1772: Alexander Hamilton arrives on America’s east coast; 2015: someone writes a play about it; 2025: someone wrote an article about someone writing a play about it.
The Broadway play Hamilton is a musical retelling of Alexander Hamilton’s past as a founding father of the United States, including details about his work life, personal endeavors, and relationships with his loved ones. Lin Manuel Mirdanda, the play’s creator and original casting of Alexander Hamilton on Broadway, became infatuated with the historical figure’s past and found it interesting how a person with ideas so imperative to the country’s future seemed to be almost forgotten. Miranda made it his mission to spread Alexander Hamilton’s intriguing story in the form of an elaborate, entertaining, and exciting musical.
The production started on Broadway in the summer of 2015. The play took America by storm, quickly gaining a loyal fan base and impressing members of the music and Broadway scenes. In addition, many celebrities have seen the show, including Jay-Z, Beyoncé, and various members of the British royal family. At the 70th Tony awards, Hamilton won 11 awards; it was named the Best Musical Theater Album at the 2016 Grammy awards; Lin Manuel Miranda won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama; the list of awards goes on. In 2020, the play was released on Disney+, expanding its popularity by allowing people who were unable to travel to New York during the COVID-19 pandemic to view the show and still have an immersive experience. The show continues to run on Broadway ten years after the original showing.
The musical’s catchy songs, outstanding characters, and historical relevance have won over many Parkland students. Kylie Faught (10) said, “I saw the actual show on Broadway. The actors were extremely talented and brought the whole show to life. It was an unforgettable experience.” Faught goes on to say that the songs were so catchy that she was singing along to the music for days after seeing the show, an experience shared by many. In addition to the outstanding actors and lyricism, the historical accuracy is impressive, and it serves many students well. Angie Zaiter (11) claimed, “Hamilton is a fantastic musical; not only extremely catchy, but also extremely effective for taking any American history course.” Sarah Avila (10) said that listening to the show’s soundtrack is helping her study for AP U.S. History tests, and Rose Billowitch (10) believes that the musical brings history to life in a fun and engaging manner.
Students have also found Hamilton to be an emotional experience instead of solely an entertaining one. Expanding on the topic of excellent actors, Valeria Gonzalez (10) said that Leslie Odom’s Jr.’s performance as Aaron Burr in the Disney+ addition never fails to bring her to tears (she’s not alone on that one). Siyona Pathak (10) said that Aaron Burr’s musical monologue “Wait For It” is her anthem and keeps her going during hard times (also, not the only one). She explained, “Everyone should have at least one Hamilton song memorized. They are all cathartic to scream along to.”
All in all, Hamilton has received numerous positive reviews from PHS students and has positively impacted the lives of everyone quoted throughout this article. Hamilton, according to them and many others, is a phenomenal Broadway musical that everyone should be able to experience. Hamilton is capable of emotionally connecting with viewers on what feels like a personal level because of phenomenal acting, songs that resonate with many, and an overall inspiring message to chase your dreams and stand for what you believe in.
