There’s a new Broadway musical out. It’s a sensation that’s sweeping the nation, and no, it’s not a broom. It's sold out until well into 2017, and any ticket you can find now costs an arm, a limb and a kidney.

It's the unconventional, American musical: "Hamilton."

Most people love it. Some people just don’t understand it. But everyone’s heard of it.

Tony nominations came out, and "Hamilton" had a record breaking 16 nominations beating out any other play or musical to date.

To celebrate, here are 16 reasons why Hamilton deserves all 16 of those awards:

1. Lin Manuel Miranda

Lin plays the title character, Alexander Hamilton. But he also wrote the script, music and lyrics for this show over the span of almost 5 years. Oh, and did I mention he was working on Hamilton in what little spare time he had while starring in another Tony winning musical that he wrote, "In the Heights?"

“He can do one thousand things in one day, but he’ll do them one at a time,” said costar Renee Elise Goldsberry. Man, the man is non-stop.

2. Leslie Odom Jr.

As you know, Lin plays the title character of Alexander Hamilton, but also nominated for best performance by an actor in a leading role is Leslie Odom Jr, who plays the role of Aaron Burr. While Lin is absolutely incredible, we’ve already talked about him. The two are connected throughout the musical, always staying somewhere between friendship and bitter rivals.


They are put at odds at every turn, Hamilton being “Non-Stop” and Burr being content to just “Wait for It.” Leslie plays Burr with a charm and bright smile, yet also conveys the underlying bitterness and frustration of constantly being bested and in the end, after he has shot Hamilton between the ribs, you see his regret and release of that as the tears falls down as Leslie cries. What's more, it’s not Hamilton that tells the story–Aaron Burr is the narrator, and he takes us on a journey with him. Some might view him as the antagonist, but with Lin’s writing and Leslie’s performance, it can be hard to find a reason to agree with him.

3. The rhyming and lyrics

Read these. Appreciate the rhymes. Appreciate the lyrics. Lin uses words like “jettison” and “quagmire” and “resilience” and “Socrates.” Who just does that? And now say them 10 times faster than you were before and you’ll have an appreciation for what those actors are doing up on stage every night.

“Thomas Jefferson always hesitant with the President
Reticent – there isn’t a plan he doesn’t jettison
Madison you’re mad as a hatter, son, take your medicine
Damn, you’re in worse shape than the national debt is in.”
– "Cabinet Battle #1"

“How does a ragtag volunteer army in need of a shower, somehow defeat a global superpower? How do we emerge victorious from the quagmire? Leave the battlefield waving Betsy Ross’ flag higher?” – "Guns and Ships"

“No one has more resilience or matches my practical tactical brilliance!” – "Guns and Ships"

“So this is what it feels like to match wits with someone on your level! What the hell is the catch? It’s the feeling of freedom, of seein’ the light, it’s Ben Franklin with a key and a kite! You see it, right?” - "Satisfied"

“I practiced the law, I practic’ly perfected it. I’ve seen injustice in the world and I’ve corrected it. Now for a strong central democracy, if not, then I’ll be Socrates throwing verbal rocks at these mediocrities.” – "Non-Stop"

4. Daveed Diggs

Theatre major turned track star turned rap artist turned Broadway star. There’s nothing this guy can’t do. This show is unique in that some of the cast members play two roles–a different one in each act. In the first act, Diggs plays Lafayette, the fast-talking, table-jumping and wild-haired French immigrant. In the song “Guns and Ships,” he spits out 19 words in three seconds, some of the fastest lyrics on Broadway. And did I mention he delivers those record breaking lyrics while jumping off tables? In the second act, he changes to the cunning, charismatic and outgoing Thomas Jefferson, hopping around stage, spitting rhymes in Hamilton’s face. Daveed found him more difficult to embody, with the president owning slaves, but he channels it and plays it with overwhelming charisma and energy, stepping up and scaling back the character with ease. Bonus points for playing two completely different characters within one show as well.

5. Christopher Jackson

I was wondering who they would cast as George Washington. Those are mighty big shoes to fill. And then here comes the general, and Chris Jackson turns around. You never doubt for one moment that he is George Washington. From the first moment he turns, to imparting wisdom on a young general named Alexander, and to his decision to step down from office, he commands the stage with an air of confidence, the commander who commands my attention, with a beautiful voice, and who only raps under stress. It also says something about Jackson that he was one of the first actors cast in the production in its original off-Broadway run. So he must be doing something right.

6. Phillipa Soo

Slow clap it out for this lovely lady. She was nominated for playing the role of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton. She came into this show as a virtual unknown with only one credit to her name, has been heralded for her performance, playing Eliza, who she describes as an “…incredible woman” who loved her husband very deeply, devoted to him through betrayal and adultery, forgiving and loving him and telling his story even 50 years after his death. She delivers the depth of Eliza’s love, her struggles, frustrations, pain at the betrayal of her husband, death of her son and eventually the death of her husband, telling the story of one of the “Founding Mothers” of our country who was relatively unknown and unrecognized. With a beautiful voice and her ability to make Eliza her own, an Eliza who refuses to back down into obscurity, showing that Alexander is not the only Hamilton this musical is about.

7. Renée Elise Goldsberry

I cannot say enough about this lady. She comes into this show with whole host of roles to her name, and she once again commands the stage as one of the two leading ladies and one of the three Schuyler sisters. She plays the role of Angelica, the oldest sister with a no-nonsense attitude. She puts Jefferson in his place with her quick tongue and firey attitude, adores Alexander at first sight, but when it comes down to it, she is fiercely loyal to her sister and gives Alexander a piece of her mind after she hears of his affair. Whenever she's on stage or singing on the cast recording, my attention is always drawn to her. She plays the fierce older sister with such authenticity, confidence, and realism that I forget that she’s an actress up there and not the older sister putting her brother-in-law in his place.

8. Anthony Ramos

One of the youngest members of the cast, this 24-year old is also one who carries two roles. In Act 1, he plays the zealous confidant of Hamilton, the quick tongued John Laurens. In Act 2, he transitions to the role of Philip Hamilton, playing a 9-year old and then a 19-year old young man who wants to be “like my father, but bolder,” which gives him big shoes to fill. He’s a quick-talking revolutionary abolitionist and a Hamilton with pride–and he wears them both so well. He has a youthful innocence with a strong voice and a versatility to play different characters and different ages within the same play. This kid is going to get even bigger. Just you wait.

9. King George III, Jonathan Groff

Most people know him from his breakout Broadway role as Melchior Gabor in Spring Awakening. Or as Kristoff in Frozen. Or Jesse St. James on Glee. Basically, Groff is known in the theatre community. He plays the role of King George III, which, to be honest, isn’t that big of a role. He only appears for a few minutes in the show altogether but, when he comes out, he owns the stage like royalty. He plays the King of England, disdainfully watching the Revolution happen across the bay and narrating his feelings in the style of break-up songs. He has a signature walk (Beyoncé even asked him about it after the show) and a signature talk and though he has been replaced on the stage at the Richards Rogers Theatre, his “awesome, wow!” and gleeful cackle at the prospect of the colonies falling back into ruin will always be highlights to find on the cast album.

10. "Burn"

Alexander had an affair with Maria Reynolds, and when historians went back to try and find any of Eliza’s correspondence of the time, there was a lack of primary sources. In fact, almost nothing can be found at all. Thus, the idea being that she destroyed all of it. Instead of settling and skipping right over the important reaction of the hurt and scorned wife, Miranda chooses to write “Burn.”

“I’m erasing myself from the narrative, let future historians wonder how Eliza reacted when you broke her heart. You have torn it all apart I’m watching it burn.”

“The world has no right to my heart, the world has no place in our bed, they don’t get to know what I said. I’m burning the memories, burning the letters that might have redeemed you.”

Eliza literally burns the letters onstage, showing Miranda’s interpretation of what happened. She is stepping out of Alex’s shadow, out of his narrative that she so badly wanted to be a part of. Written in a slower, flowing 6/8 meter, (contrasting a lot of the songs that are in a solid and sure 4/4, where Alexander's virtues are extolled,) Eliza here tries to process through this affair and the deep hurt that has been done to her by the one that used to be hers–her Alexander. The combination of the lyrics, the music, the staging and Soo’s beautiful, gritty, and powerful delivery, you feel the emotions along with Eliza. That song alone deserves all the awards and I could go on and on about this song forever, but I won’t. This song will be the new “On My Own” and “I Dreamed a Dream” at musical theatre auditions.

11. Jasmine Jones

“And Peggy!”

Though not nominated for any Tony awards on her own, her dual performance as Peggy Schuyler and Maria Renyolds help Jones hold her down for the brief time we hear sing onstage. It’s hard to remember Peggy, the only Schuyler sister we never see after Eliza and Alexander’s wedding, but if you remember nothing else, remember her as Maria Renyolds, the woman Alexander gets caught up in a affair and eventually extortion plot. She plays two completely opposite characters–wallflower, forgettable Peggy and forward, sultry Maria, and so effortlessly switches between the characters that I couldn’t tell it was her playing each role, in both appearance and voices. She looks and sounds completely different, in each role, something no other person playing dual roles had to do.

12. Rap Battles

Cabinet meetings are boring. Meetings are boring, and then add 18th century political issues–you could count me out! But Miranda takes these yawn-worthy elements and turns them into two of the more memorable songs from the musical by turning them into a rap battle. Moderated by George Washington, both Cabinet battles are between Hamilton and Jefferson. They’re given wireless mics and are told to go at it. It’s simple, but changes things up just enough to keep us on our toes.

13. Okieriete Onaodowan

Onaodowan is one of the most underrated actors. With a voice that has been described as “a soft rumble of thunder covered in chocolate” and one of my personal favorites who was not nominated for an individual Tony, but he’s pretty great. As flower girl/beanie wearing tailor Hercules Mulligan in the first act, and soft speaking President James Madison in the second, while his parts aren’t large, his stage presence is commanding and his voice is reminiscent of said storm.

14. Casting

The casting for Hamilton is revolutionary in and of itself. On the website, "Hamilton" holds auditions for their open casting call, specifying a need for “non-white” actors. As Lin was writing the story, he wanted to tell the story of America as it looks today, a “commentary on America’s past through the prism of America’s present, its future.” There are white people, but they’re specifically looking for non-white actors. Hamilton has created a space for these non-white actors on Broadway that is normally hard to find. There’s a call of “reverse” racism with this casting call, but then again, there are often casting calls that exclude actors of color, but no one calls producers out on those. It’s unique, it’s different from anything you will see on Broadway, and that’s the point. Calm yoselves white people.

15. "Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story"

This song closes out the story. Washington and the other Founding Fathers and cast members come back in this song that follows the death of Alexander. While it begins with the founding fathers telling their story, this song is not about them. This song is Eliza’s.

"I’m erasing myself from the narrative…” – "Burn"

“I put myself back in the narrative.” – "Who Lives"

Eliza spent the rest of her life telling Alexander’s story, telling of the men he fought and worked with, fighting against slavery, opening an orphanage to help kids who lost their parents like Alexander. She spent the remaining 50 years of her life telling Alexander’s story and keeping his flame alive, answering the question asked in the song title. But this wasn’t enough.

“I live another fifty years, it’s not enough.”

“And I’m still not through, I ask myself ‘What would you do if you had more time?”

“I speak out against slavery, you could’ve done so much more if you only had time!"

“In their eyes I see you Alexander, I see you every time, and when my time is up, have I done enough? Will they tell my story?"

In this last moment, Alexander appears onstage next to Eliza, and grabs her hand and turns her toward the audience, leaving her alone in the spotlight and she gasps as the last note fades, possibly seeing the audience, the crowds of people coming to hear her husband’s story, realizing that the told his story, and she had kept his legacy alive. In this song, it is again made clear that Hamilton is not only about Alexander, but the woman by his side. The woman who kept his legacy alive and told his story. Who lives, who dies, who tells your story? The question asked to the cast, characters, and the audience across the world.

16. Nothing has never been like this before.

In 2009, Lin went to the White House and performed for the president, first lady and their guests. He performed the title track, the opening number, explaining his idea for a musical about Alexander Hamilton told entirely in rap. They laughed. I probably would have too, because the idea of telling the story of a founding father through rap seemed utterly ridiculous to me. It didn’t make sense.

But it works. The music, the lyrics, the cast, and the story all work together to do something incredible.

Just give it a listen or two. A good listening. Hear the story. Give it a chance. You’ll understand why it matters, why it’s taking Broadway by storm, and why it’s taking the world by storm.