Jackson, prepares to step aside — as Obama, in the last year of his presidency, nodded along. Miranda wasn't looking to write a partisan show, he told The New York Times in 2015; the musical attracted public officials from across the political spectrum, including Bill and Hillary Clinton, Dick Cheney, Ted Cruz and Bernie Sanders. But even with a 250-year-old plot, the show and its themes opened a door for more contemporary debates: Mike Pence's attendance when he was vice president-elect prompted an onstage plea from the cast 'to work on behalf of all of us.' (President-elect Donald J. Trump tweeted the next morning that Pence had been 'harassed.') And as the Broadway run stretches into a second Trump term, the show has canceled plans to perform next year at the Kennedy Center in Washington following the president's sweeping changes at the institution. But 10 years in, even when the partisan tangles extend offstage, the underlying political legacy of 'Hamilton' remains one not of opposition, but of energetic optimism: a symbol for the Obama years as 'Camelot' was for the Kennedys. — Nancy Coleman A New Era for Live Capture A live capture of 'Hamilton' premiered on Disney+ in July 2020. Four years later, the musical's Broadway and London productions are still going strong, and it has tours in North America and Britain. First, 'Hamilton' put an end to the idea that Broadway was allergic to hip-hop; then it killed the long-held belief that making a show available for streaming would kill its live prospects. Not only that, but 'Hamilton' also firmly established that a live capture would make people want to see the stage version more, not less. Of course, it helped that its producers had the funds for a high-quality capture, and that they filmed most of the original 'Hamilton' cast at the show's Broadway home, the Richard Rodgers Theater, in June 2016. Still, releasing a live film has worked for other productions since, most notably 'Come From Away,' 'Heathers: The Musical' and 'Frozen: The Musical.' Any exposure is good exposure nowadays, and fans seduced by streaming can morph into ticket-buying customers. The marketing wheel never stops turning. — Elisabeth Vincentelli An Ongoing Influx of Talent You change a field by changing what possibility looks like. Of all the ways that 'Hamilton' has altered the theater, probably the most radical is in its elevation of a critical mass of brilliant young actors of color — and not only in the original Broadway cast. That fact landed with me viscerally when I saw Jordan Donica as Freddy Eynsford-Hill in the 2018 Broadway revival of 'My Fair Lady,' and read in the program that he'd played Lafayette and Jefferson — the Daveed Diggs roles — on tour. Well, no wonder he was fantastic. I also think of the British actor Jamael Westman, who was 25 when he played Hamilton in the original London cast. He told me, in an interview then, about 'the bite back' that he and some friends encountered in drama school when they decided to put on an all-Black play, having seen so many all-white ones. Had 'Hamilton' not become a monster hit, it would still have been one of the relatively rare musicals with multiple capacious and challenging roles for performers of color, mostly men. But its prospering has made it a vehicle for an ongoing influx of talent. It has seeded the field with a wealth of artistry. If the theater has any sense, we will see the flowering of that for decades to come. — Laura Collins-Hughes Miranda's Post-'Hamilton' Career You might have expected that the man once credited with 'changing the language of musicals' would have continued to imprint the musical-theater canon. But his lone Broadway songwriting credit in the past 10 years is additional lyrics for the stage adaptation of 'New York, New York.' If one thing dominates Miranda's post-'Hamilton' career, it's his enduring, multipronged relationship with Disney, a company hardly known for poking the artistic bear. Over the past decade, his Disney contributions include voice work on 'DuckTales,' writing songs for the animated features 'Moana' and 'Encanto,' the latter of which spawned the chart-topping 'We Don't Talk About Bruno' and the Academy Award-nominated 'Dos Oruguitas,' proving that he has not lost his hit-making touch. If anything, this confirms that Miranda has always been, in formal and aesthetic terms, more conservative than firebrand. But no matter how far he's wandered, he is particularly inspired by New York City, which is why it was encouraging to see him back on home turf last year, when he and Eisa Davis released the concept album 'Warriors,' which gender-switched the film 'The Warriors,' from 1979. A stage version would be intriguing: After all, flipping roles has worked for Miranda before. — Elisabeth Vincentelli
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Yankees partner with Hamilton for 10th anniversary fan experience
The post Yankees partner with Hamilton for 10th anniversary fan experience appeared first on ClutchPoints. Anyone who says musicals and sports don't mix hasn't seen the New York Yankees join forces with Broadway for a one-of-a-kind celebration of Hamilton's 10th anniversary. When the Yankees host the Washington Nationals on August 25 at Yankee Stadium, the night will pay tribute to the Tony Award-winning musical with memorable performances, commemorative giveaways, and a salute to the show's legacy. The first 10,000 fans to enter the stadium will receive a limited-edition co-branded Yankees and Hamilton cap — a collectible merging two of New York's most iconic institutions. Those who want to guarantee their hat can purchase special event tickets, with $10 from each ticket going to Beyond the Stage Door. This nonprofit supports the development of diverse talent in theatrical management. The evening will kick off with actor Christopher Jackson, an original Hamilton cast member who played George Washington, performing the national anthem. Later, during the seventh-inning stretch, current Broadway cast members Stephanie Umoh, Morgan Anita Wood, and Cherry Torres — the Schuyler sisters — will perform 'God Bless America,' as reported by Andrew Gans of Playbill. Tony Award-winner Renée Elise Goldsberry, who originated the role of Angelica Schuyler, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Goldsberry, who recently released her debut album Who I Am, will add another layer of artistry to this cultural crossover night. The Yankee Stadium video board will show Hamilton-themed visuals throughout the game and connect fans to the cultural phenomenon that began in 2015 and revolutionized musical theatre. Lin-Manuel Miranda, who created the musical based on Ron Chernow's biography of Alexander Hamilton, was part of a historic run, winning 11 Tony Awards, a Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and earning more than $1 billion. 'Hamilton Cap Night' means much more than a promotional activity—it represents how far the musical has traveled in American culture, politics, and education. This partnership with the Yankees reflects the show's legacy and its place in New York culture. Related: Yankees rumors: New York potential trade target set to hit the block Related: Former Yankees manager Joe Torre's MLB All-Star Game hits fans right in the feels Solve the daily Crossword
Time Out
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Yankees to celebrate 'Hamilton' 10th anniversary with original cast and free baseball hats
With its 10th anniversary coming up next month, Hamilton is fast approaching "New York Institution" status. To welcome the Pulitzer-winning musical into that rarefied group, the New York Yankees have created a special edition of its legendary baseball cap to be handed out at its August 25 game. The first 10,000 attendees (!) to arrive at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx will receive the stylish headpiece, which features both the Yankees' insignia and Hamilton 's star-shaped logo. The special evening will also include original cast members Christopher Jackson and Tony winner Renée Elise Goldsberry performing the national anthem and throwing the game's first pitch, respectively. Current cast members Stephanie Umoh, Morgan Anita Wood, and Cherry Torres will then perform 'God Bless America' during the seventh inning stretch. Tickets for the Monday, August 25 game—against the Washington Nationals, appropriate for a story about the Founding Fathers—start at just $13. Fans who want to ensure they get a cap can buy a special ticket guaranteeing them one, currently starting at $53. The extra price goes even farther, with $10 from each of those tickets going to Beyond the Stage Door, a nonprofit educational program for undergraduate students or mid-career transitioning professionals from diverse backgrounds looking to get into general, company and stage management. This is just one of the ways Hamilton is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Creator and star Lin-Manuel Miranda yesterday announced that its official anniversary performance, on August 6, will serve as a fundraiser for the Immigrants: We Get the Job Done Coalition. The invite-only performance, whose audience will comprise previous company members, celebrity friends and sweepstake winners, is expected to raise around $3 million for the group of 14 nonprofits. The production also recently collaborated with graphic design platform Canva for a fan art contest, with the winning creation to be used in both the show's August Playbill cover, as well as inside each August issue of the theater magazine. The winner will be selected from a group of 10 finalists (out of over 3,000) on August 1. Hamilton, based on Ron Chernow's biography of Alexander Hamilton, premiered at the Public Theater off-Broadway on February 17, 2015. An instant blockbuster, it quickly moved uptown, opening on Broadway's Richard Rodgers Theater, where it continues to play, on August 6 of that year. It went on to win 11 of its record-breaking 16 Tony nominations, and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
'Hamilton' gives first-ever autism-friendly performance
Actor Christopher Jackson shares why the hit Broadway show "Hamilton" is gearing up for its very first autism-friendly performance this weekend.
BBC News
26-06-2025
- BBC News
Londonderry: School evacuated due to security alert
A primary school has closed and its pupils evacuated due to a security received a report at about 10:15 BST on Wednesday that a suspicious device had been found on the Trench Road in the Waterside area of Heart Primary School has been evacuated as part of the ongoing police Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has said a public safety operation is under way, with cordons in place at Knockwellan Park. "We understand the disruption and inconvenience this is causing, in particular for the school community and all parents and residents affected," Ch Insp Pearce said."We want to reassure everyone we are working our way through this situation as quickly as possible and appreciate the co-operation and patience from the school community and the public as we do so." 'Widespread disgust' Sinn Féin councillor Christopher Jackson said it was "appalling" that the school had been forced to evacuate staff and said pupils had been looked after in a nearby community centre, where parents were able to collect them."Those behind such reckless actions have caused a great deal of distress, disruption and concern to young children who should have been enjoying a day preparing for their summer break," Jackson said."There is widespread disgust within the community in Top of the Hill who want to see an end to this sort of mindless disruption and fear."
