The hit Broadway musical Hamilton was brought to theaters through its recording on Sept. 5, 2025 to celebrate its 10th anniversary. Hamilton is the dramatic hip-hop retelling of Alexander Hamilton’s life and legacy, one often left in the shadows of his more well-known counterparts, like George Washington. Hamilton is told through the eyes of Eliza Hamilton, played by Phillipa Soo, which is why some fans suspect the musical is called “Hamilton” instead of “Alexander” or “Alexander Hamilton,” hinting that the musical is also about Eliza’s life and legacy as well.
Director and songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda spent over a decade of his career writing the songs and really bringing Hamilton’s story to life. And bring the story to life he did! As Hamilton’s songs like “Satisfied” and “Quiet Uptown” throw fans for an emotional rollercoaster that won the musical 11 Tony Awards, a Grammy, the Olivier Awards, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and a citation from the Kennedy Center Honors.
Hamilton has the fastest rap in Broadway history. The song “Guns and Ships,” rapped by the character Lafayette, is approximately 19 words in three seconds, or about 6.3 words per second. This song and many others from the musical give it an upbeat mood, allowing the audience to forget that these were real people, America’s founders, not fictional, fun, upbeat characters played by people of various backgrounds, including Black, White, Hispanic, and Asian actors.
The songs are not the only thing that lead to Hamilton’s success. The musical’s original cast, which included Lin-Manuel Miranda starring as Alexander Hamilton, was very diverse, extremely talented in the art of stage presence and were blessed with musical abilities. Characters like Aaron Burr, played by Leslie Odom Jr. (who recently returned to the stage of Hamilton), and George Washington, played by Christopher Jackson, add a more solemn, serious tone to the show. While characters like Thomas Jefferson/Lafayette, played by Daveed Diggs, and King George III, played by Jonathan Groff, add a more fun, humorous vibe to it.
Now, a decade after the musical was first performed in 2015, fans can easily enjoy, and “live to see the glory,” that is Hamilton. Due to its popularity, Hamilton on the Big Screen’s time in theaters has been extended. Giving fans all across the US, and select foreign countries, the opportunity to be in “the room where it happens” and experience Hamilton like never before.
