As soon as it opened at The Public Theater in February 2015, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical “Hamilton” took New York City by storm. “Hamilton,” which depicts the life of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton through hip-hop and rap music, quickly transferred to Broadway’s Richard Rodgers Theatre that summer, where it has been playing to sold-out houses ever since. Last night “Hamilton” added another feather to its 18th-century cap with its incredible success at the Tony Awards. The tragic events of a mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando earlier in the day cast a shadow over the awards ceremony. The “Hamilton” cast performed its opening number at the event without muskets and Miranda’s acceptance speech/sonnet included references to the tragedy. Watch it here.
- Why do you think a hip-hop musical about Alexander Hamilton has proven so successful?
- What musicals or plays have you seen this year?
- What role does music or art play in your life when you face a tragedy or trying time?
