CENTER STAGE | Why See Hamilton?
- Dec 31, 2017
- 2 min read
CHICAGO'S VERY OWN BROADWAY SENSATION! If you haven’t seen it yet, you might be wondering why it is so popular among your friends and family, and also the winner of 11 Tony awards. Dubbed the biggest Broadway show since The Book of Mormon, Hamilton is now playing in Chicago, for an open ended run at the CIBC Theatre.
Written by Tony, Grammy and Emmy Award winner Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton is a vital piece of American culture, tearing up the musical theatre rulebook with a score that is equal parts Sondheim and Notorious B.I.G., and a cast of ethnically diverse actors in the roles of the Founding Fathers. The story centers on Alexander Hamilton, one of our most important (and colorful) characters, who rose from his humble orphaned beginnings to play a major role in making America the country it is today.
Hamilton made its New York debut Off-Broadway at the Public Theater in 2015, where it was met with universal acclaim and was extended three times due to public demand. It lost none of its potency in the subsequent Broadway transfer, with Ben Brantley of the New York Times writing it was "changing the language of musicals". In 2016, It was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and scooped 11 Tony Awards.
About the Show One of the Founding Fathers, Alexander Hamilton's story is an extraordinary one. Born out of wedlock in the West Indies, and orphaned by the time he was 11, he arrived in New Jersey in 1772 to begin his grammar school education. From there he played a major role in the American revolutionary war, rising through the ranks to become an aide to George Washington. But that was only the beginning of the great man's story, with the proceeding chapters in his life taking in everything from sex scandals, fatal duels and the creation of the American Constitution.
Did You Know? Hamilton didn't just conquer the stage, it took over the airwaves too! Its Grammy nominated Cast Recording was the highest charting album of its kind since 1963.
For More Information www.chicago-theater.com/theaters/cibc-theatre/hamilton.php
