As a musical theater fan myself, I have been fortunate enough to see numerous shows on not only Broadway, but also England’s Broadway, The West End. While live theater is a wonderful experience, distance and price can sometimes make it difficult to see the show in person.
However, the “Hamilton” pro-shoot has opened a door for the future of musical theater accessibility. More people are beginning to appreciate the art of the theater since such a popular and record-breaking show is available for only $6.99.
The 2015 hip-hop musical about founding father, Alexander Hamilton, has blown audiences away. With the Tony Award-winning musical now available on Disney+, more people are getting the opportunity to watch the phenomenon.
“Hamilton” follows the story of U.S. treasury secretary Hamilton’s life and death in the U.S. With genres including hip-hop and R&B, the nearly three-hour long show is told entirely through song.
I have been a fan of this musical since the release of the cast album five years ago. While not every detail is historically accurate, I believe for many people, this show has caused sparks of interest in early American history, as well as musicals in general.
The cast is also inclusive of many different races, with major roles being played by African Americans, Latinos and Asians, excluding King George III.
“Hamilton” director Tommy Kail said in a USAToday article that the musical is “the story about America then, told by America now.”
“Hamilton” broke decades-long Broadway stereotypes. I think many people falsely believed that all shows were the same with jazz hands, kick lines and tap dancing. This could not be further from the truth.
If you are able to, I highly encourage everyone to go see a musical. Broadway is not the only place for live theater.
Consider supporting local productions or school performances.
If you would like to see a professional show but do not want to pay the Broadway price consider seeing a touring show.Many popular shows have been at the Luhrs Performing Arts Center such as “Rent”, “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical”, “Kinky Boots” and many others. Not only that, but the Activities Program Board also organizes trips to New York City to see a Broadway show, so feel free to check one out.
With Broadway closed due to the coronavirus, many fans are waiting for the announcement for their favorite show to open back up again.
The Slate welcomes thoughtful discussion on all of our stories, but please keep comments civil and on-topic. Read our full guidelines here.