[Music] there was an earthquake in Manhattan
there was an earthquake in Manhattan
there was an earthquake in Manhattan about a year ago did you hear about it
about a year ago did you hear about it
about a year ago did you hear about it they called it Hamilton and overnight
they called it Hamilton and overnight
they called it Hamilton and overnight everything changed the author lin-manuel
everything changed the author lin-manuel
everything changed the author lin-manuel Miranda was hailed as a genius and even
Miranda was hailed as a genius and even
Miranda was hailed as a genius and even people who don’t like musicals were
people who don’t like musicals were
people who don’t like musicals were spending a month’s rent to try to get a
spending a month’s rent to try to get a
spending a month’s rent to try to get a ticket why
ticket why
ticket why what makes Hamilton the next big thing
what makes Hamilton the next big thing
what makes Hamilton the next big thing in the musical theater for those of you
in the musical theater for those of you
in the musical theater for those of you who haven’t seen it
who haven’t seen it
who haven’t seen it Hamilton is the story of our founding
Hamilton is the story of our founding
Hamilton is the story of our founding fathers told with a hip hop score and a
fathers told with a hip hop score and a
fathers told with a hip hop score and a cast of mostly non-white young actors
cast of mostly non-white young actors
cast of mostly non-white young actors sounds logical right I think a lot about
sounds logical right I think a lot about
sounds logical right I think a lot about the musical theatre so when something
the musical theatre so when something
the musical theatre so when something comes along that changes the game like
comes along that changes the game like
comes along that changes the game like Hamilton I want to know why so let’s put
Hamilton I want to know why so let’s put
Hamilton I want to know why so let’s put it in perspective most musicals even the
it in perspective most musicals even the
it in perspective most musicals even the most successful musicals you’ve seen
most successful musicals you’ve seen
most successful musicals you’ve seen typically follow one of those
typically follow one of those
typically follow one of those well-established forms
well-established forms
well-established forms think of shows like lemierre’s ER habla
think of shows like lemierre’s ER habla
think of shows like lemierre’s ER habla or wicked or even rent each of those
or wicked or even rent each of those
or wicked or even rent each of those follows the well-established pattern but
follows the well-established pattern but
follows the well-established pattern but at an incredibly high level however
at an incredibly high level however
at an incredibly high level however there’s the difference between
there’s the difference between
there’s the difference between commercial success and changing the game
commercial success and changing the game
commercial success and changing the game that only happens about once a
that only happens about once a
that only happens about once a generation and that was the case with
generation and that was the case with
generation and that was the case with Hamilton these game-changing musicals
Hamilton these game-changing musicals
Hamilton these game-changing musicals seem revolutionary but I’ve got news for
seem revolutionary but I’ve got news for
seem revolutionary but I’ve got news for you revolution in art is almost always
you revolution in art is almost always
you revolution in art is almost always evolution
evolution
evolution so those startling features that were so
so those startling features that were so
so those startling features that were so attracted to in these shows have usually
attracted to in these shows have usually
attracted to in these shows have usually been around in one form or another
been around in one form or another
been around in one form or another before they just never been used this
before they just never been used this
before they just never been used this way or this well in my line of work we
way or this well in my line of work we
way or this well in my line of work we talk a lot about revolutionary musicals
talk a lot about revolutionary musicals
talk a lot about revolutionary musicals and you might be surprised that many of
and you might be surprised that many of
and you might be surprised that many of those shows we now think of as the most
those shows we now think of as the most
those shows we now think of as the most traditional were actually as fresh for
traditional were actually as fresh for
traditional were actually as fresh for their audiences as Hamilton is for us
their audiences as Hamilton is for us
their audiences as Hamilton is for us today
today
today think about Oklahoma that great
think about Oklahoma that great
think about Oklahoma that great granddaddy of all the traditional
granddaddy of all the traditional
granddaddy of all the traditional musicals it rocked its audience to the
musicals it rocked its audience to the
musicals it rocked its audience to the core when it brought concert dance on to
core when it brought concert dance on to
core when it brought concert dance on to the musical stage and it rejected the
the musical stage and it rejected the
the musical stage and it rejected the old leggy showgirls Ziegfeld spectacle
old leggy showgirls Ziegfeld spectacle
old leggy showgirls Ziegfeld spectacle to tell the humble story of a Ranch Hand
to tell the humble story of a Ranch Hand
to tell the humble story of a Ranch Hand who wanted to marry the farmers niece
who wanted to marry the farmers niece
who wanted to marry the farmers niece and start a family of their own in a
and start a family of their own in a
and start a family of their own in a brand new state or showboat which took
brand new state or showboat which took
brand new state or showboat which took the dramatic conventions of opera and
the dramatic conventions of opera and
the dramatic conventions of opera and wolf together no less than five popular
wolf together no less than five popular
wolf together no less than five popular music forms to tell the story of racism
music forms to tell the story of racism
music forms to tell the story of racism in America between the end of the Civil
in America between the end of the Civil
in America between the end of the Civil War in 1927 when that show was first
War in 1927 when that show was first
War in 1927 when that show was first produced or hair which finally got rock
produced or hair which finally got rock
produced or hair which finally got rock music and youth culture onto the
music and youth culture onto the
music and youth culture onto the Broadway stage each of those shows took
Broadway stage each of those shows took
Broadway stage each of those shows took some element of popular or high culture
some element of popular or high culture
some element of popular or high culture and brought it into the musical theater
and brought it into the musical theater
and brought it into the musical theater but you know something none of them was
but you know something none of them was
but you know something none of them was the first to try to do so in fact even
the first to try to do so in fact even
the first to try to do so in fact even Hamilton isn’t the first show to bring
Hamilton isn’t the first show to bring
Hamilton isn’t the first show to bring rap and hip-hop on to the Broadway stage
rap and hip-hop on to the Broadway stage
rap and hip-hop on to the Broadway stage anybody ever remember holler if you hear
anybody ever remember holler if you hear
anybody ever remember holler if you hear me or on your toes or always you each of
me or on your toes or always you each of
me or on your toes or always you each of those shows tried these innovations
those shows tried these innovations
those shows tried these innovations first but with game-changing in the
first but with game-changing in the
first but with game-changing in the musical theater it’s about how you do it
musical theater it’s about how you do it
musical theater it’s about how you do it and how well you do it writing a musical
and how well you do it writing a musical
and how well you do it writing a musical a successful musical of any kind is very
a successful musical of any kind is very
a successful musical of any kind is very difficult because the musical theater
difficult because the musical theater
difficult because the musical theater has a huge amount of expectations and
has a huge amount of expectations and
has a huge amount of expectations and obligations that it brings with it think
obligations that it brings with it think
obligations that it brings with it think of Phantom of the Opera one of the most
of Phantom of the Opera one of the most
of Phantom of the Opera one of the most successful musicals of the last 50 years
successful musicals of the last 50 years
successful musicals of the last 50 years phantom tells the compelling story of
phantom tells the compelling story of
phantom tells the compelling story of familiar characters with catchy music
familiar characters with catchy music
familiar characters with catchy music and dance and spectacular design and it
and dance and spectacular design and it
and dance and spectacular design and it does it in a way that isn’t so
does it in a way that isn’t so
does it in a way that isn’t so intellectual or preachy that it chases
intellectual or preachy that it chases
intellectual or preachy that it chases the audience away but it still gives us
the audience away but it still gives us
the audience away but it still gives us that high-calorie emotional boost we
that high-calorie emotional boost we
that high-calorie emotional boost we love with drama romance
love with drama romance
love with drama romance and at least a touch of humor and it
and at least a touch of humor and it
and at least a touch of humor and it does it with broad appeal across all
does it with broad appeal across all
does it with broad appeal across all generations and cultures not just for
generations and cultures not just for
generations and cultures not just for theater geeks like me so give it all
theater geeks like me so give it all
theater geeks like me so give it all that it’s no wonder that most producers
that it’s no wonder that most producers
that it’s no wonder that most producers and creators don’t want to try something
and creators don’t want to try something
and creators don’t want to try something new if it ain’t broke don’t fix it right
new if it ain’t broke don’t fix it right
new if it ain’t broke don’t fix it right but every once in a great while someone
but every once in a great while someone
but every once in a great while someone does come along who truly advances the
does come along who truly advances the
does come along who truly advances the forum and that was the case with
forum and that was the case with
forum and that was the case with Hamilton so how do we know when we’re
Hamilton so how do we know when we’re
Hamilton so how do we know when we’re seeing a game-changing musical
seeing a game-changing musical
seeing a game-changing musical well first a game-changing musical has
well first a game-changing musical has
well first a game-changing musical has to be contemporary
to be contemporary
to be contemporary it must look sound move and feel like
it must look sound move and feel like
it must look sound move and feel like today it doesn’t have to be set today
today it doesn’t have to be set today
today it doesn’t have to be set today but it has to be of today second a
but it has to be of today second a
but it has to be of today second a game-changing musical must reflect the
game-changing musical must reflect the
game-changing musical must reflect the burning social issue of its time
burning social issue of its time
burning social issue of its time Hamilton is about the assimilation of
Hamilton is about the assimilation of
Hamilton is about the assimilation of marginalized immigrants into the
marginalized immigrants into the
marginalized immigrants into the mainstream of society and their positive
mainstream of society and their positive
mainstream of society and their positive impact on the destiny of that society
impact on the destiny of that society
impact on the destiny of that society that’s our burning social moment hair is
that’s our burning social moment hair is
that’s our burning social moment hair is about the way the counterculture of the
about the way the counterculture of the
about the way the counterculture of the 1960s rejected the old post-world War
1960s rejected the old post-world War
1960s rejected the old post-world War two
two
two order to bring a new set of values for
order to bring a new set of values for
order to bring a new set of values for us to live by on the town is about the
us to live by on the town is about the
us to live by on the town is about the vitality of America’s best and brightest
vitality of America’s best and brightest
vitality of America’s best and brightest young men as they celebrate what might
young men as they celebrate what might
young men as they celebrate what might be the last 24 hours of freedom they’ll
be the last 24 hours of freedom they’ll
be the last 24 hours of freedom they’ll ever know before they head into the jaws
ever know before they head into the jaws
ever know before they head into the jaws of death in Europe to defend freedom and
of death in Europe to defend freedom and
of death in Europe to defend freedom and democracy in America every one of those
democracy in America every one of those
democracy in America every one of those shows held up a mirror to its society
shows held up a mirror to its society
shows held up a mirror to its society finally to be a game-changing musical a
finally to be a game-changing musical a
finally to be a game-changing musical a show must create a form that matches the
show must create a form that matches the
show must create a form that matches the subject and this is where Hamilton gets
subject and this is where Hamilton gets
subject and this is where Hamilton gets it so right everyone involved in that
it so right everyone involved in that
it so right everyone involved in that show from the writer
show from the writer
show from the writer lin-manuel Miranda to the director and
lin-manuel Miranda to the director and
lin-manuel Miranda to the director and choreographer the designers and
choreographer the designers and
choreographer the designers and orchestrators all of them conspired to
orchestrators all of them conspired to
orchestrators all of them conspired to create a
create a
create a vital new form really an amalgamation of
vital new form really an amalgamation of
vital new form really an amalgamation of existing forms that satisfies all those
existing forms that satisfies all those
existing forms that satisfies all those expectations we have for commercial
expectations we have for commercial
expectations we have for commercial success but still manages to move the
success but still manages to move the
success but still manages to move the ball down the field in a way we feel
ball down the field in a way we feel
ball down the field in a way we feel we’ve never seen before they took a
we’ve never seen before they took a
we’ve never seen before they took a story we thought we knew and infused it
story we thought we knew and infused it
story we thought we knew and infused it with the music and dance and visual
with the music and dance and visual
with the music and dance and visual aesthetic of hip hop culture the true
aesthetic of hip hop culture the true
aesthetic of hip hop culture the true heartbeat of America today they did it
heartbeat of America today they did it
heartbeat of America today they did it in a way that every middle-aged
in a way that every middle-aged
in a way that every middle-aged businessman every college kid and
businessman every college kid and
businessman every college kid and everybody from virtually any ethnic or
everybody from virtually any ethnic or
everybody from virtually any ethnic or cultural background could identify with
cultural background could identify with
cultural background could identify with and be excited by and feel that they saw
and be excited by and feel that they saw
and be excited by and feel that they saw themselves represented on that stage and
themselves represented on that stage and
themselves represented on that stage and they did it really really well that’s
they did it really really well that’s
they did it really really well that’s why Hamilton is such a game changer now
why Hamilton is such a game changer now
why Hamilton is such a game changer now unless you’re a theater lover like me
unless you’re a theater lover like me
unless you’re a theater lover like me you you might wonder why does any of
you you might wonder why does any of
you you might wonder why does any of this matter well here’s why because the
this matter well here’s why because the
this matter well here’s why because the musical theater is bigger than just
musical theater is bigger than just
musical theater is bigger than just entertainment musicals are an idealized
entertainment musicals are an idealized
entertainment musicals are an idealized view of the world they’re also an
view of the world they’re also an
view of the world they’re also an aspirational vision of what we hope to
aspirational vision of what we hope to
aspirational vision of what we hope to become so every one of those shows I
become so every one of those shows I
become so every one of those shows I talked about captures its national
talked about captures its national
talked about captures its national moment in that time capsule and tells us
moment in that time capsule and tells us
moment in that time capsule and tells us about where we’re heading when we look
about where we’re heading when we look
about where we’re heading when we look at Hamilton maybe it’s not so crazy that
at Hamilton maybe it’s not so crazy that
at Hamilton maybe it’s not so crazy that we’re telling the story of America’s
we’re telling the story of America’s
we’re telling the story of America’s past with a score that sounds like
past with a score that sounds like
past with a score that sounds like America’s present in a cast that looks
America’s present in a cast that looks
America’s present in a cast that looks like America’s future for now we can
like America’s future for now we can
like America’s future for now we can relish everything that Hamilton does so
relish everything that Hamilton does so
relish everything that Hamilton does so well we know that other people are going
well we know that other people are going
well we know that other people are going to pick up that form and maybe even
to pick up that form and maybe even
to pick up that form and maybe even refine it but at some point even
refine it but at some point even
refine it but at some point even Hamilton and those shows that it spawns
Hamilton and those shows that it spawns
Hamilton and those shows that it spawns will be the old thing and when they are
will be the old thing and when they are
will be the old thing and when they are you can bet that some creative young
you can bet that some creative young
you can bet that some creative young woman is going to fight her way up
woman is going to fight her way up
woman is going to fight her way up through the crowd to tell her musical
through the crowd to tell her musical
through the crowd to tell her musical story of America
story of America
story of America next future and changed the game again
next future and changed the game again
next future and changed the game again and I can’t wait
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] you
”
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