Hamilton comes to London's West End
As the hit American musical prepares for its UK run later this year, we recount its extraordinary critical and box-office success
In May 2009, Lin-Manuel Miranda was invited to the White House Evening of Poetry, Music and the Spoken Word. He gave the audience a quick synopsis of his work-in-progress: "I am actually working on a hip-hop album, a concept album, about the life of someone I think embodies hip-hop: Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton."
At this point, Barack and Michelle Obama laughed, along with the rest of the audience. "You may laugh," said the charismatic Miranda. "But it's true. He was born penniless... (and) became George Washington's right-hand man. I am going to be doing the first song tonight... snap along if you like."
Miranda, dressed in a black suit, black tie and white shirt with the top button undone, launched into a thrilling segment of what was to become Hamilton. Watch the video on the White House website and you'll see Michelle snapping her fingers as her husband beams at Miranda's smart, sharp and funny lyrics.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Yet no one in the room could possibly have known that Hamilton would go on to become one of the most successful Broadway plays of all time. In 2015, the New York Times marvelled at the play's "heat". In a newspaper admired for its critical toughness, this reminded us of what we'd read elsewhere – the "mega-buzzy bio-musical" is one of the most talked-about shows since The Book of Mormon and the winner of myriad awards, including a Pulitzer Prize – and then suggested that the play might well "redefine what an American musical can look and sound like".
Using brilliantly written hip-hop and R&B rhymes to tell the story of one of America's founding fathers is radical enough in itself. Miranda then cast almost entirely black and Latino actors, which is sadly still so unusual that it is commented on in virtually every article written about the show (including this one). Throw in emotion and sheer energy, and it's easy to see why Hamilton is both a critical and a word-of-mouth hit.
There is just one problem: it's almost impossible to get a ticket. Although everyone in New York talks about it, few have actually seen it. The notable exception is future VP Mike Pence, who might have sold his ticket had he known he would be taken to task from the stage that night. Miranda's final performances produced a $10,000-a-ticket frenzy.
Despite the show being a quintessentially American story, there is likely to be similar hysteria here in the UK for the show's autumn 2017 debut. Savvy fans have pre-registered for tickets, while the rest of us can only hope to get lucky when they go on general sale on 30 January. There is little point in consoling yourself with the thought that Hamilton's "mega buzz" is hype: the New York Times's reviewer wrote that he was loath to tell people to "mortgage their houses and lease their children" to get hold of tickets for a hit Broadway show.
But Hamilton, he concluded, "might just about be worth it".
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
5 sleeper hit cartoons about Trump's struggles to stay awake in court
Cartoons Artists take on courtroom tranquility, war on wokeness, and more
By The Week US Published
-
The true story of Feud: Capote vs. The Swans
In depth The writer's fall from grace with his high-flying socialite friends in 1960s Manhattan is captured in a new Disney+ series
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
Scottie Scheffler: victory for the 'pre-eminent golfer of this era'
Why Everyone's Talking About Masters victory is Scheffler's second in three years
By The Week Staff Published
-
Opening Night: musical adaptation of Cassavetes film a 'travesty'
the week recommends An 'unsalvageable' disaster that 'squanders the talents of all involved'
By The Week UK Published
-
Starter for Ten: 'very fun' musical adaptation of One Day author's debut
the week recommends 'Top-notch' cast combined with 'energetic and fun' songs makes for a 'feel-good' show
By The Week UK Published
-
Best family-friendly West End shows
The Week Recommends The pick of theatre aimed at a younger audience, from Frozen to Mrs Doubtfire
By Adrienne Wyper Published
-
Hollywood's movie musical resurgence: breaking the stigma?
Talking point The box office success of Mean Girls has led some critics to hail the return of the musical genre
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Is the 'Mean Girls' movie musical a glorious revisitation or the worst idea in forever?
Talking Point Every critic feels some kinda way about the reboot
By Scott Hocker, The Week US Published
-
The surprisingly successful world of Broadway musical reboots
The Week Recommends The latest renditions of these classic musicals demonstrate just why they've had such long legs
By Scott Hocker, The Week US Published
-
Movies to watch in December, from 'Wonka' to 'The Color Purple'
The Week Recommends A month for Beyoncé, Godzilla and Willy Wonka
By Brendan Morrow, The Week US Published
-
Sunset Boulevard review: 'dazzlingly reborn' at Savoy Theatre
The Week Recommends Nicole Scherzinger gives a 'career-defining' performance as Norma Desmond
By The Week Staff Published