In 2009, songwriter and actor Lin-Manuel Miranda was invited to perform at the White House Evening of Poetry, Music and the Spoken Word, an event hosted by former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. There, he announced his new rap musical about founding father Alexander Hamilton and got laughed at by the audience, confused about what history and rap had in common.
When “Hamilton” hit the Broadway stage on Aug. 6, 2015, it introduced audiences to a politically charged musical unlike anything that had been done before.
It quickly became a cultural phenomenon, a groundbreaking retelling of America’s founding. The fast raps and emotional ballads, performed by talented voices of color, all from diverse backgrounds, reflected the values of hope, acceptance and bravery.
During this time, America was still under the Obama administration, a period when these values felt tangible and alive. A period where it was empowering to support progress and celebrate diversity as a central aspect of American identity.
In 2016, “Hamilton” received many accolades, including a Grammy Award, Pulitzer Prize and 11 Tony Awards, reflecting societal values at the time and establishing the musical as a cultural touchstone. The Pulitzer jury called it “a landmark American musical about the gifted and self-destructive founding father whose story becomes both contemporary and irresistible.”
But then the political climate shifted. With President Donald Trump’s election in 2016, the country entered a period marked by tension and polarization. The show endured major shifts: a global pandemic in 2020, multiple presidential elections and now, as “Hamilton” marks its 10-year anniversary in 2025, the return of Trump to the White House.
Yes, “Hamilton” is an engaging musical, one that blends history, music and choreography into something unforgettable. But 10 years later, its story feels less like a fantasy and more of a wake-up call.
“Hamilton” celebrated the nation’s journey towards freedom and democracy, striving to uphold the ideals of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all. Today, as the nation grapples with deep political and social polarization, the themes of “Hamilton” feel newly vital.
SOPHIE’S EXPERIENCE
I was first introduced to “Hamilton” when I was nine years old, right around the time it made its debut on Broadway. I remember my parents playing the soundtrack for me and my brother, who were far too young to grasp its meaning. However, we were instantly drawn in by its storytelling. I had always loved musical theater, yet I’d never encountered a show told entirely through song.
My family saw “Hamilton” live in 2019. I was thirteen years old, finally old enough to start to understand the weight behind the music: the historical depth, the innovation and what made it truly groundbreaking. It was the first time I saw politics not as something that was messy or scary, but as something deeply human.
Now, as an adult trying to make sense of the confusing political world around me, “Hamilton” means something entirely different. It serves as a strong reminder of the ideals America was built upon: the hope, the struggle and the belief in something better. In a time when those ideals often feel out of reach, “Hamilton” reminds me that the story of America is still being written and why it’s so important to stay engaged, to debate and to believe in the promise of democracy.
NEVE’S EXPERIENCE
My love of “Hamilton” started in 2017 when my mom got the CD as a thanks from PBS for donating. I’ve been wanting to see the show in person forever, and when it was announced that original Broadway cast member Leslie Odom Jr. would be returning to reprise his role as Aaron Burr this fall, I knew I needed to get a ticket.
I traveled to the Richard Rodgers theater in New York City for the matinee show on Oct. 19. When Odom Jr. came on stage, his singing was drowned out by the thunderous applause he received. He had to stop and wait a few minutes, and even then people were reluctant to stop clapping. It was incredible to see him in person. His voice is just as smooth and powerful as it is in the original recording.
There were also lots of cheers from the audience after “Immigrants: / We get the job done,” was proclaimed by Lafayette (Bryson Bruce) and Hamilton (Marc delaCruz). Immigration is a highly divisive issue in the country right now, with anti-immigrant sentiment being sown by President Trump and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) performing historically high, inhumane raids. It was encouraging to hear people taking pride in their roots and acknowledging the hard work immigrants have done for the country.
In 2016 Barack Obama described “Hamilton” as “a quintessentially American story” and told the story of Miranda’s inspiration for the character. “In the character of Hamilton — a striving immigrant who escaped poverty, made his way to the New World, climbed to the top by sheer force of will and pluck and determination — Lin-Manuel saw something of his own family and every immigrant family.”
During “The Story of Tonight” I felt myself getting emotional when David Guzman as John Laurens looked right into the audience and sang “Raise a glass to freedom / Something they can never take away,” because of the frightening rollbacks on civil and human rights in America. But his delivery also gave me hope that power in America still rests with the people, not a presidential administration that does not seem to care about us.
To me, “Hamilton” is the true story of American exceptionalism – hustle, hard work and passion. It’s also a reminder for me to stand up for what I believe in, as they say throughout the musical, “If you stand for nothing…what’ll you fall for?”
