Of all Broadway shows in recent memory, none has been so critically-acclaimed, insightful and as culturally relevant as Hamilton. Written in a passionate 6 years by Lin Manuel-Miranda, who also plays the lead, the musical tells the story of a lesser-known Founding Father. At a critical time in United States politics today, how do our current political landscape and patriotic sentiments reflect the life and times of the industrious, brilliant and orphaned architect of many systems still in place? This week we welcome Megan Carr to analyze some of the lyrical, social and historical complexity. What does the show's popularity say about our interests today? How do we respond to a racially diverse cast which leaves out prominent figures of color in the American Revolution? How are women characterized and described within the musical? How is Alexander Hamilton portrayed as a heroic protagonist and in what ways is his story altered to reflect a potentially idealized narrative? And in what ways has the musical shed light on the means by which we teach and tell history?

Further Reading:

PBS Newshour, "'Hamilton' becomes 9th musical to win Pulitzer Prize"

Slate, "A Hamilton Skeptic on Why the Show Isn't As Revolutionary As It Seems"

Business Insider, "'Hamilton' tickets sell for more than $2,000 - here's how much money Broadway's hottest musical is raking in"

The New York Times, "'Hamilton' and History: Are They in Sync?"

National Council on Public History, "Race-Conscious Casting and the Erasure of the Black Past in Lin-Manuel Miranda's Hamilton"