If you haven't heard about Hamilton yet you're in luck, because this article is going to prepare you for the experience of a lifetime. And to all of you out there who hold Hamilton near and dear to your heart, you'll understand exactly what I'm talking about.
Musical theatre isn't just for theatre nerds now, it's been spreading to the wider community because of it's use of modern musical genres--hip hop, rap, and R&B, to name a few. This musical, written by Lin-Manuel Miranda (LMM) has also made history more accessible, presenting it in a way anyone can relate to. The founding fathers were human beings; they all had flaws just as they all had admirable qualities. If you think you're ready to take the plunge and listen to Hamilton, or if you're trying to determine whether or not you have a problem, here are the 8 stages of a Hamilton addiction:
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1. "Ooh, who is this kid?"
You've heard of Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, James Madison, and all those other guys, but when it comes to Hamilton you might be left scratching your head. I promise you, he was one of our founding fathers. I know, I know. A musical about our founding fathers can sound, well, nerdy, but I promise you you won't be disappointed.
2. "What comes next?"
You've listened to it once through, and oddly enough you've enjoyed it. You may or may not like rap, but there is enough variety that you can't help but be drawn to it. The characters are still hard to identify when they sing, and you don't necessarily know what's going on, but overall, it was an entertaining experience.
3. "Let's have another round tonight."
Oh no, you didn't think that was the end of it, did you? You can't quite put a finger on it, but you've got to listen to it again. And again. And again. The more you listen to it the better it gets--and because you're paying more attention, you're starting to pick up on the plot and various characters.
4. "Why so sad?"
The problem with beginning to understand the musical is that...well, you start to understand it. And it's not always happy. If you had one wish, it would be to scoop all of the characters into your arms and give them a big hug. Trust me, they'll need hugs.
5. "This is not a moment, it's the movement!"
After a while you realize you've just got to see what these characters look like. You've spent so much time with all of them, and you're starting to feel like you know them, but you can't put faces to names. That's when you realize what an amazing thing Lin-Manuel Miranda has done--the cast, with the exception of King George and some of the ensemble, is composed entirely of people of color. The idea is that Hamilton is a musical about "America then", told by "America now." And "America now" is wonderfully diverse! History is happening in Manhattan. And what's more? You realize that the majority of the main cast play two roles--all of Hamilton's friends in Act I become his adversaries in Act II. I'll let you think on that.
6. "I will never be satisfied."
Now that you feel as though you truly know these characters, you want more. In fact, you need more. You wonder what other tricks Lin-Manuel Miranda has up his sleeve. You've likely already caught a couple of his references, but now you scour genius.com to see what the lyrics are all about. There are pop culture references everywhere, like nods to Beyonce, Biggie Smalls, Soulja Boy and so many others. Many words have double, triple, even quadruple meanings. You follow LMM and the musical itself on Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat--even Tumblr--just to soak it all up. The revelations are endless.
7. "I wanna be in the room where it happens."
You're officially addicted--the only fix that can satisfy is actually seeing the show with your own two eyes. Sure, there are videos up, but those are few and far between. You know that you are missing half of the experience, and that there is likely so much more genius embedded in the staging of the show. And not only is it important to see it, but you have to see it with the original cast--you've been on this journey with them.
8. "Headfirst, into the abyss."
You, my friend, have made it. You have reached peak Hamil-trash status. When you hear words like "legacy" and "helpless" you can't help but break into song. Even everyday words and phrases make you think of Hamilton, like "son" and "pride." You speak in Hamilton quotes, whether or not other people recognize them. You've also discovered fun little games like Hamilton Roulette--when playing the album on shuffle, how many sad songs can you get in a row? All in all, though, Hamilton makes you feel like a part of something BIG.
There are endless reasons why Hamilton is influential in our time--it has changed the unspoken rules about what musical theatre can be. It incorporates different musical styles, and it promotes diversity. It is also a great window into some of this nation's history, and explores new avenues for what is possible in terms of telling those stories. Lin-Manuel's lyrics are packed with significant meaning, whether or not you can identify with Revolutionary War era America (and on). In all seriousness, you should give this musical a shot--I promise, at the very least, that you'll love King George. So if you don't know, now you know.
