How does a bastard, orphan, son of a whore and a Scotsman, dropped in the middle of a forgotten spot in the Caribbean by providence, impoverished, in squalor, grow up to be a hero and a scholar? 

So I was actually waiting to talk about this musical until later, but I was listening to the soundtrack (AGAIN) and frankly, I just couldn't help myself. If you're curious as to what the musical is? Its all about that first run on question I posed to you. Alexander Hamilton.

Hamilton the Musical, I will actually be pretty surprised if you haven't heard about it. Not only because its hit Broadway hard, but because its hit the music, writing, history, and all other theatrical communities everywhere. Hamilton broke all sorts of charts, attracted all sorts of big name celebrities and politicians to go see the show. Although, you may just be sitting there asking yourself, why?

Well recall my post about In The Heights, well, Lin Manuel Miranda wrote Hamilton. Why? Well he read the biography of Hamilton and decided, "this is a true american who i can write a full length 2 act rap musical about." Yeah, he's dedicated. It took him years to write and perfect the show but alas, he did it. Now, let me tell you why I love this show. 

First off, LIN MANUEL MIRANDA. He's still my favorite playwright and musical composer. With his absolute love as a theatre artist, his sincerity and dedication to the field always shows. Coupled with his hard earned talent, its no wonder he sells out houses. Moving on.

The actual music is just so gorgeous in its making. Miranda manages to perfectly use both classical music, rap, and musical theatre music(if that makes sense). Acclaimed by both rappers and composers his love and studies in both genres mesh perfectly to tell the story. Sometimes leaning more towards either genre depending on the song, We see the emotions, as any proper musical shows, flowing out of the characters as their lives advance. The personalities and rough lives of the politicians and actual people are shining in the compositions. And as a lyricist, Miranda has such precision in what he writes its astounding. 

"I’m in the cabinet. I am complicit in watching him grabbin’ at power and kiss it. If Washington isn’t gon’ listen to disciplined dissidents, this is the difference: This kid is out!" 

Most characters are absolutely eloquent but just as easy to run their angry mouths. For someone to write like that, well, its impressive. 

The actual story is no pushover either. Hamilton was much more than what our schools taught us. Which was that he was for the aristocracy, which was bull. and that he was shot, which, well that's true. We are entangled into the lives of these people who try, succeed, hurt and suffer. 

HAMILTON HAS BEEN DEAD FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS AND I STILL MOURN OVER THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY. 

Its rather unfair, but an amazing script in order to do that to so many people.

Either way, give the soundtrack a listen, you can find in on youtube, and its on itunes, i highly recommend buying it. Its actually considered am opera musical. Which basically means everything is in song, so if you listen to the soundtrack you don't lose any context. By all means, enjoy the show!