It started with a man and a dream — well, actually two men and two dreams. Over 200 years ago, Alexander Hamilton had the dream of making a change as an immigrant. More recently, Lin Manuel-Miranda had the dream of bringing that immigrant man’s dream to life in the form of something completely unexpected — a musical.
Over winter break, I had the opportunity to witness this incredible piece of art. Having never been a history buff and, quite frankly, someone who has found American history boring, I came in expecting that the show would consist of an uninteresting story with mesmerizing music. But from the moment when “Alexander Hamilton” started, I realized I had never been more wrong in my life.
Throughout the show, there was no speaking — only singing and dancing — which resulted in a spectacular piece of art on something that many Americans likely do not care much about. Even Michelle Obama says it was the most incredible work of art in any form she has ever seen. Inspired by Ron Chenrow’s book, “Alexander Hamilton,” the idea was born. Now, Hamilton tickets are sold out for months and people singing the songs in their sleep.
I feel that “Hamilton” is worth the hype because of its ability to bring history alive; Alexander Hamilton’s story jumps off the page, onto the stage and in front of your face. Every single word of every single song is something that happened in American history. Everything from Hamilton’s affair with Maria Reynolds, the Battle of Yorktown which was the breakup with Great Britain and The United States to Hamilton’s writing is something impactful and meaningful. It is only now, that we come to terms with realizing that something that seems as ordinary as history, can be turned extraordinary through a musical.
Reflecting back on my Hamilton experience, I cannot begin to express how much my life has been changed by the show. I have a deeper understanding of the roots of America’s Founding Fathers and how they connected both professionally and privately. Seeing Hamilton should not only be seen as a Broadway experience, but as an educational one, too.
