I'm as eager as anyone to see it, even if I was more excited about seeing the musical in a theater, but I'm curious about the business angle (and a few other things).
- Disney paid a lot of money for the rights to Hamilton, and there's no way the company will be able to make a profit on its investment with new Disney+ subscriptions. I was never sure how well it would do as a theatrical release, but now we'll never know what how much money a professionally shot megahit musical with crossover appeal could do as a film. I'm a bit bummed we'll never find out.
- That said, I understand the logic of releasing it on the Fourth of July weekend. Disney acquired an asset that has unique value to the company at this time - a critically-acclaimed musical, filmed almost four years ago, just sitting around when people are eager for something new to watch (or in the case of people who have seen it, to see in a different format). Hamilton's value now is almost certainly higher for Disney now than it would have been next year as a theatrical release that might not have made big money.
- There weren't many questions answered. While I assume Hamilton won't come and go quickly on Disney+, it raises questions about whether it will be available to purchase, in a theater (ever), et cetera. Yes, I guess we'll be getting the muted version on Disney+, which is annoying.
- The least mysterious element is: How good will it be? I saw the show with the main original cast (sans Lin-Manuel Miranda, who was sick that night - though I met him outside briefly - and Okieriete Onaodowan) a couple of months before it was recorded. But I was in the rafters. Seeing the show from that perspective has its virtues - one of my favorite theater memories is Leslie Odom Jr. singing up to those rafters at the end of "The Room Where it Happens," and it's a good place to see the choreography in "Satisfied" - but it will be nice to have a better seat for other parts of the show. But will the direction be too busy or annoy me somehow,, or will I think it's almost as good as being there?
- I'm not gonna lie. I do look forward to seeing that cast. Having seen it four times with touring casts (often with excellent performers such as Joshua Henry), there was something about the original group. The three I'm most eager to see again, to have others get to experience: Renee Elise Goldsberry as Angelica, Chris Jackson as George Washington, and Daveed Diggs' extraordinary performances as Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson.
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