It has been 10 years since Hamilton premiered off-Broadway and smashed everyone’s expectations. While it may have seemed far-fetched that a musical that incorporated rap, hip-hop, and America’s founding fathers would ever become a mega-hit, it’s clear that the musical has cemented its legacy as one of the greatest of all time. Now, you can see the show in your local theater starting in September.
The biographical musical is composed, written, and starring Lin-Manuel Miranda. As its name suggests, Hamilton follows the story of Alexander Hamilton through his rise to political power during the Revolutionary War, his importance to the development of the United States, and his rivalry with Aaron Burr. The show broke box office records once it moved to Broadway and earned countless critical praise, winning 11 Tony Awards (including Best Musical).
The hype for Hamilton grew so large that they decided to film a performance of the show professionally in 2016. The pro-shot was released on Disney+ in 2020, which has increased the interest in filming and widely releasing Broadway productions to an audience that may otherwise never see them. Now, there’s a chance to see the show on the big screen.
Hamilton is celebrating its anniversary in style
Miranda recently appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and officially announced the pro-shot’s theatrical release. He also discussed the musical’s long journey to the movies. It was always the plan to release the film in theaters, but it wasn’t meant to be.
“We filmed most of the original cast performing in Hamilton in 2016, and we always wanted to release it theatrically. But then, the pandemic hit, and so we decided to release it on streaming so that everyone could see it whenever they wanted,” Miranda explained.
Luckily, the timing of the 10th anniversary lends itself well to a theatrical release. The celebration doesn’t end there, though. The release of the film coincides with original cast member Leslie Odom Jr.’s return to the role of Aaron Burr on Broadway. He will join the production for 12 weeks, beginning Tuesday, Sept. 9.
Odom Jr. announced his run on the Today show back in April. His interview helps us understand why Hamilton deserves such a huge celebration for its anniversary. “You don’t get shows that run 10 years,” he said. There’s a lot of shows we love, great shows, that you know they come and they go. That’s the nature of theater.”
One of the final major celebrations of Hamilton is the addition of a wax figure at Madame Tussauds. Miranda’s appearance as Hamilton is now immortalized in wax, which is a coveted honor in the entertainment world.
Fortunately, fans can put themselves in the room where it happens by going to their local cinema. Seeing the musical there instead of just on their television sets will help give the feel of being there live, making the iconic songs more impactful. The original cast members, including Miranda, Odom Jr., Daveed Diggs, Christopher Jackson, Renee Elise Goldsberry, Phillipa Soo, Jonathan Groff, Jasmine Cephas Jones, Okieriete Onaodowan, and Anthony Ramos, give performances that can't be missed. Don’t throw away your shot - make sure you catch this pro-shot before it is gone.
Hamilton will premiere in movie theaters nationwide and in Puerto Rico on Friday, Sept. 5.