"Hamilton"—How To Geek Out At The BPL Over Broadway's Hit

I finally saw Hamilton this week. I know—it's been a Broadway hit for over seven years now, and it's been available to watch on a paid streaming service for two years. But the national touring company finally made it to Birmingham, and I was there opening night. I'm neither a theatre nor musical fanatic, so I went into it skeptical of being entertained for the whole two and a half hour run time.

 Suffice to say, I was overwhelmed.

I have to pay my due diligence and explain for anyone reading what Hamilton is.

Hamilton is a musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda about the life of founding father Alexander Hamilton. It tells his story from his move to the colonies, his rise to greatness in the Revolutionary War, his family and marriage, his political legacy, and, most notably, his lifelong rivalry with Aaron Burr. Its musical style is a medley of hip-hop, rap, pop, and traditional music theatre. The musical is most notable for casting non-white actors in the roles of the founding fathers. Miranda describes it as history being told through a modern lens. 

If you've been a fan for years, are just being acquainted like myself, or have yet to see but are interested, let's explore what the Birmingham Public Library offers to augment your Hamilton experience. 

Unfortunately, the live video recording of the musical is only available on one subscription based streaming service. But the next best thing is the original Broadway cast recording.

Since the whole musical is sung/rapped, listening to the cast recording tells the whole story as presented in the theatre. The BPL has several copies of the recording on CD in both original and edited for content versions. You can also find the original and edited versions on Hoopla for instant streaming to your devices. There's also a Mixtape album with some of your favorite rap and hip-hop stars covering the songs available at the BPL and through Hoopla.

Also available on Hoopla is the documentary Hamilton: One Shot to Broadway. Including interviews with Lin Manuel Miranda and others in the Broadway cast, this documentary explores the meteoric success of the musical and how it came to be. 

If you're interested in the historical context of the play, there are several books available about Alexander Hamilton and his life and politics. Historians on Hamilton: How a Blockbuster Musical is Restaging America's Past is a collection of essays by modern historians debating the historical accuracy and context of the play and how it has opened a dialogue into how we perceive history. 

Hamilton's wife, Eliza, is an intriguing character in the play, and if you're like me, you have probably never heard of her. But it turns out she is an amazing figure in history, and a person who should be talked about more. Eliza Hamilton: The Extraordinary Life and Times of the Wife of Alexander Hamilton tells her life story from her upbringing and her marriage to Hamilton to her long, extraordinary life after his death.

Not only has Hamilton been a hit, but it has skyrocketed Lin-Manuel Miranda to the upper echelons of Broadway and musical theater. What better way to get an insider look into the play than through the words of the writer himself. Hamilton: The Revolution gives you his account of the thoughts and ideas that came together to form Hamilton into being. Miranda discusses hip-hop, modern America, and the importance of storytelling. 

If you've yet to see it, Hamilton will be playing at the BJCC through February 4, 2023, and a few tickets are still available. 

By J. Michael Coe | Library Assistant Ⅲ, North Birmingham Regional Branch and Inglenook Branch Libraries