A few months back, I wrote a relatively scathing review of “Straight Outta Compton,” a vanity project by Dr. Dre and Ice Cube. I was beyond disappointed and dismayed. Therefore, to counter that piece, I thought I would write about the brilliance of “Hamilton” on Broadway. This musical is a must-see.
First, yes, I am biased. I teach several classes related to American politics (“Introduction to Politics, Congress, Presidency”), so a play about Alexander Hamilton, one of the nation’s founding fathers, is definitely going to peak my interest. Lin-Manuel Miranda conceptualized the show as a hip-hop representation of the forming of the nation after reading Ron Chernow’s thoughtful biography about an often-overlooked framer of the U.S. Constitution. Many Americans only know Hamilton as the man who was killed in a duel by Aaron Burr, and throughout the course of the three-hour show, Miranda shows us that Hamilton was a complex individual in very uncertain times during the birth of this nation.
Second, the sheer level of talent on the stage at any given moment is mind blowing. Imagine if all of your favorite rappers could also sing, act and portray themselves as 18th century leaders of a new world. Without spoiling the show, witnessing the talent of Daveed Diggs, who plays both Lafayette, a French aristocrat who serves as a friend and confidant to Hamilton, and Thomas Jefferson, is something to witness.
And the women! They rap, they sing like birds, they are gorgeous in their 30-pound dresses and their voices complement each other as though they’ve been singing together for decades.
Third, I am a Rogers and Hammerstein fan. Musicals such as “The Sound of Music,” “Oklahoma” and “South Pacific” are still personal favorites (don’t judge). However, I am also a major hip-hop fan. Biggie, Busta, Nas, Missie, Tribe and Outkast are my Mount Rushmore of rappers. So imagine witnessing the technical precision of a classic musical combined with the verbal fluidity of your favorite rappers?
So here’s the rub, the tickets aren’t easy to come by, or easy on the budget. However, there are 20 $10 tickets reserved each day and sold through a lottery system. That takes time and the chances are slim. There are also nosebleed seats for $50. Those go quickly, but there may be some openings in May or June. The theater isn’t that large and the acoustics are fantastic, so snag those if you can. You can also sign up to receive email blasts for weekly unsold seats. Last, if you have a child in the New York City public school system, he or she may be your ticket to Broadway. Because of to a generous grant, 20,000 New York City public school students will see “Hamilton” from 2016 to 2017 for $10 each. If your child happens to go to one of the schools that received the grant, I strongly suggest you volunteer to chaperone that day!
Christina Greer, Ph.D., is a tenured professor at Fordham University and the author of “Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream.” You can find her on Twitter @Dr_CMGreer.