Hamilton

Hamilton

By Lin-Manuel Miranda

Directed by Thomas Kail

Originally produced at The Public Theater, New York, NY.

January 20, 2015 through March 22, 2015


About the Premiere Production

From bastard orphan to Washington's right hand man, rebel to war hero, loving husband caught in the country's first sex scandal to Treasury head who made an untrusting world believe in the American economy, Hamilton is an exploration of a political mastermind. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Eliza Hamilton, and lifelong Hamilton friend and foe, Aaron Burr, all attend this revolutionary tale of America’s fiery past told through the sounds of the ever-changing nation we’ve become.



Artistic Statement

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s first new musical since the critically acclaimed In the Heights, Hamilton, inspired by the biography of Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow, sets the story of the founding fathers to a contemporary beat. As the title character, Miranda gives us a remarkable vision of Hamilton – an immigrant to the United States who, after growing up in the British West Indies, becomes a New Yorker and founding father and ultimately serves as the first Secretary of the Treasury. From bastard orphan to Washington's right hand man, rebel to war hero, a loving husband caught in the country's first sex scandal to the Treasury head who made an untrusting world believe in the American economy, Hamilton provides an astonishing musical exploration of a political mastermind. The show features a history book’s worth of quarreling characters including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Vice President Aaron Burr, who fatally shot Hamilton during a duel in 1804 in Weehawken, N.J. Through Hamilton, not only does Mr. Miranda show an extraordinarily astute grasp of the complicated political machinations that founded our nation, he simultaneously casts this story in an utterly unique light by using the hip hop and contemporary music, and by featuring a cast comprised almost entirely of people of color. This radical translation of American history not only provides an accessible perspective on the politics surrounding the Revolutionary War, it allows contemporary themes of race, immigration, and uniqueness of New York’s melting pot to resonate unexpectedly and profoundly. Hamilton marks Miranda’s second original musical, and The Public is thrilled to be working with this remarkably talented artist on this major new contribution to the field.



Grant Statement

Through the support of The Edgerton Foundation, Hamilton will receive an extended rehearsal period - adding two full weeks of rehearsals to the development process of Hamilton, allowing this piece a total of six weeks with the cast, musicians and full creative team. This crucial boon to the evolution of this piece will allow the creative team additional time to shape and refine this extraordinary new American musical.



Director: Thomas Kail

Set Design: David Korins

Lighting Design: Howell Binkley

Sound Design: Nevin Steinberg

Costume Design: Paul Tazewell

Choreographer: Andy Blankenbuehler

Alex Lacamoire (music direction and orchestrator)

Cast: Carleigh Bettiol (Ensemble), Ariana DeBose (Ensemble), Daveed Diggs (Marquis De Lafayette, Thomas Jefferson), Renée Elise Goldsberry (Angelica Schuyler), Sydney James Harcourt (Ensemble), Sasha Hutchings (Ensemble), Christopher Jackson (George Washington), Brian d’Arcy James (King George), Thayne Jasperson (Ensemble), Stephanie Klemons (Swing), Lin-Manuel Miranda (Alexander Hamilton), Anthony Ramos (John Laurens, Phillip Hamilton), Leslie Odom Jr. (Aaron Burr), Jon Rua (Ensemble), Phillipa Soo (Eliza Hamilton), Seth Stewart (Ensemble), Betsy Struxness (Ensemble), Ephraim Sykes (Ensemble), and Voltaire Wade-Greene (Swing).



Additional Funders: Hamilton is produced with the support of Jeffrey Seller, Sander Jacobs, and Jill Furman. Additional support is provided by The Wilf Family Foundation, The Blavatnik Family Foundation, and Warner Music Group.