Riedel on Hamilton transfer- Page 14

[Eurotrash]

Posted: 2/27/15 at 11:28am

I'm predicting an 'If/then' sales trajectory for this one, with an initial feeding frenzy, and then more-or-less done in about a year.

[Kayama]

Posted: 2/27/15 at 11:30am

The cast of Hamilton has been in dire need of "moral support"?

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 2/27/15 at 11:38am

Eurotrash, you're wrong there. If/Then didn't get great reviews and wasn't nominated for best musical. Hamilton will get both of those.

[Kad]

Posted: 2/27/15 at 11:39am

If/Then's sole selling point was also its star once the mixed reviews and word-of-mouth spread.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 2/27/15 at 12:05pm

Kayama,

re moral support-yes. The funny thing is, Riedel has low impact beyond the business, because the general public doesn't read his column or even know who or what he is, but he has high impact within the business and you can bet just about everyone involved in the show has read his gossip.

[GilmoreGirlO2]

Posted: 2/27/15 at 4:57pm

I was lucky enough to see the show this past weekend and, even with all of the hype, even with how excited I was, even with every rave I’ve read, it was better than I could have ever expected.

It’s been a long time since I completely forgot myself for the entirety of a show. Not once did my mind become aware of sitting in an audience, being surrounded by people. I was enraptured with the whole performance and felt everything I could hope to feel from a piece of theatre: surprised, excited, moved, amused, connected, awed, the list goes on.

It is truly a masterpiece and not only are the lyrics beyond clever and truly brilliant writing, but I honestly felt like every single word and moment had a purpose (I can imagine Miranda having a difficult time trying to find anything to cut, as every little bit has its place and meaning) – never did I feel like the lyrics were clever just to be clever. Each line held so much meaning beyond just being a genius turn of phrase – it’s obvious that very meticulous and detailed thought went into not only the words themselves, but who is saying them, how they are saying them, and who they are saying them to. And, all of this behind the scenes work comes out effortlessly onstage and has a truly stunning effect.

And, success of the show is not only about the words - the entire execution is creative, brilliant, fun, and moving and it really feels like each aspect of the show is exactly as it should be. It is certainly a very unique theatrical experience, while still rooted in the wonderful world of musical theatre.

I felt truly whisked away from start to finish. I didn’t feel conscious of time, one way or the other, when sitting in the audience.

The show is still dominating my thoughts and I keep thinking and realizing all of the different ingenious themes and layers built into the execution of this story that, when I realize them, make me in awe all over again - but the best part is that I felt the EFFECT of each of these layers and words and devices while in the audience, even if I didn’t fully realize them until after. They aren’t just clever when breaking them down and analyzing them after – they did their job while I was sitting there in the theatre.

I’m thrilled this is transferring in the summer. I think it’s an extremely smart move and I anticipate it will do extremely well, not just because of how hot of a ticket it is right now, but because it truly is a wonderful piece of theatre that seems to be finding connections in audiences of all different ages and kinds. The energy in the theatre at the performance I attended was palpable. Rapturous applause throughout and that wonderful sense that nearly everyone (if not everyone) in that theatre were all experiencing the same thing – there was an exciting buzz in the room the entire time.

As for if whether it has crossover appeal, I don’t see any reason why anyone from another country wouldn’t enjoy it just as much as I did. I didn’t connect with it because I’m American, I connected to it because of the story being told, the characters and relationships created, and all of the things that make up a great musical.

And, yes, I would absolutely think this musical would be a great educational tool. It provides a good overall understanding of certain events, as well as interesting details, and makes it much more realistic, accessible, tangible, and personal than reading these things in a textbook.

As for all of this Riedel nonsense…it sounds like he is just trying to, somehow, insert himself into the current biggest musical hit. It seems like he’s grasping at straws to find drama to stir up with “Hamilton.”

I can’t wait to see it again once it’s transferred. I’m so grateful I got to see it once already.

Side note: did anyone see on Twitter that Laura Benanti said it was the best musical she’s EVER seen?

[seahag2]

Posted: 2/27/15 at 5:19pm

YES I saw what Laura Benanti said about the show. It really took me by surprised, not because the show is bad but because it's such a bold statement to make! I need to see this now.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 2/27/15 at 5:34pm

I'm a little older than Benanti and have been seeing Broadway shows for nearly 30 years. It is the best thing I've ever seen. I said it to a friend who is a known critic/theater writer and he texted me right after he saw the matinee saying, 'You weren't kidding.'

[Sorry-Grateful]

Posted: 2/27/15 at 5:36pm

With the usual "personal taste is subjective" disclaimer, I saw this show a few days ago, and I think it's the best new musical of this century. The show is transcendent and revolutionary, and I think it will go down in history as one of the all-time greatest Broadway musicals (once it makes the transfer).

Mark my words, Lin's going to get his Pulitzer for this one.

[damnfew2]

Posted: 2/28/15 at 1:36pm

1. RE: Obscure Historical Figure - how many people would know or care about Evita Peron today if not for Andrew Lloyd Webber? Alexander Hamilton is arguably the most important of our founding fathers but because he was never president has been neglected. This musical makes the case for his importance and will go along way to restoring his reputation. The New York Times Op Ed (David Brooks) has already written about this musical (when was the last time that happened?) and many more politicos/bloggers will be posting think pieces.

2. The balconies will be filled with school groups for years to come. HAMILTON make history exciting and it crams 40 years of early US history into 2.5 hours. Teachers will be overjoyed.

3. HAMILTON, set in latter half of the 18th Century, is really about 2015- much as 1776 was about the Vietnam era (see "Mama Look Sharp"). Notice the huge laugh or recognition the line "Immigrants get it done!" gets. More importantly, our country has never resolved the essential conflict of Jefferson vs. Hamilton - State vs. Federal - Republican vs. Democrat. The musical is about the state of our divisiveness of politics today (minus the dueling) and extremely relevant.

[macnyc]

Posted: 2/28/15 at 1:42pm

^^^ Absolutely! Well stated, damnfew and GilmoreGirl!

[Love4Theatre]

Posted: 3/1/15 at 12:06am

Wow! So much love for this show. I agree, and I look forward to catching the show on Broadway. A flight from SF is so worth!

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/1/15 at 6:09am

Hyperbole much, damnfew? Thanks for joining just to plug the show.

School groups? They certainly didn't flock to Bloody, Bloody, Andrew Jackson. (I'm not comparing the quality of the two shows, mind you.) Nor did they come out to see The Scottsboro Boys, which I found to be brilliant. I think you overestimate the average history teacher and their knowledge or interest in Broadway. I can practically guarantee that none of the history teachers in my building had any clue about those shows.

Restoring his rep? Does he even have one? (You know, because of the obscurity?)

I'm not trying to cut down the show. I can't wait to see it based on all the amazing word of mouth- I just think it's silly to be foreseeing it being this ginormous hit. Quality and success are not guaranteed bedfellows.

[damnfew2]

Posted: 3/1/15 at 8:53am

Dear dramamama611:

Time will tell. I look forward to continuing our conversation over the next couple of years.

Hyperbolically yours,

Damnfew

PS. The rehabilitation has already begun in the sense that the musical has provided additional exposure for the excellent biography by Ron Chernow, upon which the musical is based.

https://www.commentarymagazine.com/article/alexander-hamilton-by-ron-chernow/

“Justice shall be done to the memory of my Hamilton.” - Eliza Hamilton

[HogansHero]

Posted: 3/1/15 at 9:16am

dramamama-had you seen the show, you would understand why your comparison to Bloody is inapt. Hamilton is a work of scholarship, and it will indeed be seen by school groups in the manner of Shakespeare's history plays, not Bloody. That your anecdotes about history teachers in your building (really? how many of them are there, and how many of those do you talk to about this?) could theoretically be true does not alter the fact that the show is just at the nascent stage of becoming known. The reason for the hyperbole is that many many people, me included, went in expecting less than we were provided, no matter how high our expectations. It really is incomparable.

[After Eight]

Posted: 3/1/15 at 9:30am

"HAMILTON make history exciting"

About as exciting as a wet firecracker on the Fourth of July.

"Teachers will be overjoyed."

Teachers shouldn't be looking to musicals to do their jobs for them.

Updated On: 3/1/15 at 09:30 AM

[macnyc]

Posted: 3/1/15 at 11:01am

Thanks for posting the song list, sorry-grateful! I'm wondering why the king's songs aren't listed. (I think it's really one song, but he sings it three times during the show, with different lyrics.) Maybe it's supposed to be a surprise?

[HogansHero]

Posted: 3/1/15 at 11:28am

After Eight,

I can chalk up your lack of appreciation for Hamilton to simple bad taste (or a failure in your education nd upbringing, or being dropped on your head as a baby) and shrug my shoulders, but the notion that "[t]eachers shouldn't be looking to musicals to do their jobs for them" is just so utterly wrong-headed that you need to be taken out back and tarred and feathered for saying it. The theatre is precisely what a teacher ought to look to for doing their job. And as a society, that's exactly what we would hope the theatre would do. That someone could pretend to care about the theatre and think it should not be a fundamental part of our cultural and educational fabric is mind-boggling. Hamilton, a serious piece of scholarship packaged in a resonant, compelling, exciting, artful musical like Hamilton is, it seems to me, what the theatre aims for in its highest aspirations. Shame on you!

[Sorry-Grateful]

Posted: 3/1/15 at 12:30pm

macnyc, The Playbill does list "You'll Be Back," which is the King's first song. It's true that the other two songs he sings are reprises of this song, and I'm not sure why they aren't in the Playbill either.

[MaddieBB12]

Posted: 3/1/15 at 12:45pm

Does anyone know if there are or will be any more clips or full songs anywhere? All I can find is the one minute montage the Public and Broadway.com have, but its hard to convince my friends of all the hype with just that, plus I'd love to see a little more!

[macnyc]

Posted: 3/1/15 at 1:34pm

Thanks, Sorry-Grateful! You're right.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 3/1/15 at 1:46pm

I do wonder if Hamilton will lose a bit of that "special something" that it had Off-Broadway, kind of like In The Heights did. Critics were breathless in their praise of the show off-broadway, but the praise was a just little qualified when it moved to the big room. That said, you can't sneeze at three year run ITH had, so we can only hope Hamilton will have at least a half of that.

[Mr. Musical]

Posted: 3/2/15 at 11:22pm

Hamilton's social media pages are now up, including the artwork. @HamiltonMusical on Twitter
Facebook

[AngInFL79]

Posted: 3/3/15 at 10:17am

Here's a crazy question, but when tickets go on sale, how far in advance do you think they'll sell them? I had an idea of purchasing a ticket for the Thursday I'll be there before the Broadway Con.

[Kad]

Posted: 3/3/15 at 12:25pm

As a major booster for the show... I really hope that artwork is a stand-in until better artwork is developed.