Publication Date
Fall 2025
Presentation Length
15 minutes
College
College of Music & Performing Arts
Department
Theatre and Dance, Department of
Student Level
Undergraduate
Faculty Mentor
James Al-Shamma
Presentation Type
Talk/Oral
Summary
When Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton premiered on Broadway in 2015, it quickly became one of the most celebrated and influential musicals of the twenty-first century. By blending hip-hop with traditional musical theatre and casting actors of color as the Founding Fathers, the production reshaped how American history could be represented on stage. This essay explores how Hamilton functions as both a cultural breakthrough and a source of political controversy. While the musical has been praised for expanding representation in theatre and making history feel accessible to modern audiences, scholars have also criticized it for simplifying the realities of America’s past, particularly regarding slavery, race, and power. Through examining both the celebration and criticism surrounding the production, this paper analyzes how Hamilton changed the aesthetics, politics, and cultural influence of Broadway. Ultimately, the musical reveals a complicated paradox: it is revolutionary in its artistic form and representation, yet limited in how far it challenges the historical and political systems it portrays.
Recommended Citation
Eastone, Sophie K., "Who Tells Your Story? The Good, the Bad, and the Political of Hamilton’s Cultural Revolution" (2025). SPARK Symposium Presentations. 700.
https://repository.belmont.edu/spark_presentations/700
