Last week, I was in the room where it happens and lemme tell you: there's pure magic happening there. "Hamilton," the 11-time Tony Award winning musical currently blowing audiences away nightly in New York City, is the extraordinary work of writer, lyricist and title star Lin Manuel Miranda and tells the life story of treasury secretary Alexander Hamilton. The show was both funnier and sadder than I'd imagined, but was as remarkable and groundbreaking as it is hyped up to be. It has left me continuing to relive those three hours spent at the Richard Rogers Theatre, relishing at the opportunity to see history being made. Here, in no particular order, you'll find ten of the most lasting moments for me in "Hamilton: An American Musical." (WARNING: Spoilers. Read at your own discretion.)
1. "Satisfied"
Renee Elise Goldsberry lures us into the mind of Angelica Schuyler during Eliza and Alexander's wedding, as she dispels to us her love for him and her regret at not acting on his affections when she had the chance. The set's turntable acts as a physical rewinding back to the moment where they first lock eyes. Goldsberry delivers with her stunning voice, and keeps you sympathizing with her.
2. "Dear Theodosia"
Aaron Burr walks onstage with a chair, sitting down and staring off dreamily as his daughter, Theodosia has been born. In the middle of the song, Hamilton joins him with his own chair on the other side of the stage and stands behind it with the same heavenly smile. Though the two oppose on a number of issues, the scene brings them together with a shared, pure love for their newly born children. It's a moment of bliss that Leslie Odom, Jr. and Lin Manuel Miranda depict with a release of emotion.
3. "Burn"
On the soundtrack, Phillipa Soo offers a powerhouse version of the burning of Hamilton's love letters to Eliza. In the show, it was a much quieter moment, but one that brought with it lots of tears. Alone onstage, with a blue-ish light trailing her, Eliza lights one of the letters on fire and throws it into a small bucket, which begins to roar with flames. It mirrors her rage and, stronger, disenchantment with the man who promised the world to her. (Still crying about it).
4. "Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down)"
The choreography is unbelievable in this scene. Partnered with the lighting and the heart-racing excitement when Hamilton introduces spy Hercules Mulligan, this one is a show-stopper. Seen at the Tony Awards, it was even more spectacular in real life. We get to see the interpretation of the moment when America earned her independence.
5. "Room Where it Happens"
Leslie Odom, Jr. does not disappoint in this turning point of the show. He comes to see Hamilton as his enemy in this song, complete with a big dance number. The end of the song, where he sits himself at the table Hamilton, Jefferson and Madison made their deal, brings chills with it: the calm before the (dance) storm.
6. "It's Quiet Uptown"
I still can't listen to this song without sobbing. Hamilton and Eliza have just lost their oldest son, Philip, in a duel, and here they grieve and try to grieve together. Hamilton's emotions are on his sleeve, Miranda crying through the entirety of the song; Eliza, by contrast, remains stoic and removed. When the music quiets down, Hamilton turns to his wife and sings, "Look at where we are,/look at where we started", and it forces you to look at the lives we have watched unfold to this point and question how, in fact, we got to this point. The second act is a spiraling of heartache, and this is the cornerstone of that. And when Eliza takes Hamilton's hand through a bit of silence ... oh my god.
7. "One Last Time"
President George Washington calls Hamilton to his office one day to inform him of his plans not to run for president that year. Christopher Jackson's voice is melodic, and he varies the lyrics with beautiful riffs and range. The end of the song hints at his death and the gathering of a nation saying goodbye to their beloved leader. Jackson drives home the bittersweet tone of the song, to let go of those things that you have done for so long but have to say goodbye.
8. "Non-Stop"
The song that ends the first act sets us up for the second act, where Hamilton is far more determined to work and write as quickly and hard as he can before mortality catches up to him. The combination of narratives in the end are silenced by Hamilton himself, as he wrenches free of Eliza and Angelica and climbs above Aaron Burr to remind them (and us) all who he is and what he is not going to do, which is throw away his shot. Who was a young, bright eyed and hopeful immigrant coming to make something of himself in America now depicted himself as an incredibly hard working man, stopping at nothing to create for himself a legacy.
9. "Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story"
Always gets me: got me even harder in the flesh. Eliza returns herself to the narrative of his life and tires away to do all she can to ensure that her husband is remembered. She runs to the lip of the stage and asks both Hamilton and the audience if she can show us what she is proudest of? In the end, Hamilton returns to the stage and grabs Eliza's hand, walking her around the edge of the turntable before letting go and sending her center stage. She lets out an exalted gasp, and that is one that will stay with me for eternity.
10. "Alexander Hamilton"
Lin Manuel Miranda's entrance. 'Nuff said.
