"How does a bastard, orphan, son of a whore..."
/“How does a bastard, orphan, son of a whore and a Scotsman, dropped in the middle of a forgotten spot in the Caribbean by providence, impoverished in squalor, grow up to be a hero and a Scholar?”
Hamilton?
Recently, I was fortunate enough to go NYC and drench myself in Broadway. Three days of Broadway love starting with experiencing Hamilton. School of Rock took the middle slot and we ended with Sara Bareillis’s Waitress. I absolutely loved all of them. Each has a different vibe, a different feel. There are times in your life when you “enter the narrative” of the arts and let it wash over your being. You will feel things that make your emotions soar. For me the magic of Broadway can mesmorize and take you to places you didn’t know exist inside of you. There is nothing like a good show and a good show tune!
The Richard Rodgers Theatre, in which Hamilton is playing, was built in 1925 and changed ownership several times. In 1981 it became the Richard Rodgers Theatre. The theatre seats 1,319 people-one of the larger Broadway theatres.
“The theatre currently holds the distinction of having housed the greatest number (eleven) of Tony Award-winning Best Plays and Best Musicals, more than any other theatre on Broadway.[5]”
-Wikipedia
Why does and why should anyone care about Hamilton?
Because it’s the biggest cultural phenomenon Broadway has launched since possibly Rent in 1996. It’s the hottest show on Broadway. The difficulty of getting a ticket (it’s been sold out for months) has become a running joke among New Yorkers. In November 2015 the show announced it had passed $ 57 million in advanced ticket sales, smashing Broadway records. The Obamas saw it twice. Hillary Clinton and Dick Cheney loved it. It speaks to all people.
Lin-Manuel Miranda spent years developing this extraordinary Hip-Hop musical. The first musical to hit Broadway with a story about Alexander Hamilton, one of the Founding Fathers of our country. Lin-Manuel paved the way for people, all people to engage with history and Broadway. A story about a bunch of white men, portrayed on Broadway by mostly minorities African Americans, Latinos and a few white people; singing almost fifty songs. The show is lyrically amazing. Much of the performance is Hip-Hop, but is also contains beautiful ballads, R&B, funny pop songs and many numbers that feature the entire cast.
“It gives Diversity the D word, a good name.”
-Michael Dunaway, Paste
Michael also writes that Hamilton is “writing Genius”. The story of Hamilton is a relatively untold story in history and Lin-Manual tells it correctly. He studied Ron Chernow's biography of Alexander Hamilton closely and his efforts resulted in the Broadway show. The show is brainy, has richly drawn supporting actors and the show loves NY. This show has done more for the arts and Broadway than anything in decades. It has increased interest in the arts, increased Traveling Broadway ticket sales across our country in our various cities. It is helping by exposing people to the arts and is generating interest in supporting our various art venues.
For me I believe the arts are the soul of a country. The arts have a way of sharing history and putting emotion around them. Whether it is a musical, a play, a museum, an art show, photography, a ballet, a symphony, a movie, a book—any and all of that changes us. Changes our perspectives, widens our views, enables us to feel in response to what we are witnessing.
You don’t know until you try. Until you go to a show, listen to a symphony or go to a museum you don’t know what you are missing. When I was young my parents took us to events like these to expose us to the world of the arts. Did you note in the opening ceremonies for the summer Olympics the Brazilians showed us their culture with dance and song, which illustrated the heart of their nation? They showed us their arts and I liked it.
How do you begin to appreciate the arts? Well-hmmm-go to a show! Go buy a local traveling broadway ticket and see the show. They come to all major cities. Support your local theatre.
My niece, Hannah, is currently in residence at the Double Edge Theatre located in Ashfield, MA. It is actually a pretty well known place and people come from all over to see their productions. The Double Edge is on a campus of about 100 acres and the performers help support the farm. Hannah, gets her creative side from me of course (Tee Hee). Here is picture of Hannah helping to sustain the farm. Goat Duty, I love it!
Above is Hannah in the Red and Black in The Latin American Spectacle in Boston.
I divert-see my list below of how to get involved in the arts:
-Go to a symphony
-Read a classic book
-Join a book club
-Volunteer at a local theatre
-Visit a museum
-Take an art class
-Spin a bowl in a pottery class from a local art center
-Rent a movie musical and watch it
-Admire great works of art
-Go to a Library and look at Art books (with your new library card)
Give it a try. Go with a friend. Have a bourbon afterwards to discuss it. Make an afternoon or an evening of it. I promise you- it will change you.
If you haven’t seen it already you MUST watch this YouTube Video of James Corden and Broadway Karaoke.
Allow me to end with a quote from one of the greatest Broadway musicals of all time "Wicked"- Broadway always teaches us something.
“I've heard it said that people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led to those who help us most to grow
If we let them and we help them in return.”
― Stephen Schwartz
Until next time.
Peace out.
Jan
