Hamilton
Quill Staff
Hamilton is a groundbreaking musical created by Lin-Manuel Miranda. It tells the story of Alexander Hamilton, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, through a unique blend of hip-hop, R&B, and traditional musical theater styles. The musical explores Hamilton's life, from his early days as an orphan in the Caribbean, to his rise to prominence in the American Revolution, and his role in shaping the nation's government.
The show also delves into Hamilton's personal and political relationships, including his friendships with figures like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Aaron Burr, as well as his tumultuous marriage to Eliza Schuyler, are focused on heavily.
"Hamilton" received widespread acclaim for its innovative approach to storytelling, diverse casting, and its ability to make historical events and figures accessible and relatable to contemporary audiences. However, the getting to experience the show goes far beyond simply the plot. It is a magical experience.
The experience of getting to see Hamilton live on Broadway was an amazing experience for many. The junior class was ecstatic when they found out Greenport school was chosen to receive a grant from Gilder-Lehrman to see Hamilton. Mx. Damon was able to secure this grant for Greenport students for the second time. Greenport was the only school from Long Island that was selected to attend the show.
Getting to see Hamilton was an experience many did not expect. A digital recording of the musical came out on Disney Plus in 2020, which was the first time most students had seen it, considering ticket prices can range from $69-$468 retail. Many times the tickets are sold out, or are being resold for many times the face value.
Greenport students were seated right in the middle of the orchestra section and had a very clear view of the stage. Junior Rocio Azama states, “It was so amazing, seeing it live is so different then just watching it on Disney Plus and it was so much more than I expected. I loved it!” Azama was not alone in her view that the show was both amazing and impressive. Junior Madison Baer said the show was, “such an awesome experience” and that “to see it live was a dream.”
For John Mcinnis one of the most impressive parts of the show was the pit band. You could hear their skill and dexterity, and the accuracy to the source material was so good that one could be led to believe that it was the original recording. The sound was full and impactful, and you could truly feel the emotion behind every piece, even without the actors.
The most incredible part of this all is that the pit band was composed of only 10 people, and yet they sounded like an entire orchestra. The members of this pit band are extraordinarily talented musicians, and they truly make Hamilton something special.
The students would like to thank Mx. Damon, Gilder-Lehrman, and school staff for bringing such a magical experience to Greenport Schools.
