Will Hamilton become a cultural icon?

It's been a long time since the musical theater community has seen something with the noise surrounding Hamilton. It's going from being the ticket if the season to the ticket of the decade (for some).

In my 31 years on earth, I don't recall any kind of musical getting this kind of attention. Part of it may be my age and the fact that I live in the Midwest, but typically, news about a new musical is non-existent here. When Rent opened, I remember it being a big deal outside of NY because it had a major Rolling Stone article, displays of "Rent inspired" clothing at Bloomingdales (or Macy's. Can't remember which), and an end of the aisle CD display at Target. In small town Michigan, that was just huge.

Is Hamilton going to reach the level where it becomes part of the cultural lexicon? Is it on it's way to be parodied on The Simpsons? Are we about to see people in camping out for tickets in Kansas City when it tours?

I'm genuinely curious about how big this is going to get after tomorrow's opening.

Let it actually open and audiences get to see if before we confirm legend status on it.

I am so fed up with the hype on this show. Every other show that opens next year will be grasping for attention. Composers & producers will know no matter how good their show is, they have not a shot in hell of getting a Tony for score or show.

I will not see it and somehow I will survive. I wish it luck as I do with any show but I am so over the Hamilton hysteria you have no idea

Yes Roxy, everyone knows you won't see it because you have already made that clear, and because it won't appear on your comp sites. Good lord, you seriously have too much time on your hands. It really is not necessary to post each and every thought that comes into your head on every single thread on here. Unreal.

If you are more concerned with what is happening in the real world then why do you haunt every single thread on this board on what feels like a 24/7 basis?

I beg to differ but when scalpers are getting ABSURD amounts for tickets this kind of negates your argument.

This is being totally blown out of proportion but everyone is entitled to their opinion . I respect your opinion even though I disagree. Please do the same for me

Thanks

Raisin was a limited run with a Hollywood star. BOM had a following re South Park. Did not see Raisin & saw BOM which, to my wife & I, definitely did not live up to the hype.

This show will be like the monster that devoured Cleveland destroying everything in its path. Eventually it will lose steam but it will be many, many, many years from now.

Seeing it is not on my bucket list or on any other list. If we see it eventually, fine. If not, we will survive. A friend of ours saw it and said it took awhile to get used to the hip hop music. He liked it but was not blown away with it as many are want to say about shows.

Updated On: 8/5/15 at 07:11 PM

I am not being negative about it in any way. It probably is very good . I just am tired of the hype. No way am I selling internal organs and other body parts to see it. No show is worth it. If we see it great. If not, life goes on.

You're exaggerating the demand for tickets. You can still get a fine seat for this month or next month via Ticketmaster or the Richard Rodgers box office.

"Just when I think I've seen it all, out comes another rapping 'musical'.
Sorry, from all of the video I've seen, I think it's dreadful. The 'singing' blows, the choreography is terrible and why do a period piece if the only thing you keep in the period are the costumes?
Glad these hip hoppers are getting work, but give me a real musical with real singing and real dancing, and I'll be happy."

I'm glad you came to this conclusion just based off of a few videos online.

The backlash this musical is getting on this boards is really something. I believe that if this show was more of an underdog, more of you would like it.

To J Broadway

Re being wrapped up in a show, do you recall the Idina If/Then frenzy?People were basically killing each other nightly at the stage door. What do you think will happen with Frozen?

If this type of behavior is a person's life, go for it. It is not for me.Re Hamilton, if someone wants to pay a kings ransom for a ticket and/or see it multiple times be my guest.Not my cup of tea.

I am out of this discussion. Have fun gang.

"Glad these hip hoppers are getting work, but give me a real musical with real singing and real dancing, and I'll be happy."

To label this show as a non-legit musical is ridiculous; this is a "real musical." So what if it's hip hop? The beauty of theatre is that it's a constantly changing landscape... there will always be new and innovative forms of the American musical, and me, like many others, believe that Hamilton is.

I thought you were asking if Alexander Hamilton would become a more prominent figure in American culture. I thought that was more interesting so I'll respond to that first. I'm not sure. I don't think Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson or Assassins are on par with Hamilton's success but still, I'm not sure how strong they were as educational tools.

As for your actual question, I'm not sure what you're asking. The cultural lexicon thing is confusing because the people behind things like The Simpsons and Family Guy and SNL include theatre geeks. So yes, they'll throw in jokes and parodies but they do that for more obscure things too. As for it being a phenomenon on par with Rent and Rocky Horror, I don't think it lends itself to the same kind of fandom. I could see certain fashion elements catching on from designers who are inspired by the show but people aren't going to just start walking around in frock coats and pantaloons.