Hamilton is the Greatest Broadway Show in History

How Hamilton revolutionized Broadway and reimagining American democracy through diversity

My Fellow Democracy Defenders,

Hamilton is a stunning play about diversity and the founding of our democracy.

When Hamilton premiered in 2015, it didn’t just entertain audiences—it rewrote the rules of storytelling, redefined representation onstage, and reignited a national conversation about democracy’s roots and future. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s genre-defying masterpiece combines hip-hop, R&B, and traditional show tunes to chronicle the life of Alexander Hamilton, a Founding Father often overshadowed in history books.

But Hamilton’s true genius lies in its audacious casting and narrative choices, which reframe America’s origin story as a vibrant, inclusive, and ongoing experiment in democracy. By blending historical rigor with modern diversity, Hamilton not only claims its place as the greatest Broadway play in history but also serves as a cultural mirror, reflecting the ideals and contradictions of the nation it celebrates.

1. A Revolutionary Soundtrack for a Revolutionary Story

Hamilton’s use of hip-hop as its primary musical language is nothing short of revolutionary. The rapid-fire lyrics, intricate wordplay, and rhythmic storytelling mirror the urgency and chaos of America’s founding. Songs like “My Shot” and “Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down)” transform 18th-century political debates and battles into electrifying anthems of ambition and rebellion. This fusion of past and present underscores a central theme: the fight for democracy is timeless.

But the music also bridges cultural divides. By infusing the story with genres rooted in Black and Latino communities—groups historically excluded from the Founding Fathers’ vision—Miranda democratizes history itself. The cast’s diverse voices reclaim the narrative, asserting that America’s founding belongs not just to white men in wigs but to all who continue to fight for its promise.

2. “America Then, Told by America Now”: The Power of Inclusive Casting

Hamilton’s decision to cast Black, Latino, and Asian actors as the Founding Fathers is a radical act of reclamation. When Daveed Diggs struts onto the stage as Thomas Jefferson, or Christopher Jackson embodies George Washington’s gravitas, the message is clear: the story of America’s founding is not confined to the past—or to one race. This deliberate color-conscious casting challenges the myth that only white men built democracy, instead celebrating the contributions of marginalized communities who were erased from history.

The play’s diversity also mirrors the pluralism at the heart of American democracy. In the song “The Schuyler Sisters,” Angelica’s declaration—“I’ve been reading Common Sense by Thomas Paine. So men say that I’m intense or I’m insane”—resonates as a feminist rallying cry. Meanwhile, the ensemble’s multicultural presence turns pivotal moments, like the Constitutional Convention, into a metaphor for the nation’s unfinished journey toward equality. As Miranda himself stated, the casting asks audiences to “see the story as your own,” regardless of race or background.

3. Democracy as a Work in Progress

Hamilton doesn’t shy away from the contradictions of the Founding Fathers. Alexander Hamilton is portrayed as both a visionary and a flawed man—a immigrant who championed meritocracy yet engaged in scandal. Jefferson and Madison debate states’ rights and federal power in rap battles that echo modern political polarization. Even King George III (played with campy brilliance by Jonathan Groff) mocks the fragility of democracy in “You’ll Be Back,” a warning against taking liberty for granted.

These complexities reflect the essence of democracy: it is messy, contentious, and ever-evolving. The play’s climax—Hamilton’s death in a duel with Aaron Burr—serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of ego and division. Yet the final number, “Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story,” leaves audiences with hope. Eliza Hamilton’s closing act of preserving her husband’s legacy underscores the responsibility of every generation to shape the narrative of democracy.

4. Cultural Impact: Making History Accessible and Urgent

Beyond its artistic brilliance, Hamilton has become a cultural phenomenon with unparalleled influence. It has been streamed by millions on Disney+, performed for U.S. presidents, and integrated into school curricula. By making history accessible to Gen Z through TikTok-worthy beats and viral lyrics, the play has reignited civic engagement among young people. Its famous line—“Immigrants—we get the job done”—has become a rallying cry in debates over immigration reform, proving that Hamilton is as politically relevant as it is entertaining.

Moreover, the play’s success has forced Broadway to confront its own lack of diversity. Hamilton paved the way for more inclusive storytelling in theater, inspiring productions like Six and A Strange Loop. Its mantra of “rising up” transcends the stage, symbolizing marginalized communities’ demands for a seat at democracy’s table.

Conclusion: Why Hamilton Stands Alone

Hamilton is more than a musical—it is a manifesto for a more inclusive democracy. By reimagining the past with a cast as diverse as modern America, it challenges us to live up to the ideals of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Its soundtrack, a blend of hip-hop and history, reminds us that democracy is not static; it is a chorus of voices, each generation adding its verse.

While other Broadway shows have dazzled audiences, none have so profoundly impacted how we view history, identity, and civic responsibility. Hamilton earns its title as the greatest Broadway play in history not just through artistic innovation, but by daring to ask: Who tells your story? In answering, it invites us all to become Founding Fathers and Mothers of a more perfect union.

As long as America strives to fulfill its promise, Hamilton will remain its anthem.

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What is your favorite Hamilton song? Mine is “My Shot”:

I am not throwin' away my shot
I am not throwin' away my shot
Ayo, I'm just like my country
I'm young, scrappy and hungry
And I'm not throwin' away my shot

I'ma get a scholarship to King's College
I probably shouldn't brag, but dang, I amaze and astonish
The problem is I got a lot of brains, but no polish
I gotta holler just to be heard
With every word I drop knowledge

I'm a diamond in the rough, a shiny piece of coal
Tryna reach my goal, my power of speech, unimpeachable
Only 19, but my mind is older
These New York City streets get colder, I shoulder
Every burden, every disadvantage I have learned to manage
I don't have a gun to brandish, I walk these streets famished (whoo)

The plan is to fan this spark into a flame
But damn, it's getting dark, so let me spell out the name
I am the A-L-E-X-A-N-D-E-R
We are meant to be

A colony that runs independently
Meanwhile, Britain keeps shittin' on us endlessly
Essentially, they tax us relentlessly
Then King George turns around, runs a spendin' spree
He ain't ever gonna set his descendants free
So there will be a revolution in this century

Enter me (he says in parentheses)
Don't be shocked when your history book mentions me
I will lay down my life if it sets us free
Eventually, you'll see my ascendancy

And I am not throwin' away my shot (my shot)
I am not throwin' away my shot (shot)
Ayo, I'm just like my country
I'm young, scrappy and hungry
And I'm not throwin' away my shot

I am not throwin' away my shot
I am not throwin' away my shot
Hey, yo, I'm just like my country
I'm young, scrappy and hungry
And I'm not throwin' away my shot

It's time to take a shot
I dream of life without a monarchy
The unrest in France will lead to on-archy
On-archy? How you say? How you - oh, anarchy!
When I fight, I make the other side panicky with my shot

Yo, I'm a tailor's apprentice
And I got y'all knuckleheads in loco parentis
I'm joining the rebellion 'cause I know it's my chance to socially advance
Instead of sewin' some pants (whoo)
I'm gonna take a shot

But we'll never be truly free
Until those in bondage have the same rights as you and me (that's right)
You and I, do or die (whoo!)
Wait till I sally in on a stallion with the first black battalion
Have another shot

Geniuses, lower your voices
You keep out of trouble and you double your choices
I'm with you, but the situation is fraught
You've got to be carefully taught
If you talk, you're gonna get shot

But check what we got
Mr. Lafayette, hard rock like Lancelot
I think your pants look hot, Laurens, I like you a lot
Let's hatch a plot blacker than the kettle callin' the pot

What are the odds the gods would put us all in one spot?
Poppin' a squat on conventional wisdom, like it or not
A bunch of revolutionary manumission abolitionists
Give me a position, show me where the ammunition is

Oh, am I talkin' too loud?
Sometimes I get overexcited, shoot off at the mouth
I never had a group of friends before
I promise that I'll make y'all proud
Let's get this guy in front of a crowd

I am not throwin' away my shot
I am not throwin' away my shot
Ayo, I'm just like my country
I'm young, scrappy and hungry
And I'm not throwin' away my shot

I am not throwin' away my shot
I am not throwin' away my shot
Hey, yo, I'm just like my country
I'm young, scrappy and hungry
And I'm not throwin' away my shot

Everybody sing! Whoa, whoa, whoa
Hey, whoa (whoo!), whoa
Said let 'em hear ya! Let's go! (Yeah)
Whoa, whoa, whoa (I said shout it to the rooftops)
Whoa (said to the rooftops)
Whoa (oh, come on), yeah (come on, let's go)

Rise up, when you're living on your knees, you rise up
Tell your brother that he's gotta rise up
Tell your sister that she's gotta rise up
When are these colonies gonna rise up? (Whoa)
When are these colonies gonna rise up? (Whoa)
When are these colonies gonna rise up? (Whoa)
When are these colonies gonna rise up?
Rise up

I imagine death so much, it feels more like a memory
When's it gonna get me? In my sleep? Seven feet ahead of me?
If I see it comin', do I run, or do I let it be?
Is it like a beat without a melody?
See, I never thought I'd live past 20
Where I come from, some get half as many
Ask anybody why we livin' fast, and we laugh, reach for a flask
We have to make this moment last, that's plenty

Scratch that, this is not a moment, it's the movement
Where all the hungriest brothers with something to prove went?
Foes oppose us, we take an honest stand
We roll like Moses, claimin' our promised land
And if we win our independence?
Is that a guarantee of freedom for our descendants?
Or will the blood we shed begin
An endless cycle of vengeance and death with no defendants?

I know the action in the street is excitin'
But Jesus, between all the bleedin' and fightin'
I've been readin' and writin'
We need to handle our financial situation
Are we a nation of states? What's the state of our nation?

I'm past patiently waitin'
I'm passionately smashin' every expectation
Every action's an act of creation
I'm laughin' in the face of casualties and sorrow
For the first time, I'm thinkin' past tomorrow

And I am not throwin' away my shot
I am not throwin' away my shot
Ayo, I'm just like my country
I'm young, scrappy and hungry
And I'm not throwin' away my shot

We're gonna rise up, time to take a shot (I am not throwin' away my shot)
We're gonna rise up, time to take a shot (I am not throwin' away my shot)
We're gonna, rise up, rise up (it's time to take a shot)
Rise up, rise up (it's time to take a shot)
Rise up, whoa (it's time to take a shot)
Rise up, take a shot, shot, shot (whoa)
Ayo, it's time to take a shot, time to take a shot (whoa, whoa)
And I am not throwin' away my, not throwin' away my shot