Hamilton (Musical)

Hamilton is a musical with music, lyrics, and book by Lin-Manuel Miranda. It is inspired by the biography Alexander Hamilton, by Ron Chernow. The musical premiered Off-Broadway in February 2015 and then transferred to Broadway in August 2015.

Background

While on a vacation from his hit Broadway show In The Heights, Lin-Manuel Miranda decided to pick up a biography to read on his trip. At the airport he purchased and began reading Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow, a comprehensive biography of Alexander Hamilton's life. Miranda quickly began envisioning the life of Hamilton as a musical and researched whether or not a stage musical of Hamilton's life had been created. A play of the story had been done on Broadway in 1917, starring George Arliss as Alexander Hamilton. Upon Miranda's discovery that a musical had not yet been done, he began his work. It began as a project entitled "The Hamilton Mixtape" that Miranda worked on during his spare time from Heights. On May 12, 2009, Miranda was invited to perform at the White House Evening of Poetry, Music, and the Spoken Word where he performed the opening number from The Hamilton Mixtapes. He spent a year after that working on another early number from the show, "My Shot."

Synopsis

Act One

The show opens with the company, led by Aaron Burr, giving a summary of Alexander Hamilton's early life and poses the question: How can a penniless immigrant from the Caribbean, abandoned by his father at age ten, who watched his mother die when he was 12 and his town destroyed by a hurricane at age 17, use the power of his writing and idealism to become a man who shaped a nation? As the song ends, Hamilton arrives by ship in New York Harbor ("Alexander Hamilton").

It is the summer of 1776 in New York City. Revolution is imminent. Hamilton seeks out Aaron Burr, whom he admires for finishing college in two years, and relates to him after finding out they are both orphans. Burr is impressed but concerned by Hamilton's verbosity and passion. He advises him to "Talk less. Smile more." They then go out for a drink and meet a trio of revolutionaries: fiery abolitionist John Laurens, the flamboyant Marquis de Lafayette, and the tailor's apprentice Hercules Mulligan. They invite Burr to join them in promoting their revolutionary ideals, but he demurs, preferring to maintain some plausible deniability in case things go south. ("Aaron Burr, Sir"). Instead, Hamilton joins the revolutionaries, dazzling them with his oratory skill, quickly becoming a leading speaker in their cause ("My Shot"). The four revolutionaries bond, toasting their future and dreaming of laying down their lives for the cause ("The Story of Tonight"). Meanwhile, the wealthy Schuyler sisters – Angelica, Eliza, and Peggy – wander the streets of New York excited by the spirit of revolution in the air. Angelica, the oldest of the three, is searching for minds that will challenge her intellect. ("The Schuyler Sisters").

A vocal British loyalist, Samuel Seabury preaches against the revolution in the middle of the city. Hamilton, Mulligan, Laurens, and Lafayette grow angry listening to him, and Hamilton interrupts Seabury and decimates his argument, drowning him out ("Farmer Refuted"). A message arrives from across the sea and King George III appears, singing to the colonies as if they were an errant lover, reminding them that he is willing and able to fight for their love ("You'll Be Back").

The revolution is now underway and the British forces invade Manhattan at Kip's Bay, and the Battle of Harlem Heights begins. As the Continental Army retreats, General George Washington looks for an aide to assist him. Burr offers his services, but Washington is more interested in Hamilton, who has impressed him by stealing British cannons. Though Hamilton is anxious to gain a command and fighting on the front lines, he recognizes the opportunity Washington offers him, and accepts a position as his Aide-de-Camp ("Right Hand Man").

Burr watches with growing jealousy as Hamilton rises in rank. In the winter of 1780, ("A Winter's Ball"). Eliza Schuyler spots Hamilton amongst the men and is instantly smitten, but is too shy to go up and speak to him. Angelica goes over to Hamilton and brings him to meet Eliza. The two seem to fall in love instantly, and begin sending letters to each other before Hamilton asks to marry Eliza despite the socioeconomic class difference between them. ("Helpless"). At their wedding, Angelica gives a toast as the maid of honor. It then goes back in time to the ball, but the night is shown from Angelica's perspective. It's revealed that Angelica had also fallen in love with Hamilton that night, but she put her own feelings aside so that Eliza could be happy. Despite this, there is still a part of her that regrets doing so, but she knows it's her duty as the oldest sister to marry rich ("Satisfied"). After the wedding, Lafayette, Mulligan, Laurens and Hamilton drink and joke like old times, then Burr arrives to offer congratulations. Hamilton welcomes him, but the other men are unhappy about his presence. Burr then reveals that he's in love with a woman who is married to a British officer ("The Story of Tonight (Reprise)"). When he is alone, Burr laments about the woman, Theodosia, and how he's willing to wait as long as necessary to be with her publicly. He also comments on feeling threatened by Hamilton's quick rise to success, but resolves to wait and see what life has in store for him ("Wait For It").

As the revolution continues, the Continental Army is underfunded and men narrate horrible conditions they're enduring. At the Battle of Monmouth, Washington puts Charles Lee in command. Lee nearly causes the revolutionaries forces to lose the battle, forcing Washington to put Lafayette in charge. The battle results in a stalemate but the disgruntled Lee spreads rumors about Washington. Hamilton is offended by Lee's statements and wants to hold him to his word but is under direct orders from Washington to ignore him. Laurens volunteers to duel Lee instead ("Stay Alive"). In preparation for the duel, the company explains the "ten commandments" of dueling, and Laurens wins the duel by injuring Lee ("Ten Duel Commandments"). Hamilton and Laurens then get into trouble with Washington, and Washington orders Hamilton to go home. Hamilton is angry, but does not realize that Washington is doing so to protect him ("Meet Me Inside"). When Hamilton returns home, Eliza tells him that she is pregnant with their first son, and reveals that she sent Washington a letter begging him to send Hamilton home a month prior. Hamilton then realizes why Washington never gave him any dangerous jobs. He still wants to continue fighting, but Eliza wants him to stay home for a while ("That Would Be Enough").

Lafayette takes a larger leadership role in the revolution and is key player in convincing France to join the American cause. With France on their side, the balance shifts in favor of the Continental Army. Washington and Lafayette realize they can win the war, but they will need Hamilton to do so. ("Guns and Ships") Washington asks for Hamilton's help and tells him that he wished that he knew as a young commander is that history will tell your story. ("History Has Its Eyes on You"). Hamilton leads his troops into the Battle of Yorktown, where the British surrender in the last major battle of the revolutionary war. After the war, Lafayette returns to France to help start its own revolution, Mulligan goes back to his old job, and Laurens goes on to fight to end slavery. Hamilton and Washington prepare to start their new country ("Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down)").

In England, King George III receives news of the colonies' independence. He is skeptical that they think can run a country on their own, telling them not to come crawling back to him when their their people inevitably hate them ("What Comes Next?").

Hamilton writes a message to his son, named Phillip after Eliza's father, about all his hopes and dreams for him, as well as explaining how much he loves him. Burr does the same to his daughter, who is named Theodosia after her mother ("Dear Theodosia"). Eliza tells Hamilton that they've received a letter from Laurens, and Hamilton tells her he'll read it later. Eliza then clarifies, telling him that the letter is from Laurens' father. Eliza reads the letter to him, which explains that Laurens was recently killed in a battle that occurred after the war had ended. Laurens' father's letter goes on to talk about Laurens' dreams of starting an all black military regiment and ending slavery, and how those dreams have died with his son ("Tomorrow There'll Be More of Us").

Now that the war is over, Hamilton and Burr both return to New York to study at King's College and then get jobs as lawyers. Hamilton is chosen as a New York delegate to the Constitutional Convention and makes a name for himself by proposing his own plan for the Unites States government. Hamilton offers Burr a chance to help support the Constitution, but Burr rejects it out of his still present fear of taking sides. Hamilton along with James Madison and John Jay write The Federalist Papers without Burr. Burr is in awe of Hamilton's non-stop work ethic and becomes increasingly irritated by his success. Angelica moves to England with a rich and successful man she has married, but still holds her old affections for Hamilton, while Eliza struggles to understand why she isn't enough for him and he must keep working. Hamilton then is offered the job of Secretary of Treasury by newly elected President Washington. Act 1 ends with Hamilton reiterating that he is not throwing away his shot ("Non-Stop").

Act Two

In 1789 Thomas Jefferson returns to his home state of Virginia from France, where he spent most of the revolution as an ambassador. Washington asks him to be Secretary of State. Jefferson accepts and heads to New York, where he is met by James Madison who asks him to help stop Hamilton's financial plan, which Madison believes gives the government too much control. ("What'd I Miss?"). Jefferson and Hamilton then engage in debate over the merits of Hamilton's financial plan during a cabinet meeting. Things start to get heated, so Washington orders a break. He then pulls Hamilton aside and tells him to figure out a compromise to win over Congress otherwise he'll lose his position as the Secretary of the Treasury ("Cabinet Battle #1").

Hamilton begins working at home, but he's stopped by Eliza. She reminds him that it's Phillip's ninth birthday, and tells him that Phillip has something to show him. Eliza and Phillip have been practicing counting to nine in French, and Phillip demonstrates that to his father. He also reads Hamilton a poem he wrote, which amazes Hamilton. Eliza then asks Hamilton if he wants to accompany her on vacation upstate at her father's home. Hamilton refuses, saying that he has to work on his plan for Congress. In England, Angelica fawns over the last letter Hamilton sent her, in which he wrote "My Dearest, Angelica..."; she is excited by the fact that by placing the comma where he did, Hamilton has referred to her as his "dearest." She also advises him about how he needs to convince Jefferson of his plan in order for Congress to accept it, and says that she'll be returning to America to join them on their trip upstate. When she arrives, though she is excited to see Eliza, she is saddened that Hamilton won't be joining them and tries to convince him otherwise. In the end, the Schuyler sisters end up leaving without him ("Take a Break").

While Eliza is on vacation, Hamilton is visited by Maria Reynolds, who claims her husband is mistreating her. She asks if he could lend her money to escape, and Hamilton agrees and walks her home. When they arrive at her house, she invites him inside and seduces him. They begin to have an affair. Then, Maria's husband, James Reynolds, blackmails Hamilton into paying him money. Hamilton is furious with Maria, who claims she didn't know of her husband's intentions. Hamilton, however, agrees and pays Reynolds the money he requested ("Say No To This").

Hamilton talks with Burr, who asks him how he's going to get his plan approved. Hamilton tells him that he'll be yielding Burr's old advice to "Talk less. Smile more." Hamilton then has to leave to discuss his plan with Jefferson and Madison over a private dinner, and resulting in the Compromise of 1790 giving support to Hamilton's financial plan in exchange for moving the United States capital from New York to Virginia (eventually becoming Washington, DC). Burr comments on how no one besides the men who were in the meeting know how decisions were made. Burr is envious of them and wants to be in the room where it happened. ("The Room Where It Happens").

At the Hamilton home, Phillip shows his mother a paper that says that her father, Phillip Schuyler, has lost his seat in the Senate to Burr. Eliza tries to explain to Phillip how that's just how things happen sometimes. Elsewhere, Hamilton confronts Burr. He accuses Burr of switching parties solely to run against his father-in-law. Burr says he was simply seizing the opportunity, but Hamilton doesn't believe him and it drives a wedge between the two friends ("Schuyler Defeated").

In another cabinet meeting, Jefferson and Hamilton argue over whether or not the United States should assist France in their revolution. Jefferson urges people to remember what France has did for the American Revolution, but Hamilton argues that Jefferson doesn't understand what a revolution is really like, since he spent the American Revolution in France, and that they should remain neutral. Washington agrees with Hamilton, and the Congress decides to remain neutral on the situation ("Cabinet Battle #2"). After the meeting, Burr, Jefferson, and Madison bemoan how nice it must be for Hamilton to always have Washington's support, and they seek a way to damage Hamilton's image ("Washington on Your Side"). Soon after, Washington tells Hamilton that Jefferson has resigned from his position in government. Hamilton promises to ruin Jefferson by writing bad things about him, but then Washington clarifies that Jefferson is running for President, and that he is stepping down. Hamilton is shocked, but Washington convinces him that it is the right thing to do, and they write a farewell address ("One Last Time").

In England, King George III receives news about George Washington's step down from leadership, and was unaware that someone could resign from power. He is then told about the new president, John Adams, and refers to him as "that little guy that spoke to me." King George seems to thinks it's a joke, and that Adams will never be able to run the country. George then exits merrily, ready for the United States to fall under Adams' leadership ("I Know Him").

Adams and Hamilton (who is no longer Secretary of the Treasury) have a huge altercation and effectively destroy each other's reputation and the Federalist Party. Madison points this out to Jefferson, who is now Vice President, and Burr that without Washington and without his position, Hamilton now has no authority to oppose them ("The Adams Administration"). Jefferson declares that this isn't enough, because Hamilton with a pen is still threat. He suggests they tell Hamilton about the scandal they think they've found out. The three approach Hamilton, and accuse him of embezzling government money and committing treason. In reality, however, they had just found the transactions from his affair with Maria Reynolds. Hamilton, knowing the truth is the only way out, tells them about his affair and begs them not to tell anyone ("We Know"). Hamilton, still worried that the trio will tell, thinks about how writing openly and honestly has saved him in the past ("Hurricane").

Hamilton then publishes the letters that James and Maria Reynolds wrote him, and writes about them. Jefferson, Madison, and Burr rejoice over how Hamilton is "never gonna be President now." Angelica, upon hearing the news, travels from England. Hamilton, believing she is there for him, thanks her for coming. Angelica instead puts her own feelings for Hamilton aside and tells her that she is there to comfort Eliza, and leaves him ("The Reynolds Pamphlets"). At night when she is alone, Eliza takes all of the letters that Hamilton has written her and rereads them, trying to find any sort of signs to why he would ever do this. Eliza then takes herself out of the narrative by burning all of the letters, destroying Hamilton's chance at redemption and keeping the world from knowing how she reacted. ("Burn").

Years pass, and Phillip has just graduated from King's College at the age of nineteen. He is praised for having the same intelligence and good looks as his father. Phillip is upset to find out that a man named George Eacker has been saying bad things about his father, and calls Eacker out at a theatre. Eacker, angry that Phillip has made a fool of him in public, challenges him to a duel. Phillip accepts, and goes to his father for advice. Hamilton orders Phillip to aim his gun to the sky instead of at Eacker, and if Eacker is a man of honor he will follow suit. Phillip promises to do so, and while he is alone, admits he's nervous, but knows he has to defend his father. The duel countdown begins, and Phillip is aiming for the sky from the beginning ("Blow Us All Away"). However, by the time they reach seven, Eacker shoots Phillip. He is taken to a doctor, and Hamilton rushes to his side, but it is too late. Hamilton comforts Phillip, who promises his father that he did everything he told him to. A horrified Eliza then arrives, and she counts to nine in French with him until Phillip dies ("Stay Alive (Reprise)").

In the aftermath of Phillip's death, the Hamilton family moves uptown. Hamilton and Eliza have become something of a recluse, and Angelica, serving as a narrator, tells everyone to have pity for him, as they are coping with the "unimaginable." During this time, Hamilton tries to gain Eliza's forgiveness and eventually does ("It's Quiet Uptown").

The Presidential Election of 1800 ends up in a tie between Jefferson and Burr. Burr is going door to door campaigning for himself, and he comes across Hamilton. Burr tells him that he's doing everything he can to be President, and that he learned that from him. Hamilton, however, is upset that Burr has once again changed his own ideals to try to win, instead of sticking to his own convictions. When Hamilton is bombarded by people asking for his opinion on who to vote for, he shocks everyone and says Jefferson. He says that even though he has never agreed with the man, at least Jefferson has beliefs, unlike Burr. Jefferson ends up winning by a landslide. ("The Election of 1800").

Over the next few months, Burr and Hamilton exchange a series of passive aggressive letters to each other. Burr implies that Hamilton backed Jefferson solely to spite him, and Hamilton says he was just telling the truth. Burr, enraged, challenges Hamilton to a duel, which he accepts ("Your Obedient Servant"). Hamilton awakes early on the morning of the duel. Eliza asks him to come back to bed, to which Hamilton replies that he just needs to write something down. Eliza heads back to bed ("Best of Wives and Best of Women").

The next morning, Burr and Hamilton travel to New Jersey with their seconds and a doctor. Unbeknownst to Burr, the dueling ground they have chosen is close to where Phillip died in his duel with Eacker. Hamilton is the first to get into position, and Burr points out that Hamilton is wearing his glasses. He says there's no reason for that unless Hamilton means to take deadly aim, while admitting that he himself is a terrible shot. Burr declares that Hamilton will not make an orphan out of his daughter, whose mother had died a few years before. The men raise their guns to shoot, and just before a shot sounds, everything freezes – people and music alike. Only Hamilton remains, and he comments on how much he has thought about death, his relationships and wonders about his legacy. Then, time resumes, Burr shoots Hamilton and he falls. Burr tries to reach him, but Hamilton is taken away and it is suggested to Burr that he go into hiding. Hamilton dies soon later, with both Eliza and Angelica by his side. Burr laments on how even though he survived, he's cursed to be the villain in history, remembered only as the man who killed Alexander Hamilton. He realizes that no one needed to die that day because the world was wide enough for both Hamilton and him in it ("The World Was Wide Enough").

The entire company, save Hamilton and Eliza, congregate for the epilogue. Washington enters and poses the same advice about history he once gave to Hamilton, "you have no control over who lives, who dies, who tells your story". Jefferson and Madison laud Hamilton's genius despite their disagreements, while Angelica and Burr wonder how Hamilton will be remembered. Eliza then enters. She explains how she tells her husband's story over the next fifty years she lives. She tries to organize and make sense of Hamilton's thousands of writings, interviews every soldier who fought with him, raises funds for the Washington monument, speaks out against slavery, and founds the first private orphanage in New York City. She still frets that she has not done enough, and then says she can't wait to see Hamilton again. Hamilton then joins her on stage, and motions her to the front of the stage. The last image we see is of her awestruck face, gazing out into some blissful beyond as the company asks who will tell her story. ("Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story").

Productions

Vassar College Reading (2013)

Miranda performed in a workshop production of the show, then titled The Hamilton Mixtape, at the Vassar Reading Festival on July 27, 2013. The workshop production was directed by Thomas Kail and musically directed by Alex Lacamoire. The workshop consisted of the entirety of the first act of the show and 3 songs from the second act. The workshop was accompanied by Lacamoire on the piano. The only cast members to continue with the show throughout the rest of its course to Broadway would be Miranda as Alexander Hamilton, Daveed Diggs as Thomas Jefferson/Marquis de Lafayette, and Chris Jackson as George Washington.

Off-Broadway (2015)

Directed by Thomas Kail and choreographed by Andy Blankenbuehler, the musical debuted Off-Broadway at The Public Theater, starting previews on January 20, 2015, and officially opening on February 17, with an engagement through May 3. Chernow served as historical consultant to the production. The production had been extended twice, first to April 5 and then to May 3. The show opened to universal acclaim according to review aggregator Did He Like It.

Broadway (2015)

Hamilton premiered on Broadway at the Richard Rodgers Theatre (home to Miranda's 2008 Broadway debut In the Heights) on July 13, 2015 in previews, and opened on August 6, 2015. The production is produced by Jeffrey Seller and features scenic design is by David Korins, costume design by Paul Tazewell, lighting design by Howell Binkley and sound design by Nevin Steinberg.

The production was highly praised by theater critics.

Concept

According to an article in The New Yorker, the show is "Rooted in hip-hop, but also encompassing R. & B., jazz, pop, Tin Pan Alley, and the choral strains of contemporary Broadway, the show is an achievement of historical and cultural reimagining." The costumes and set reflect the period, with "velvet frock coats and knee britches. The set ...is a wooden scaffold against exposed brick; the warm lighting suggests candlelight. The musical is mostly sung-through, with little dialogue.

Miranda argues that the portrayal of Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and other caucasian historical figures by black and Hispanic actors should not require any substantial suspension of disbelief by audience members. “Our cast looks like America looks now, and that’s certainly intentional,” he said. “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.” He added, "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."

Principal roles and major casts

Character	Vassar Workshop (2013)	Off-Broadway (2015)	Original Broadway Cast (2015)
Alexander Hamilton	Lin-Manuel Miranda		Lin-Manuel Miranda / Javier Muñoz*
Aaron Burr	Utkarsh Ambudkar	Leslie Odom Jr.
Angelica Schuyler Church	Anika Noni Rose	Renée Elise Goldsberry
Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton	Ana Nogueira	Phillipa Soo
George Washington	Christopher Jackson
King George	Joshua Henry	Brian d'Arcy James*	Jonathan Groff*
Maria Reynolds / Margaret "Peggy" Schuyler Van Rensselaer	Presilah Nunez	Jasmine Cephas Jones
Thomas Jefferson / Marquis de Lafayette	Daveed Diggs
James Madison / Hercules Mulligan	Joshua Henry	Okieriete Onaodowan
John Laurens / Phillip Hamilton	Javier Muñoz	Anthony Ramos

Cast replacement history

• Jonathan Groff replaced Brian d'Arcy James as "King George" on March 3, 2015.
• On July 6, it was announced that Javier Muñoz will play the role of Alexander Hamilton once a week on Broadway.
• On October 8, it was announced that Andrew Rannells will temporarily replace Jonathan Groff as "King George" from October 27 to November 29, 2015 while Groff films HBO's Looking film. Groff is scheduled to return to the production on December 1.

Musical numbers

Act I

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

Act II

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

† Previously titled "One Last Ride" in the Off-Broadway production.

‡ Not included on the Original Broadway Cast Recording.

Critical response

Marilyn Stasio, in her review of the Off-Broadway production for Variety, wrote: "The music is exhilarating, but the lyrics are the big surprise. The sense as well as the sound of the sung dialogue has been purposely suited to each character. George Washington, a stately figure in Jackson’s dignified performance, sings in polished prose... But in the end, Miranda’s impassioned narrative of one man’s story becomes the collective narrative of a nation, a nation built by immigrants who occasionally need to be reminded where they came from."

In his review of the Off-Broadway production, Jesse Green in New York wrote: "The conflict between independence and interdependence is not just the show’s subject but also its method: It brings the complexity of forming a union from disparate constituencies right to your ears.... Few are the theatergoers who will be familiar with all of Miranda’s touchstones. I caught the verbal references to Rodgers and Hammerstein, Gilbert and Sullivan, Sondheim, West Side Story, and 1776, but other people had to point out to me the frequent hat-tips to hip-hop... Whether it’s a watershed, a breakthrough, and a game changer, as some have been saying, is another matter. Miranda is too savvy (and loves his antecedents too much) to try to reinvent all the rules at once.... Those duels, by the way — there are three of them — are superbly handled, the highlights of a riveting if at times overbusy staging by the director Thomas Kail and the choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler."

Ben Brantley in reviewing the Broadway production in the New York Times, wrote: "I am loath to tell people to mortgage their houses and lease their children to acquire tickets to a hit Broadway show. But Hamilton, directed by Thomas Kail and starring Mr. Miranda, might just about be worth it.... Washington, Jefferson, Madison — they’re all here, making war and writing constitutions and debating points of economic structure. So are Aaron Burr and the Marquis de Lafayette. They wear the clothes (by Paul Tazewell) you might expect them to wear in a traditional costume drama, and the big stage they inhabit has been done up (by David Korins) to suggest a period-appropriate tavern, where incendiary youth might gather to drink, brawl and plot revolution."

David Cote in his review for Time Out New York, wrote "I love Hamilton. I love it like I love New York, or Broadway when it gets it right. And this is so right... A sublime conjunction of radio-ready hip-hop (as well as R&B, Britpop and trad showstoppers), under-dramatized American history and Miranda’s uniquely personal focus as a first-generation Puerto Rican and inexhaustible wordsmith, Hamilton hits multilevel culture buttons, hard... The work’s human drama and novelistic density remain astonishing." Both critics chose Hamilton as a Critics' Pick, and Cote gave the production five out of five stars.

Box office and business

The musical's engagement at the Off-Broadway Public Theater was sold-out.

When the musical opened on Broadway, it had a multi-million-dollar advance in ticket sales, reportedly taking in $30 million before its official Broadway opening. Hamilton was the second-highest-grossing show on Broadway for the Labor Day week ending September 6, 2015 (behind only the The Lion King). The show has had at least 100% of capacity (or "sold out") for most of its Broadway engagement.

Awards and nominations

Off-Broadway production

Year	Award	Category	Nominee	Result
2015	Lucille Lortel Awards	Outstanding Musical		Vorlage:Won
		Outstanding Director	Thomas Kail	Vorlage:Won
		Outstanding Choreographer	Andy Blankenbuehler	Vorlage:Won
		Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical	Lin-Manuel Miranda	Vorlage:Won
			Leslie Odom Jr.	Vorlage:Nominated
		Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical	Phillipa Soo	Vorlage:Won
		Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical	Daveed Diggs	Vorlage:Won
			Brian d'Arcy James	Vorlage:Nominated
		Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical	Renée Elise Goldsberry	Vorlage:Won
		Outstanding Costume Design	Paul Tazewell	Vorlage:Won
		Outstanding Lighting Design	Howell Binkley	Vorlage:Won
		Outstanding Sound Design	Nevin Steinberg	Vorlage:Won
	Outer Critics Circle Awards	Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical		Vorlage:Won
		Outstanding Book of a Musical	Lin-Manuel Miranda	Vorlage:Won
		Outstanding New Score		Vorlage:Won
		Outstanding Director of a Musical	Thomas Kail	Vorlage:Nominated
		Outstanding Choreographer	Andy Blankenbuehler	Vorlage:Nominated
	Drama League Awards	Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical		Vorlage:Nom
		Distinguished Performance	Daveed Diggs	Vorlage:Nom
			Lin-Manuel Miranda	Vorlage:Nom
	Drama Desk Awards	Outstanding Musical		Vorlage:Won
		Outstanding Actor in a Musical	Lin-Manuel Miranda	Vorlage:Nom
		Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical	Leslie Odom Jr.	Vorlage:Nom
		Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical	Renée Elise Goldsberry	Vorlage:Won
		Outstanding Director of a Musical	Thomas Kail	Vorlage:Won
		Outstanding Music	Lin-Manuel Miranda	Vorlage:Won
		Outstanding Lyrics		Vorlage:Won
		Outstanding Book of a Musical		Vorlage:Won
		Outstanding Orchestrations	Alex Lacamoire	Vorlage:Nom
		Outstanding Set Design	David Korins	Vorlage:Nom
		Outstanding Costume Design	Paul Tazewell	Vorlage:Nom
		Outstanding Lighting Design	Howell Binkley	Vorlage:Nom
		Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical	Nevin Steinberg	Vorlage:Won
		Special Award ‡	Andy Blankenbuehler	Vorlage:Won
	New York Drama Critics' Circle Awards	Best Musical		Vorlage:Won
	Off Broadway Alliance Awards	Best New Musical		Vorlage:Won
	Theatre World Awards	Outstanding Debut Performance	Daveed Diggs	Vorlage:Won
	Clarence Derwent Awards	Most Promising Female Performer	Phillipa Soo	Vorlage:Won
	Obie Awards	Best New American Theatre Work	Lin-Manuel Miranda Thomas Kail Andy Blankenbuehler Alex Lacamoire	Vorlage:Won
	Edgerton Foundation New American Play Awards			Vorlage:Won

‡ Blankenbuehler received a Special Drama Desk Award for "his inspired and heart-stopping choreography in Hamilton, which is indispensible to the musical's storytelling. His body of work is versatile, yet a dynamic and fluid style is consistently evident. When it's time to 'take his shot,' Blankenbuehler hits the bull's-eye."

Recordings

The original Broadway cast recording for Hamilton was made available to listeners by NPR on September 21, 2015. It was released by Atlantic Records digitally on September 25, 2015, and physical copies will be released on October 16, 2015. Within 12 hours after the digital release, the album shot up to 5th on the iTunes charts. The cast album will also be released on vinyl.

External links

• Hamilton at Internet Broadway database
• Internet Off-Broadway listing