America's Hamilton (The Making of a Musical)
America's Hamilton (The Making of a Musical)
"Hamilton’s America," the documentary about the making of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s pop culture Broadway phenomenon "Hamilton" – winner of 11 Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize — will show on Great Performances, Friday, October 21 at 9 p.m. on PBS as the season premiere of the PBS Arts Fall Festival. (Check local listings.)
"The story of Alexander Hamilton is most remembered for its dramatic conclusion, which saw Hamilton killed in a duel by Vice President Aaron Burr. But the full story of this political genius – a poor immigrant who built himself up from nothing to become one of the nation’s most vital architects – has largely been forgotten by history…until now. Today, Hamilton’s fan club is vocal and growing, thanks, in no small measure, to . . . Lin-Manuel Miranda’s revolutionary musical," says the documentary's producer, THIRTEEN (New York Public Media; www.thirteen.org).
Read a review of the musical itself by NCSS member Professor Andrea Libresco in the just-published October 2016 issue of Social Education. (http://www.socialstudies.org/publications/socialeducation/october2016)
Read a contrarian critique of Hamilton's public service, and of "the current Hamilton cult," by Robert Sullivan in the October 2016 issue of Harper's.
This documentary, "Hamilton’s America" delves into the creation of the show, revealing Miranda’s process of "absorbing and then adapting Hamilton’s epic story into groundbreaking musical theater." There is newly shot footage of the New York production with its original cast, trips to historic locations (such as Mt. Vernon and Valley Forge) with Miranda and other cast members.
There is a series of interviews with experts and politicians, -- including President Barack Obama, Former President George W. Bush. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, Senator Elizabeth Warren -- and cultural figures such as Questlove, Black Thought, Jimmy Fallon, John Weidman, Nas, and Stephen Sondheim.
"Hamilton’s America" reveals just how timeless are "the hot-button issues of today’s America: immigration, States’ rights, debt, income inequality, and race relations. These were the same fights that defined Hamilton’s time, and they are the driving force of Miranda’s historic work." The film endeavors to brush the dust off American history, much as the musical does, and provide a unique new way for us to view our national heritage and current political landscape.
- - -
"The story of Alexander Hamilton is most remembered for its dramatic conclusion, which saw Hamilton killed in a duel by Vice President Aaron Burr. But the full story of this political genius – a poor immigrant who built himself up from nothing to become one of the nation’s most vital architects – has largely been forgotten by history…until now. Today, Hamilton’s fan club is vocal and growing, thanks, in no small measure, to . . . Lin-Manuel Miranda’s revolutionary musical," says the documentary's producer, THIRTEEN (New York Public Media; www.thirteen.org).
Read a review of the musical itself by NCSS member Professor Andrea Libresco in the just-published October 2016 issue of Social Education. (http://www.socialstudies.org/publications/socialeducation/october2016)
Read a contrarian critique of Hamilton's public service, and of "the current Hamilton cult," by Robert Sullivan in the October 2016 issue of Harper's.
This documentary, "Hamilton’s America" delves into the creation of the show, revealing Miranda’s process of "absorbing and then adapting Hamilton’s epic story into groundbreaking musical theater." There is newly shot footage of the New York production with its original cast, trips to historic locations (such as Mt. Vernon and Valley Forge) with Miranda and other cast members.
There is a series of interviews with experts and politicians, -- including President Barack Obama, Former President George W. Bush. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, Senator Elizabeth Warren -- and cultural figures such as Questlove, Black Thought, Jimmy Fallon, John Weidman, Nas, and Stephen Sondheim.
"Hamilton’s America" reveals just how timeless are "the hot-button issues of today’s America: immigration, States’ rights, debt, income inequality, and race relations. These were the same fights that defined Hamilton’s time, and they are the driving force of Miranda’s historic work." The film endeavors to brush the dust off American history, much as the musical does, and provide a unique new way for us to view our national heritage and current political landscape.
- - -