Logo for the musical.
Hamilton: An American Musical is the Broadway musical about the life of American Secretary of Treasury and Founding Father, Alexander Hamilton, with the lyrics, music, and book written by Lin-Manuel Miranda and based off of the biography Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow. The musical has made incredible box-office success in its Broadway production in the Richard Rodgers Theater as well as its Off-Broadway debut at The Public Theater in Manhattan.
Background
In 2008, while on a break from his other Broadway hit In The Heights, Lin-Manuel Miranda began developing the musical after buying the biography Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow to read on an upcoming vacation to Mexico. It's commonly believed that Miranda first came up with the idea during that vacation in Mexico while reading the biography in a hammock by the pool. But Miranda actually first brought up the idea to New York magazine theater critic Jeremy McCarter. "...our late-night conversation about a hip-hop version of Hamilton's life happened a week before he started that trip [to Mexico]... he must have read a few chapters and that was enough for him to come up with the idea, and even the title, which was already in place by the first night we met: The Hamilton Mixtape."[1]
Biography and inspiration to Hamilton
On May 12, 2009, Miranda performed at the White House Poetry Jam. Though he was expected to perform music from In The Heights, he instead performed the opening number from The Hamilton Mixtape, which would eventually be titled "Alexander Hamilton". Two years later, Miranda performed "My Shot" at the Ars Nova annual benefit.
Following the Ars Nova performance, Miranda focused on writing The Hamilton Mixtape. On January 11, 2012, coincidentally Alexander Hamilton's 225th birthday, he performed at the Lincoln Center as part of the American Songbook concert series. Along with his friends, they performed all 12 existing songs from the mixtape.
In the summer of 2013, Miranda was invited to take part in the New York Stage and Film's series of developmental workshops. This week-long workshop taking place in Vassar College is now known as the Vassar Workshop. At the end of the week, they performed the existing version of Act One. After it ended, Lin performed the few songs written from Act Two.
In December 2013, they started workshops through the Public Theater. Most of the members of what would become the Original Broadway Cast joined during this time. This is also when The Hamilton Mixtape was renamed Hamilton.
Miranda at the 2009 White House Poetry Jam
Almost exactly 5 years after the White House Poetry Jam, on May 9, 2014, both acts of Hamilton were performed for the first time. It was at the 52nd Street Project with only Act One staged. Miranda made changes up until the night before the performance. The Soundboard Recording comes from this workshop.
On February 17, 2015, Hamilton opened Off-Broadway in the Public Theater. Its run was extended twice, before it closed to move to Broadway.
On August 6, 2015, Hamilton opened on Broadway in the Richard Rodgers Theatre.
Songs
Plot summary
Act One
Hamilton in his iconic stance at the end of "Alexander Hamilton"
The musical begins by introducing the main protagonist Alexander Hamilton and sets his background as coming from a poor family, his father had left and his mother dying when he was young. After writing a poem about the hurricane that devastated his home, his community was impressed with his ability and raises enough money for Alexander to travel to New York, in hopes of a better life ("Alexander Hamilton"). Upon his arrival in 1776, Alexander immediately seeks out the young prodigy Aaron Burr, who in turn tells him to "talk less, smile more" ("Aaron Burr, Sir"). Alexander rejects this advice and instead joins up with three revolutionaries: John Laurens, Marquis de Lafayette, and Hercules Mulligan, and gains their friendship and trust in the Revolution by impressing them with his knowledge and skill ("My Shot"), and the four sing about earning their country by staking their lives for the cause ("The Story of Tonight"). As news of the Revolution spreads and grows in excitement, the Schuyler sisters Angelica, Eliza, and Peggy Schuyler sing about their hopes and prospects of the Revolution. ("The Schuyler Sisters")
The opposing Loyalist Samuel Seabury arrives and proclaims against the Revolution, while Hamilton defends the movement by opposing the Loyalist's actions ("Farmer Refuted"). A message then arrives from the king of England, King George III, explaining that the king will fight for the colonist's loyalty back ("You'll Be Back"). Despite this, Hamilton and his newfound allies go further to join the Continental Army, in which Hamilton is given and accepts a position as George Washington's right-hand man ("Right Hand Man").
Eliza and Alexander together in "Helpless"
In 1780 at a winter's ball, the men are in attendance, and they set their sights on the three Schuyler sisters ("A Winter's Ball"). Eliza immediately fancies Alexander and, after they are introduced by Angelica, they are married by the blessing of Eliza's father ("Helpless"). At their wedding, Angelica, reflects on how she has feelings for Alexander, but set them aside for the sake of her sister ("Satisfied"). Aaron Burr then meets up with Hamilton, Laurens, Lafayette, and Mulligan, and privately admits to Hamilton that he is having an affair with the wife of a British officer. Hamilton tells him to go for her ("The Story of Tonight (Reprise)"). However, Burr explains that he will wait for what life has in store for him, like how he has waited for everything else in his past ("Wait For It").
As the Revolution is underway, Hamilton continually asks Washington for a promotion and for a command, to which Washington denies. George Washington instead promotes Charles Lee, which leads up to an incredibly disastrous battle, in which Lee is demoted, and Lafayette takes his place. Lee then proceeds to ridicule Washington in public, which prompts Laurens to challenge Lee to a duel, without Washington's knowledge ("Stay Alive"). With Hamilton as his second, Laurens wins the duel against Lee ("Ten Duel Commandments") but Washington comes to know about the duel and is outraged at Hamilton, consequentially sending him home ("Meet Me Inside"). Eliza tells Alexander that she is pregnant with his child, and although at first Hamilton is unsure of himself, Eliza assures him that he is everything to her and begs him to stay home ("That Would Be Enough").
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The revolutionary army preparing for war in "Yorktown"
As Lafayette takes an increasingly powerful role in the development of the Revolution, he convinces France to aid the Continental Army, in which event shifts the balance to the Americans. However, he and Washington know that to win the battle they will need the help of Hamilton, and so Washington reluctantly calls Hamilton back to the army and gives him the command he has requested for so long ("Guns And Ships"). The night before the battle, Washington calls Hamilton aside and explains to him that no matter how big an impact someone has on the course of history, they cannot control how they are remembered in someone else's eyes ("History Has Its Eyes On You"). The Continental Army wins the battle after a British soldier surrenders to them ("Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down)"). After their victory, King George III questions the colonists how they will set up government and tend their own nation and rule on their own without losing the people's trust ("What Comes Next?").
After the success in the Revolution, Hamilton returns home to his son Philip Hamilton, while Burr's daughter Theodosia is born; the two sing of their hopes and fears for the future ("Dear Theodosia"). After learning the shocking news of the death of Laurens ("Tomorrow There'll Be More Of Us"), Hamilton and Burr both travel to New York to complete their studies and return as lawyers. Due to his success, Hamilton is enlisted to a delegate of the Constitutional Convention. Hamilton privately requests Burr to write The Federalist Papers in defense of the new U.S. Constitution; however, after Burr's unmoving denial, Hamilton turned to James Madison and John Jay to write the papers. After Washington is elected President, he gives Hamilton the opportunity to be the Secretary of the Treasury, and although Eliza pleads him not to accept the offer, Hamilton accepts ("Non-Stop").
Act Two
Thomas Jefferson returning home in "What'd I Miss?"
In 1789, Thomas Jefferson returns home in America from his time in France. James Madison refers to Jefferson in an attempt to stop Hamilton's financial plan, which in his belief would grant the government excessive power over the people ("What'd I Miss?"). Jefferson hears his request and debates with Hamilton over his plan in a heated manner; George Washington privately tells Hamilton that he must find a way to convince Congress of his plan in favor of both parties ("Cabinet Battle 1").
Hamilton returns home to work, at which time Eliza reminds him that his son has turned nine years old. At dinner, his son Philip Hamilton performs a rap he composed, which impresses his father and convinces him of his son's literary skill. Angelica tells Hamilton that his best chances would be in convincing Jefferson, his main political enemy, that his financial plan had benefited so that Congress would accept as well. She and Eliza then try to persuade Hamilton to accompany them on a trip upstate to their father's house; however, Hamilton declines, saying he was caught up in work for his plan for Congress ("Take A Break").
While not in the company of family, Hamilton is approached by Maria Reynolds, who tells him her husband James Reynolds is mistreating her and is being unfaithful. Hamilton decides to aid Maria and eventually began an affair. The scandal slips to her husband, who in turn confronts Hamilton and says he will keep the affair a secret if Hamilton agrees to pay him a large sum. Hamilton, though scared for his political reputation, accepts the blackmail and continues the affair ("Say No To This").
Aaron Burr in "The Room Where It Happens"
Hamilton goes to Jefferson and Madison and they discuss his financial plan. He, Madison, and Jefferson come to a compromise: the plan would be put to action if the nation's capital were to be moved from New York to a site closer to Jefferson's home in Virginia, Washington, D.C. Meanwhile, Aaron Burr is envious of the amount of power Hamilton holds over the government and its decisions, wishing he could have a similar position ("The Room Where It Happens"). He switches his political party and overthrows Hamilton's father-in-law, Philip Schuyler's seat in the Senate, and is granted more political power as a result. Because he is now against the Schuylers, Burr creates a divide between him and Hamilton ("Schuyler Defeated").
In the second cabinet battle, Jefferson and Hamilton dispute over whether the United States should aid the French in the French Revolution. Washington sides with Hamilton, deciding to stay neutral ("Cabinet Battle 2"). After the argument, Burr, Madison, and Jefferson recollect on how image-worthy it must feel to have Washington on his side always and discuss a plan to ruin Hamilton's political reputation ("Washington On Your Side").
George Washington in "One Last Time", about to step down from presidency
Washington talks with Hamilton and privately announces that Thomas Jefferson is stepping down from the government. Hamilton retorts that Washington would never be defeated in the campaign for the presidency; Washington replies that he has stepped down from running for president as well. Hamilton is shocked but is convinced by him that it is in the best interests of the nation. The men write a farewell address ("One Last Time"). King George III, in turn, is jubilant upon receiving news that Washington has stepped down, certain that the rebel nation would fall apart under the leadership of John Adams ("I Know Him").
Hamilton loses his political power without Washington and the Federalist Party is brought down from the inside by a dispute between Hamilton and John Adams ("The Adams Administration"). Madison, Jefferson, and Burr think they have found a scandal capable of ruining Hamilton's image and charge him with committing treason and pilfering money from the government; however, in truth, they had discovered the transactions of Hamilton's payments catering James Reynolds' blackmail in order to keep his affair with Maria Reynolds secret. Hamilton, knowing the lie spun to dismantle his career was worse than the truth, begs the men not to publicize the scandal and informs them of his affair ("We Know"). Hamilton remembers that being truthful has saved him many times in the past and decides that it is the only way out of his situation ("Hurricane").
Eliza discarding a letter in "Burn"
Hamilton then publishes his affair to the public in his creation of the Reynolds Pamphlet ("The Reynolds Pamphlet"). When Eliza comes to know of the affair through the publication, she mournfully vows to never look back on everything they had, and "erases herself from the narrative", claiming that history has no right to know her reaction to Hamilton's affair ("Burn").
Their son Philip turns nineteen and graduates from Kings College. He hears about George Eacker publicly degrading his father's reputation and challenges him to a duel after Eacker refused to apologize. He tells his father and asks for guidance. Hamilton lends him his pistols and tells him to throw away his shot in order to end the duel peacefully. Philip follows his advice, but Eacker shoots him early ("Blow Us All Away"). Philip is taken to the doctor, and passes away, with Hamilton and Eliza by his deathbed ("Stay Alive (Reprise)"). After Philip's death, the Hamiltons move uptown, where it is calmer and more serene, and Hamilton requests Eliza's forgiveness for everything he has done, which Eliza accepts ("It's Quiet Uptown").
In the Presidential election of 1800, Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr are matched in a tie. The public then asks for whom Hamilton supports, as he has the public's trust and will unbalance the tie. Hamilton replies that though he has never agreed with Jefferson once, he would support him as President over Burr because at least Jefferson stands for something ("The Election of 1800"). After losing the election, Burr is outraged and commences Hamilton to a duel for what he has done ("Your Obedient Servant"). On the morning of the duel, before Hamilton's departure, Eliza calls him back to bed. Hamilton replies that he has to leave, but he will "be back before you know I'm gone" ("Best of Wives and Best of Women").
Burr and Hamilton both travel to Weehawken for the duel. Burr believes that Hamilton intends to shoot him and resolves to shoot Hamilton first. Burr's main musical motif "Wait for it" and Hamilton's "I am not throwing away my shot" are fully reversed, with Burr not waiting to see that Hamilton has chosen to throw away his shot. Burr expresses his regret and reflects that he will be remembered as the villain for what he did ("The World Was Wide Enough").
Jefferson and Madison reflect on how Hamilton's political policies affected each of their presidencies. Eliza narrates what she did in the 50 years following Alexander's death. She kept his legacy alive, along with the soldiers who fought with him and George Washington. Eliza says she's most proud of founding the first private orphanage in New York City and helping raise of hundreds of children ("Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story"). It ends with Eliza gasping.
Gallery
References
- ↑ Hamilton: The Revolution, Page 11