I sometimes wonder how something becomes big. It must start small, as all things do, but one good review or one famous person who loves it and it explodes. I frequently wonder if the craze is founded- can it really stand up to the raving review? These questions have been running through my mind as Hamilton is the big name people are throwing around these days.
I have a 15 year old daughter who is very much into music and theatre. She is not interested in performing, but has a deep love and appreciation for it. We were able to surprise her with tickets to see Hamilton for her birthday this year. She has the music memorized, of course, so this was an amazing gift for her.
Purchasing Hamilton tickets was a nightmare. It was five hours on the computer, hoping that I would be one of the lucky ones placed in virtual line early enough to grab them before they were sold out. By the skin of my teeth I was successful in getting tickets. And then everyone I told (the list was small because I didn’t want my daughter to find out) questioned how on earth I had been lucky enough to get tickets. For the Salt Lake City tour, “in high demand” would be an understatement. So, luck is the only way to describe the purchase of those tickets. And the whole time I was online, I was trying to decide if the time and mental anguish were worth it.
You see, I came into the Hamilton craze blindly. I was not familiar with the music or the storyline beyond what I heard from my daughter. And this was unfamiliar territory to me. I share my daughter’s love of musicals- Phantom of the Opera was the first one I saw on 5th Avenue in Seattle when I was nine or ten years old. I’ve been hooked since then. I try to keep up, but life gets busy. Hamilton fell into my category of “I’ll get to it eventually”. Even with the tickets purchased, I didn’t venture into the story before we went to the show.
So… is Hamilton Worth it?
Let me tell you, I was impressed. Amazed, enthralled, hooked. However you want to say it, I was that. I’ve never seen a show like it and I loved every bit of it. I sat at the edge of my seat through the whole show, mesmerized by all of it. I do however, know a bit about history- it’s always been one of my favorite subjects. And I know that this musical is accurate. I think there is something to be said about that. To be able to create lyrics and music to go along with a historically accurate series of events takes skill and talent beyond the norm. Lin-Manuel Miranda created a masterpiece.
And the music. The music! Rap and hip-hop, mixed with some R&B on stage like you’ve never seen it before. It gives you a different perspective of our Founding Fathers, in my opinion. There was a time in their lives where they really were just young rebels, trying to fight for their freedom and trying to create a new system that would live for generations to come. They were just men and women who lived like anyone else. They had disagreements, made mistakes, celebrated successes, fell in love, and lived and died, just as we do. I think this show portrays that in a very real way.
Our Hamilton tickets were not cheap. We fared better than those who bought tickets second-hand, but we still paid a premium for our great seats. And I would do it again in a heartbeat. The show was worth it. The music was worth it. But mostly, the look on my daughter’s face made all my time and the expense worth it. It was pure joy and a smile that never left her face. It is rare as a parent that you get to make moments like this happen. And I was able to do it for her.
If you are one of the lucky ones with tickets, I hope you love it as much as I did. What an incredible experience and what an amazing show! 🙂
