Hamilton (musical)

Hamilton is a musical with music, lyrics, and book by Lin-Manuel Miranda. It is inspired by Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow.

Production

Directed by Thomas Kail and choreographed by Andy Blankenbuehler, the musical debuted Off-Broadway on February 17, 2015 at The Public Theater, with an engagement through May 3. ^[1] Chernow served as historical consultant to the production.^[2]

Miranda plays Alexander Hamilton, with a cast that features Brian d'Arcy James (as King George), Renee Elise Goldsberry (as Angelica Schuyler), Christopher Jackson (as George Washington), Leslie Odom, Jr. (as Aaron Burr), Anthony Ramos (as John Laurens, Phillip Hamilton), and Phillipa Soo (as Eliza Hamilton). On March 1, 2015, d'Arcy James left Hamilton to star in the Broadway production of Something Rotten!. He was replaced by Jonathan Groff for the remainder of the Off-Broadway run.^[3] The set designer is David Korins, the costumes are by Paul Tazewell, and the lighting is by Howell Binkley.^{[4] [5]}

The show opened to universal acclaim according to review aggregator Did He Like It.^[6]

In a surprise move, on February 24, 2015 the producers of the musical opted to stay in their original space Off-Broadway at the Public Theater, instead of moving to Broadway immediately in order to compete for the 2015 Tony Awards. In a move reportedly driven by writer and lead performer Lin-Manuel Miranda, they hope to prune perhaps 15 minutes from the musical's original 2:45 minute running time, and make other improvements, before transferring to Broadway.^[7] The show is expected to open on Broadway at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on July 13, 2015 in previews, officially on August 8.^[8]

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.^[9]

Musical numbers