Hamilton (m

Hamilton is a musical about the life of American Founding

Father Alexander Hamilton, with music, lyrics and book by Lin-
Manuel Miranda.[1] The show, inspired by the 2004
biography Alexander Hamilton by historian Ron Chernow,
achieved both critical acclaim and box office success.
The musical made its Off-Broadway debut at The Public
Theater in February 2015, where its engagement was sold out.
[2]
The show transferred to Broadway in August 2015 at
the Richard Rodgers Theatre. On Broadway, it received
enthusiastic critical acclaim and unprecedented advance box
office sales.[3] In 2016, Hamilton was nominated for a record-
setting 16 Tony Awards, winning 11, including Best Musical,
and was also the recipient of the 2016 Grammy Award for Best
Musical Theater Album and the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
The prior off-Broadway production of Hamilton won the
2015 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical as well as
seven otherDrama Desk Awards out of 14 total nominated
categories.
A production of the musical will open in Chicago in 2016. A
national touring production is scheduled to begin in San
Francisco in March 2017, and the musical may have
international productions beginning in London.
usical)
Background[edit]

At the airport, while on a vacation from his hit Broadway show In the Heights, Lin-Manuel Miranda decided to pick up and
read Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow, a biography of Alexander Hamilton. After finishing the first couple of chapters,
Miranda quickly began envisioning the life of Hamilton as a musical and researched whether or not a stage musical of his life
had been created; a play of Hamilton's story had been done on Broadway in 1917, starring George Arliss as Alexander
Hamilton.[5]

Upon Miranda's discovery he began a project entitled The Hamilton Mixtape and worked on it during his spare time from In the
Heights. On May 12, 2009, Miranda was invited to perform music from In the Heights at the White House Evening of Poetry,
Music and the Spoken Word. Instead he performed the first song from The Hamilton Mixtape, a rough version which would
later become "Alexander Hamilton," Hamilton's opening number. He spent a year after that working on "My Shot", another
early number from the show.[6]

Miranda performed in a workshop production of the show, then titled The Hamilton Mixtape, at the Vassar Reading Festival on
July 27, 2013.[7] The workshop production was directed by Thomas Kail and musically directed byAlex Lacamoire. The
workshop consisted of the entirety of the first act of the show and 3 songs from the second act. The workshop was
accompanied by Lacamoire on the piano.[6]
Of the original workshop cast, only three principal cast members played in the Off-Broadway production: Miranda, Daveed
Diggs, and Christopher Jackson. Most of the original Off-Broadway cast moved to Broadway, except thatBrian d'Arcy
James was replaced by Jonathan Groff as King George III.

Synopsis[edit]
Act One[edit]
The musical begins with the company summarizing Alexander Hamilton's early life as an orphan in the Caribbean ("Alexander
Hamilton").

In the summer of 1776 in New York City, Hamilton seeks out Aaron Burr. Burr advises him to "talk less; smile more." Hamilton
rebuffs Burr's philosophy ("Aaron Burr, Sir") and instead joins three revolutionaries he meets: abolitionistJohn Laurens, the
flamboyant Marquis de Lafayette, and the tailor's apprentice Hercules Mulligan. Hamilton dazzles them with his oratory skills
("My Shot") and they dream of laying down their lives for the cause ("The Story of Tonight"). Meanwhile, the wealthy Schuyler
sistersAngelica, Eliza, and Peggywander the streets of New York, excited by the spirit of revolution in the air ("The
Schuyler Sisters").

Samuel Seabury, a vocal Loyalist, preaches against the revolution, and Hamilton refutes and ridicules his statements ("Farmer
Refuted"). A message arrives from King George III, reminding the colonists that he is willing and able to fight for their love
("You'll Be Back").

The revolution is underway, and Hamilton, Burr, and their friends join the Continental Army. As the army retreats from New
York City, General George Washington realizes he needs help to win the war. Though Hamilton desires a command and to
fight on the front lines, he recognizes the opportunity Washington offers him, and accepts a position as his aide-de-
camp ("Right Hand Man").

In the winter of 1780, the men attend a ball given by Philip Schuyler, and Hamilton sets his sights on the man's daughters ("A
Winter's Ball"). Eliza is instantly smitten, and after being introduced by Angelica, Eliza and Hamilton soon wed ("Helpless").
Meanwhile, Angelica is also intellectually and physically attracted to Hamilton, but swallows her feelings for the sake of her
sister's happiness ("Satisfied"). Burr arrives to offer congratulations, and privately admits to Hamilton that he is having an affair
with the wife of a British officer. Hamilton advises him to take action ("The Story of Tonight (Reprise)"). Burr, however, prefers
to wait and see what life has in store for him ("Wait For It").

As the revolution continues, Hamilton repeatedly petitions Washington to give him command, but Washington refuses, instead
promoting Charles Lee. This decision proves disastrous at the Battle of Monmouth, where Lee orders a retreat against
Washington's orders, which prompts the commander to remove him from command in favor of Lafayette. Disgruntled, Lee
spreads slanderous and vindictive rumors about Washington. Hamilton is offended, but Washington orders Hamilton to ignore
the comments. Laurens, now also an aide to Washington, volunteers to duel Lee so that Hamilton may avoid disobeying
Washington's orders ("Stay Alive"). Laurens wins the duel by injuring Lee ("Ten Duel Commandments"). Washington is
enraged at the duel, and orders Hamilton to return home to his wife ("Meet Me Inside"). When Hamilton returns home, Eliza
tells him she is pregnant. She reassures a hesitant Hamilton that he is enough for her ("That Would Be Enough").

Lafayette takes a larger leadership role in the revolution, convincing France to join the American cause, and the balance shifts
in favor of the Continental Army. Washington and Lafayette realize they can win the war by cutting off the British navy at
Yorktown, but they will need Hamilton to do so, and the general reluctantly gives him his long-awaited command ("Guns and
Ships"). On the eve of battle, Washington recalls his disastrous first command, and advises Hamilton that no man can control
how he is remembered ("History Has Its Eyes on You"). After several days of fighting, the Continental Army is victorious. The
British surrender in the last major battle of the war ("Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down)"). His forces defeated, King
George asks the rebels how they expect to govern on their own without their people hating them ("What Comes Next?").

Soon after the revolution, Hamilton's son Philip is born, while Burr has a daughter, Theodosia ("Dear Theodosia"). Hamilton
and Burr both return to New York to finish their studies and pursue careers as lawyers. Burr is in awe of Hamilton's unyielding
work ethic and becomes increasingly irritated by his success. Hamilton is chosen as a delegate to the Constitutional
Convention in the summer of 1787. Hamilton enlists James Madison and John Jay to write The Federalist Papers after Burr
refuses. The newly elected President Washington enlists Hamilton for the job of Treasury Secretary, despite a helpless Eliza's
pleas ("Non-Stop").
Act Two[edit]
In 1789, Thomas Jefferson returns to the U.S. from France, where he spent most of the Articles of Confederation era as an
ambassador. Washington has asked him to be Secretary of State under the new Constitution, and Madison asks for Jefferson's
help to stop Hamilton's financial plan, which Madison believes gives the government too much control ("What'd I Miss?").
Jefferson and Hamilton then engage in debate over the merits of Hamilton's financial plan during a Cabinet meeting.
Washington pulls Hamilton aside, and tells him to figure out a compromise to win over Congress ("Cabinet Battle #1").

While working at home, Eliza reminds Hamilton of Philip's ninth birthday. Philip presents Hamilton with a short rap he
composed, amazing his father. Angelica advises Hamilton to convince Jefferson of his plan so Congress will accept it. Later,
Eliza and Angelica try to persuade Hamilton to accompany them on vacation for the summer, but Hamilton refuses, saying that
he has to work on his plan for Congress, staying in New York while the family goes upstate. ("Take a Break").

While alone, Hamilton is visited by Maria Reynolds, who claims her husband is mistreating her. When Hamilton offers to help
her, she seduces him and they begin an affair. Maria's husband James Reynolds blackmails Hamilton, who is furious with
Maria but pays Reynolds and continues the affair ("Say No To This").

Hamilton discusses his plan with Jefferson and Madison over a private dinner, which results in the Compromise of 1790, giving
support to Hamilton's financial plan in exchange for moving the United States capital from New York to Washington, D.C., a
site much closer to Jefferson's home in Virginia. Burr is envious of Hamilton's sway in the government and wishes he had
similar power ("The Room Where It Happens"). Burr switches political parties and defeats Eliza's father, Philip Schuyler, in a
race for his seat in the Senate, driving a wedge between Burr and Hamilton ("Schuyler Defeated").

In another cabinet meeting, Jefferson and Hamilton argue over whether the United States should assist France in their
revolution. Washington ultimately agrees with Hamilton's argument for remaining neutral ("Cabinet Battle #2"). After the
meeting, Burr, Jefferson, and Madison bemoan how nice it must be for Hamilton to always have Washington's support, and
they seek a way to damage Hamilton's image ("Washington on Your Side").

Washington tells Hamilton that Jefferson has resigned from his position in government in order to run for president, and that
Washington himself is stepping down. Hamilton is shocked, but Washington convinces him that it is the right thing to do, and
they write a farewell address ("One Last Time"). In England, King George III receives news about Washington's step down
from leadership and the election of John Adams. The king exits merrily, ready for the United States to fall under Adams'
leadership ("I Know Him").

Adams and Hamilton have a huge altercation and effectively destroy the Federalist Party ("The Adams Administration").
Thinking they have discovered a scandal capable of destroying Hamilton, Jefferson, Madison and Burr accuse him of
embezzling government money and committing treason. In reality, however, they found the transactions from his affair with
Maria Reynolds. Hamilton, knowing that the truth is the only way out, tells them about his affair and begs them not to tell
anyone ("We Know"). Still worried that they will tell, Hamilton thinks about how writing openly and honestly has saved him in
the past ("Hurricane"), and publishes a public admission about the affair, hoping to snuff out rumors of embezzlement and save
his political legacy ("The Reynolds Pamphlet"). His personal reputation, however, is ruined. In despondence, Eliza tearfully
burns their correspondence, destroying Hamilton's chance at being redeemed by "future historians" and keeping the world
from knowing how she reacted by "erasing herself from the narrative" ("Burn").

Years pass, and Hamilton's son Philip challenges a man named George Eacker to a duel for his slander of Hamilton's
reputation. Philip aims for the sky from the beginning of the duel, but at the count of seven, Eacker shoots him ("Blow Us All
Away"). Philip is taken to a doctor, who is unable to save him. Hamilton and Eliza separately arrive not long before Philip dies
("Stay Alive (Reprise)"). In the aftermath of Philip's death, the Hamiltons move uptown. Hamilton asks for Eliza's forgiveness,
which he eventually receives ("It's Quiet Uptown").

The presidential election of 1800 results in President John Adams being defeated, with Jefferson and Burr deadlocked in a tie.
Hamilton is upset that Burr has once again changed his ideals for personal gain, and instead throws his support behind
Jefferson, who ends up winning the delegates by a landslide ("The Election of 1800"). Burr, enraged, exchanges letters with
Hamilton and challenges him to a duel ("Your Obedient Servant"). Before sunrise on the morning of the duel, Eliza asks
Hamilton to come back to bed, but he says he has to leave before lovingly complimenting her ("Best of Wives and Best of
Women").

Burr and Hamilton travel to Weehawken, New Jersey for the duel, near the site where Philip was shot. As a gunshot sounds,
Hamilton soliloquizes on death, his relationships, and his legacy. He aims his pistol at the sky and is struck by Burr's shot,
dying soon after. Burr laments that even though he survived, he's cursed to be the villain in history, remembered only as the
man who killed Alexander Hamilton ("The World Was Wide Enough").

The company congregates to close the story. Washington enters and reminds the audience that they have no control over how
they will be remembered. Jefferson and Madison collectively admit the genius of their political rival's work. Eliza explains how
she fights to save her husband's legacy over the next 50 years and frets that she has not done enough, and she then asks the
audience who will tell their story once she is gone. As she dies, Hamilton shows her all those who will care for and protect her
legacy as she did for him ("Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story").[8]

Notable Broadway cast replacements[edit]

Jonathan Groff replaced Brian d'Arcy James as King George III Off-Broadway on March 3, 2015.[12]

Andrew Rannells replaced Groff in the role of King George III from October 27 to November 29, 2015, when Groff
returned.[13]

Rory O'Malley assumed the role of King George III from Groff on April 11, 2016.

Javier Muoz, previously the Hamilton alternate, assumed the principal role of Alexander Hamilton from Lin-Manuel
Miranda on July 11, 2016. Michael Luwoye assumed Muoz's position as the Hamilton alternate.[14]

Lexi Lawson assumed the role of Eliza Hamilton from Phillipa Soo on July 11, 2016.[15]

Following the July 9, 2016 departure of Leslie Odom, Jr., Brandon Victor Dixon is set to assume the role of Aaron Burr
on a date to be determined in mid-August 2016. The role's understudiesSydney James Harcourt and Austin Smithare
currently alternating performances in the interim.[15][16]

Daveed Diggs exited the Broadway company on July 15, 2016. His replacement as the Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas
Jefferson has yet to be cast and announced. The role's understudiesAndrew Chappelle and Seth Stewartare
currently alternating performances in the interim.[17]

Mandy Gonzalez will assume the role of Angelica Schuyler Church from Rene Elise Goldsberry in October 2016.[18]
Musical numbers[edit]
ActI

"AlexanderHamilton"Fullcompany(exceptKingGeorge)

"AaronBurr,Sir"Hamilton,Burr,Laurens,Lafayette,andMulligan

"MyShot"Hamilton,Laurens,Lafayette,Mulligan,BurrandCompany

"TheStoryofTonight"Hamilton,Laurens,Lafayette,Mulligan

"TheSchuylerSisters"Angelica,Eliza,Peggy,Burr,andCompany

"FarmerRefuted"SeaburyandHamilton

"You'llBeBack"KingGeorge

"RightHandMan"Washington,Hamilton,Burr,andCompany

"AWinter'sBall"Burr,Hamilton,Company

"Helpless"Eliza,Hamilton,Women

"Satisfied"Angelica,Eliza,HamiltonandCompany

"TheStoryofTonight"(Reprise)Laurens,Lafayette,Mulligan,Hamilton,Burr

"WaitforIt"BurrandCompany

"StayAlive"Hamilton,Washington,Lee,Laurens,Lafayette,Mulligan,Eliza,Angelica,andCompany

"TenDuelCommandments"Laurens,Hamilton,Lee,Burr,andCompany

"MeetMeInside"Washington,Hamilton,andCompany

"ThatWouldBeEnough"ElizaandHamilton

"GunsandShips"Lafayette,Burr,Washington,Company
 "HistoryHasItsEyesonYou"WashingtonandCompany

"Yorktown(TheWorldTurnedUpsideDown)"Hamilton,Lafayette,Laurens,Mulligan,Washington,and
Company

"WhatComesNext?"KingGeorge

"DearTheodosia"Burr,Hamilton

"TomorrowThere'llBeMoreofUs"Laurens,(Eliza,Hamilton)

"NonStop"Hamilton,Burr,Eliza,Angelica,Washington,andCompany
"TomorrowThere'llBeMoreOfUs",athirdpriseto"TheStoryofTonight"isnotincludedontheOriginal
BroadwayCastRecording,andisoftenconsideredasceneratherthanasong.[19]
Previouslytitled"OneLastRide"intheOffBroadwayproduction.[20]

Act II

"What'd I Miss" Jefferson, Burr, Madison, Washington, Hamilton and Company

"Cabinet Battle #1" Jefferson, Hamilton, Washington, and Madison

"Take a Break" Eliza, Philip, Hamilton, and Angelica

"Say No to This" Hamilton, Maria Reynolds, James Reynolds, and Company

"The Room Where It Happens" Burr, Hamilton, Jefferson, Madison, and Company

"Schuyler Defeated" Philip, Eliza, Hamilton, and Burr

"Cabinet Battle #2" Washington, Jefferson, Hamilton, and Madison

"Washington on Your Side" Burr, Jefferson, and Madison

"One Last Time" Washington, Hamilton, and Company

"I Know Him" King George

"The Adams Administration" Burr, Hamilton, Jefferson, Madison, and Company

"We Know" Hamilton, Burr, Jefferson, and Madison

"Hurricane" Hamilton and Company

"The Reynolds Pamphlet" Hamilton, Jefferson, Madison, Burr, Angelica, Company

"Burn" Eliza

"Blow Us All Away" Philip, Hamilton, Eacker, Dolly, Martha and Company
 "Stay Alive" (Reprise) Philip, Hamilton, Eliza, Doctor, and Company

"It's Quiet Uptown" Angelica, Hamilton, Eliza, and Company

"The Election of 1800" Jefferson, Madison, Burr, Hamilton, and Company

"Your Obedient Servant" Burr, Hamilton

"Best of Wives and Best of Women" Eliza, Hamilton

"The World Was Wide Enough" Burr, Hamilton, and Company

"Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story" Eliza, Washington, Burr, Jefferson, Madison,
Angelica, Laurens, Lafayette, Mulligan and Company
Historical accuracy[edit]

Although Hamilton is based on true events, Miranda does use some dramatic license in retelling the story.
For example, while Angelica did have a strong relationship with Hamilton, it is exaggerated in the show.
During "Satisfied", Angelica explains why Hamilton is not suitable for her despite wanting him. In particular,
she states, "I'm a girl in a world in which my only job is to marry rich. My father has no sons so I'm the one
who has to social climb for one." In actuality, Angelica had less pressure on her to do this. There were
actually fifteen children of Philip Schuyler, including two sons who survived into adulthood (one of whom
was New York State Assemblyman Philip Jeremiah Schuyler), and Angelica had eloped with John Barker
Church several years before she met Hamilton. Miranda stated that he chose to do this because it is
stronger dramatically if Angelica is available but cannot marry him. [49][50] In addition, in Act I, Burr's role in
Hamilton's life is overstated, and much of the early interactions between the two men in the show are
fictionalized. For example, while Burr was present at the Battle on Monmouth, Burr did not serve as Charles
Lee's second in his duel with John Laurens as seen in "Ten Duel Commandments", Lee's second was Evan
Edwards. Hamilton also never approached Burr to help write the Federalist Papers as portrayed in "Non-
Stop".

During act I, the character of Aaron Burr says that "...Martha Washington named her feral tomcat after him!
(Hamilton)" - To what Alexander Hamilton replies: "Thats true!". [51] Despite not being true, this has been one
of the biggest mischaracterisations of the real Alexander Hamilton for centuries, with celebrated authors
repeating the story over and over again, in spite of the sexual connotation of "Tomcat" as a womanizer
appearing on a dictionary only on the first half of the 20th century. The "Tomcat" story has been previously
discredited by Author Stephen Knott [52] and refuted by historian and author Michael E. Newton at
the"Alexander Hamilton Discoveries and Findings" talk held by the Alexander Hamilton Awareness Society
at Liberty Hall(Kean University) as part of the 2016 CelebrateHAMILTON events.[53] [54]

In Act II, there are multiple inaccuracies throughout Hamilton's decline, probably due to time constraints and
narrative arc. While it is true that John Adams and Hamilton did not particularly get along, John Adams did
not fire Hamilton as told in the show. Hamilton resigned from his position as Secretary of the Treasury in
1795, two years before Adams became president. However, Hamilton remained close friends with
Washington and highly influential in the political sphere. [55] In addition, Jefferson, Madison and Burr did not
approach Hamilton about his affair, it was actually James Monroe and Frederick Muhlenberg in 1792.
Monroe was a close friend of Jefferson's and shared the information of Hamilton's affair with him. In 1796,
journalist James Callendar broke the story of Hamilton's infidelity. Hamilton blamed Monroe, and the
altercation nearly ended in a duel. With nothing left to do, Hamilton then published the Reynolds pamphlet.
[56]
Lastly, it was not the presidential election of 1800 that led to Burr and Hamilton's duel. Burr did become
Jefferson's vice-president, but when Jefferson decided to not run with Burr for reelection in 1804, Burr opted
to run for Governor of New York instead. Burr lost to Morgan Lewis in a landslide. Afterwards, a letter was
published from Charles D. Cooper to Philip Schuyler, claiming that Hamilton called Burr, "a dangerous man,
and one who ought not be trusted with the reins of government", and that he knew of "a still more despicable
opinion which General Hamilton has expressed of Mr. Burr."[57] This led to the letters between Burr and
Hamilton as seen in the show in "Your Obedient Servant".

The show has also been critiqued for a simplistic depiction of Hamilton and vilification of Jefferson. Joanne
B. Freeman, professor of history and American studies at Yale University, writes, "The real Hamilton was a
mass of contradictions: an immigrant who sometimes distrusted immigrants, a revolutionary who placed a
supreme value on law and order, a man who distrusted the rumblings of the masses yet preached his politics
to them more frequently and passionately than many of his more democracy-friendly fellows." [58]

Another historian, Shane White, also states that the show's depiction of the founding of the United States
stems from an outdated narrative that a few great men built the country. White says that historians now view
the founding in a new way: "Attempting to get away from the Great Men story of the founding fathers, these
scholars have incorporated ordinary people, African-Americans, Native Americans and women and placed
the whole half-century in the broader contexts of the Atlantic World. In this more inclusive and nuanced
telling of the republic's creation, Hamilton plays a cameo rather than leading role." [59]

Yet another historian, Lyra Monteiro, criticized that the show's multi-ethnic casting obscures the complete
lack of identifiable enslaved or free persons of color as characters in the show. [60]
SYNOPSIS

Lin-Manuel Miranda's Pulitzer prize-winning transformation of Ron Chernow's

biography, Hamilton, into a hip-hop musical is taking the world by storm. At the center of this
groundbreaking multi-award-winning new musical is the story of founding father Alexander
Hamilton, whose ambition drove him from the position of Caribbean outsider and bastard child
to American war hero and George Washington's right-hand man. In the process, Alexander
Hamilton powerfully shaped America as we have come to know it -- and gave us all a template
for what it means to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and realize the American Dream. This
exploration of Hamilton's political mastermind is being called "the most exciting and significant
musical of the decade." David Brooks of the New York Times declared seeing Hamilton to be
"one of the most exhilarating experiences I've had in the theatre." With heart, humor, and
respect, Lin-Manuel Miranda's new musical breathes vibrant, colorful life into this story of
America's founding fathers.

Name
Gender
Part Size
Vocal Part
Eliza Schuyler Hamilton
Female

Lead

Soprano
Aaron Burr
Male
Lead

Tenor, Baritone
Angelica Schuyler
Female

Lead

Mezzo-Soprano
Alexander Hamilton
Male

Lead

Tenor, Baritone
Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson
Male

Supporting

Tenor, Baritone
Hercules Mulligan/James Madison
Male

Supporting

Tenor, Baritone
John Laurens/Philip Hamilton
Male

Supporting

Tenor
George Washington
Male

Supporting

Tenor, Baritone
Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds
Female

Featured

Mezzo-Soprano
King George
Male

Featured

Tenor
Ensemble
Either Gender

Ensemble

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass