Why is the Broadway Show Hamilton so Successful?

Created by Yvonne AK Johnson

How popular is the show?

On August 6th 2015, with $30 million in advance sales,Hamilton opened on Broadway at The Richard RodgersTheater. President Barack Obama and his daughters, in

addition to many other influential people and celebrities, werepresent at the shows previews. In its first full week of

performances after opening, Hamilton brought in $1,459,314and during the week of November 28th the cast album made it

to number 1 on the Billboard Rap Album Chart. This widelypopular show is something so new and different that it has

been a game changer for Broadway. It is expected to sweep theTony Awards in June.

What is Hamilton about?

Hamilton is set in the early yearsof America and follows the rise ofimmigrant Alexander Hamilton

from a poor nobody to thePresident’s right hand man. It is ashow about young rebels who grab

and shape the future of anunformed country. The play is as

much about politics as it is an opusabout emotion. A fascinating part

of Hamilton is that the show’sFounding Fathers are all actors ofdiverse races and ethnicities, but

you barely notice it.

Hamilton breaks every rule ofBroadway success- there are no

movie stars in the cast and the showisn’t a revival.

Why is the show so popular?

Hamilton reminds us why America is so great and it makes usremember that at one point most Americans were from

somewhere else. The music in Hamilton is another reason thatthis show has become extremely popular and successful. It

incorporates multiple musical styles such as rap, jazz, pop andhip-hop. The whole story unfolds through songs that have a

modern rhythm and pulsing energy.