In the past ten years, Hamilton has taken the world by storm. Raking in over $1 billion in revenue, lighting up stages from New York City to Australia, and touching the hearts of millions of people across the globe, the musical has entirely transcended the confines of Broadway, making a lasting mark on the world of theater and beyond.
As the musical celebrates its tenth anniversary in 2025, the world has taken a moment to acknowledge its unanticipated level of success, far-reaching impact, and the brilliant minds behind the operation. Across the media, the musical’s fans are celebrating through captioning their posts with “#HAMILTEN” and re-enacting its most iconic moments. Many of the musical’s original cast members reunited at the 2025 Tony Awards, performing a medley of Hamilton’s most popular songs and attracting virtual audiences from around the world.
Background and Inspirations
The musical follows the life of Alexander Hamilton, one of America’s founding fathers, detailing his rise from a humble beginning as an orphan in the Caribbean to a prominent leader in the American Revolution. After the war, Hamilton marries Elizabeth Schuyler and becomes the first Secretary of the Treasury, continuing to play an influential role in the formation of the new American government. The musical places an emphasis on Hamilton’s relationship with Aaron Burr, highlighting their political differences and personal animosity. Lin-Manuel Miranda, the musical’s creator, composer, lyricist, and original star, layers Hamilton’s personal and political lives, weaving them together to portray a deeply complicated and relatable character.
Lin-Manuel Miranda was originally inspired to write creatively about Hamilton after reading Ron Chernow’s biography Alexander Hamilton in 2009. Believing that Hamilton’s experiences could translate well into music, Miranda began writing a rap mixtape where he transformed Hamilton’s world into song. Shortly after, President Barack Obama invited Miranda to perform a song from his first musical, In The Heights, at a White House poetry event. Instead of doing this, Miranda made the impulsive decision to sing one of the songs from the mixtape he was working on – “Alexander Hamilton.” Miranda received a highly positive response from the audience, prompting him to continue working on his music, which he eventually evolved into a smashing musical.
Music and Meaning
Miranda’s ability to pack decades of history into a three-hour-long experience of singing, dancing, and dialogue is incredible. The production’s use of catchy and iconic songs is frequently cited as a primary reason for its massive popularity and critical acclaim. By simply listening to the soundtrack alone, many listeners feel as though they can grasp the meaning, emotion, and intention behind the musical. “My favorite part about Hamilton is the final song of Act 1 ‘Non-Stop,’ because I think that it creatively combines all of the characters, compiling their different dynamics into a brilliant piece,” said Saranya Vichaidith ’27. “The intensity of the music and the strength of each lyric are crucial to telling the story of Hamilton.” It is a musical driven nearly entirely by song, shaping it into an emotional, captivating story.
Throughout the musical, Miranda subtly plants hidden messages and meanings that audiences have unveiled over time. For example, the majority of the characters rap very quickly when interacting with one another, creating a rushed, suspenseful atmosphere. Hamilton, especially, always seems to be doing something productive, whether that is speaking, writing, or shuffling across the stage. One of the most common phrases said to him is, “Why do you write like you’re running out of time?” His wife, Elizabeth Schuyler, on the other hand, speaks and sings very slowly at a calmer tone, generating a stark contrast between the two characters. Some attribute this to the fact that Schuyler lives to be 97 years old, and therefore doesn’t have to rush through her words. Miranda foreshadows this through her comparatively slower speech. Hamilton, on the other hand, dies in his late 40s, which explains why he has a larger sense of urgency throughout the musical. On a broader level, this reveals Miranda’s goal of creating meaning through linguistic and stylistic choices.
Set and Costume
The aesthetics of the musical are equally exciting. At any given moment, there is something worthy of noticing – whether that be a new costume or moving element of the set. As the musical progresses, as do decades of time, the costumes transform appropriately to reflect this – from frock coats to tailcoats and from ball gowns to regency dresses. When the Schuyler sisters make their first appearance, they are dressed in elegant ball gowns known as l’anglaise that are characteristic of the 18th century. Angelica wears a saturated pink, Eliza a bright turquoise, and Peggy a vibrant yellow, reflective of their individual personalities. The very fabric of the dresses was among the most popular of the 18th century, speaking to the care and attention to detail of the costume designers. Later in the musicals, the sisters are dressed in simpler, more lightweight regency dresses, representative of a societal shift towards this type of clothing. Additionally, Miranda specifically requested that Hamilton be dressed in green, as green is the color of money and represents Hamilton’s role as the first secretary of the Treasury.
Additionally, the set of the musical is impressive, displaying high-level architectural capability. The stage design is a detailed brick/wooden scaffolding structure that varies in purpose depending on the scene. “We did 33 different versions of the brick — some were too beige, some were too brown. The color had to work with all the different skin tones, all the different costumes!” said David Korins, the set designer for Hamilton. Korins also implemented a turntable floor, which was used most notably in the culminating duel between Hamilton and Burr. The fact that they were physically spinning across the stage as they met face-to-face added dramatic effect to the musical.
Historical Nuances
As incredible as Hamilton is, is the plot itself accurate? With any historically-adapted work of art, there is the risk of portraying events inaccurately, which can warp present views of the past. There tends to be an unavoidable tradeoff between historical accuracy and entertainment, as directors try to hit the sweet spot between truth and theatrical impact.
I spoke with Dr. Todd Davis, an Advanced Placement United States History teacher at Bronx Science, and asked him about his thoughts on the musical from a historical lens. “The musical glossed over slavery, not giving it enough space as its own theme of the time period,” said Dr. Davis, “It is elite-driven, passing over the role of the common people in the Revolution.” Throughout the musical, we follow Hamilton and his interactions with other elites, such as Aaron Burr, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington. These political figures have varying perspectives, but they all have one thing in common: wealth and power. In a musical focused on a time period with stark social inequities, it becomes problematic when the only viewpoint is that of the elites. The musical makes minimal attempts at touching on the common peoples’ contributions to the revolutionary effort – instead, it amplifies the already-existing emphasis on the founding fathers’ efforts, which distorts the way that modern audiences understand the American Revolution.
Not only is the main viewpoint skewed towards the elites, but the subject matter relating to the revolution is also narrowly tailored. “The musical oversimplifies the revolution as a whole, mainly focusing on the independence aspect of it,” said Dr. Davis. Although the revolution is multi-faceted, with various internal and external actors, the musical places an overwhelming emphasis on America’s separation from Great Britain and its struggles establishing a new government. This approach effectively ignores the simultaneous displacement of Native peoples, ongoing issues with slavery, and various internal political uprisings. On its own, the musical does not fully explore the political and social landscapes of the time period, limiting its scope to the overarching master narrative of the Revolution and making it difficult for audiences to reconcile the complexity of the era.
Past, Present, and Future Influence
Hamilton was successful from the get-go, immediately attracting audiences and making headlines. During the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020, however, it reached a whole new level of popularity when a recorded version of the musical began streaming on Disney+. Many people took the opportunity to watch it online during quarantine, broadening the musical’s reach and helping it reach an unprecedented rate of success. Disney has recently released a new version of the Hamilton musical-movie, also starring the original cast, which came to theaters for a limited time this past September 2025, revealing the musical’s enduring influence.
As a whole, Hamilton is a riveting and captivating musical that vividly portrays the American experience during the revolutionary era. While it is important to acknowledge its historical flaws, the production still offers valuable perspectives that, when combined with outside background knowledge, foster a fuller understanding of this time period. Beyond its historical insights, Hamilton’s ability to move audiences and evoke strong emotions reflects its exceptional artistic and entertainment value. Its theatrical impact sets a high standard for modern musical theater, influencing how future productions can blend history, storytelling, and innovation to engage audiences.
Raking in over $1 billion in revenue, lighting up stages from New York City to Australia, and touching the hearts of millions of people across the globe, the musical has entirely transcended the confines of Broadway, making a lasting mark on the world of theater and beyond.