Professional Fangirl- Katelyn Benschoter

As a twenty-year-old college student, it is strange to hear that many of my favorite things from middle school are now becoming a thing of the past. One of those things is the revolutionary musical Hamilton. Hamilton debuted in the Richard Rodgers Theater in the Big Apple on Aug. 15th, 2015. It has now been ten years since the historic show first took the world by storm. It has been half of my life since Hamilton debuted, and it is still just as relevant as it was when it first came out. And I am excited to see how the show’s impact grows as time progresses.

Hamilton tells the story of a typically overlooked founding father, Alexander Hamilton. It takes place during the Revolutionary War and other notable historic events like the writing of the Federalist Papers, the Constitutional Convention, George Washington stepping down as president, etc. But it gained momentum because of the style of this musical, which is a rap musical. Yes, that’s right, Hamilton combines history, Broadway, and rap. It was something that had never been done before Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creative mind behind the production. This might sound like a foolish idea to you, but the ticket sales say differently. The genius behind the musical is that it tells the important history of America in a way that is approachable and digestible for the general public. Many of us do not know much about our own country and how we got here today, and while it is also a fun musical, there is a learning element to the show as well. Additionally, the characters are fun and likable. It is not boring at any point. If you cannot tell, I am quite a fan of the show. And as tickets are actively going for thousands of dollars ten years later after its debut, it clearly is a piece of media that has stuck with society. 

I fortunately had the pleasure of seeing the show about a week ago. It was announced in April that Leslie Odom Jr, who played Aaron Burr in the original cast, was returning for the tenth anniversary. And in a matter of days, a friend and I jumped at the chance and bought tickets. Is my bank account still recovering? Yes. But was it one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life? Also yes. It was a surreal experience seeing a show on the same stage where it started, but it was even more surreal seeing an original cast member. Aaron Burr is the narrator of the show, and allows the audience to have a unique experience of Alexander Hamilton’s life, as he was the man who killed him. For months, it did not feel real that I was going to get to experience his Aaron Burr, and then the time finally came. When Leslie came out on stage, as he had the first line in the show, the crowd instantly gave him a standing ovation before he could even say his first line. The excitement and emotions in the crowd were high, and before I knew it, I felt myself getting emotional. Finally, after the applause dies down, the first act begins. 

A few notable highlights from the first act were the Schuyler sisters, the daughters of Philip Schuyler, a prominent character of the time period. These are the majority of the females in the cast, and have great importance to the complicated story of Alexander Hamilton’s life. In particular, Morgan Anita Wood as Eliza was brilliant. Eliza becomes Hamilton’s wife, the mother of his child, and the woman he later betrays. Eliza’s character adds an extra layer of emotions to the show. Wood did this especially well as she added a quirky and awkward aspect to her character. These additional layers to her character make the audience feel even more invested in her life, and make the betrayal and deaths in the story even more heartbreaking. She was very fun to watch and had an effortlessly beautiful voice.

Moving on to my favorite part of Act Two was a personal favorite song from the musical “One Last Time.” This number depicts Washington’s decision to step down as president. The song is simply beautiful, and Tamar Greene as Washington blew me away. His voice was so comforting and warm. I have always been fascinated by this idea that, at this time, Washington could have been president as long as he wanted, but he decided to step down so “the nation can outlive me when I’m gone.” The song is reflective, and while the literal context of the song is not a relatable idea to the majority of the public, the ideas he is singing about are. This song made me ugly cry in the theater, especially when he sings the line “Everyone shall sit under their own vine and fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid, they’ll be safe in the nation we’ve made.” He sings of this idea of reflecting back on what you have done and moving forward. It was a beautiful moment in the show that I will never forget.

This would not be a proper review of the tenth anniversary show if I did not talk about the gem of a man that is Leslie Odom Jr, reviving his role as Aaron Burr. He was nothing short of perfection. Odom’s performance quality is as if he never left the production. He was made for this role, and it is so clear that he is thrilled to be back. His joy for the show and role radiated off him. He was genuinely so fun to watch, and his voice was exactly what the soundtrack sounds like. His return was why I made the trip to see the show, and it was incredibly worth it.

All that being said, the show was amazing and is full of fantastic actors. I feel so lucky to have experienced such a quality production. What has stuck with me since the show is what this show means now in 2025. Hamilton is an old story about the start of America, yet it remains relevant. In “The Story of Tonight,” they sing “Raise a glass to freedom, something they can never take away.” In the current time, when many cases and laws are looking to be overturned, it creates a pit in my stomach. Ten years of Hamilton remind us how we formed as a country, and that the work is not over. As Hamilton sings, “This is not a moment, it’s a movement.”