Hamilton is one of the few Broadway productions of the 21st century that has maintained relevancy within mainstream pop culture.
Written and directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton follows the life of Alexander Hamilton during and after the American Revolution. It debuted to wide acclaim and high box office sales, with many loving its use of modern music genres to tell the story of America’s past.
Interestingly enough, Hamilton had boosted interest in musicals and other theater productions within younger generations. Websites like YouTube helped fans listen to and share the musical’s soundtrack to more people, and fan culture helped it spread even further. It’s a musical that has taken the minds and hearts of fans globally with no other modern musical able to take its place.
That said, ten years later Hamilton’s popularity remains consistent. People continue to be drawn to and find meaning in each song, and it is easy to see how it can be applied to other popular works. This was likely helped by Disney streaming the musical online during the COVID-19 lockdowns, which increased interest in the musical.
Hamilton has cemented itself as an important piece of American entertainment, not only for its incorporation of different cultures within the production but as a piece of political art. While many might say that politics has no place in art, theater has been one of the oldest art forms in which political messaging can be seen in. No matter the country, musicals have been an instrumental part in discussing and critiquing political administrations, and Hamilton has done its part well.
