Making of Hamilton on PBS Oct 21

TUNE IN OR STREAM

Friday, October 21 at 9/8c on PBS

A behind-the-scenes documentary look at Lin-Manuel Miranda's Broadway musical Hamilton coming to PBS Great Performances as part of the 2016 PBS Arts Fall Festival.

From New York Times:

The story of one of the most acclaimed musicals in Broadway history and the story of the man the show is about are deftly intertwined in “Hamilton’s America,” a “Great Performances” documentary being broadcast on Friday, Oct. 21, on PBS. Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote the book, music and lyrics for the musical “Hamilton,” is a genial guide to both tales.

He recalls how the idea for the stage show came to him while he was taking a breather after mounting his earlier hit, “In the Heights,” and started reading Ron Chernow’s biography of Alexander Hamilton. No one was more surprised that such a book could become the toughest ticket on Broadway than Mr. Chernow. “Lin invited me to ‘In the Heights,’” he recalls, “and I went backstage, and he said, ‘Ron, I was reading the book, and hip-hop songs started rising off the page.’ And I said to him, ‘Really?’”

Haven’t seen the show? Musical excerpts are served up as Mr. Miranda and others relate how it took shape while also detailing Hamilton’s considerable role in American history.

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TUNE IN OR STREAM
Friday, October 21 at 9/8c on PBS

A behind-the-scenes look at Lin-Manuel Miranda's Broadway musical Hamilton coming to Great Performances as part of the 2016 PBS Arts Fall Festival.

Hamilton, Broadway's rap hip-hop-infused smash about Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, orphan, immigrant, first U.S. Treasury Secretary, has won the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Looks like Alexander Hamilton (January 11, 1755 or 1757 – July 12, 1804) will keep his place on the $10 bill !  

Miranda said that he came across Ron Chernow's 2004 biography of the first Treasury Secretary haphazardly in 2008. Miranda instantly connected Hamilton's unorthodox immigrant upbringing with those of his rap heroes like Notorious B.I.G. and Jay Z. The musical based on Hamilton's life has been hailed by politicians of both political parties from President Obama to Dick Cheney. Notably, the cast is nearly all African-American and Hispanic (their casting call for non-white actors caught some heat). Aaron Burr, for example, is portrayed by a Black actor. Black actors also play the roles of Lafayette, Jefferson, George Washington, James Madison, etc. Lin-Manuel Miranda (born January 16, 1980), Hamilton creator/star as Hamilton/rapper/actor, was born in Manhattan to Puerto Rican parents. And, we spoke to some of the front office staff at the stage door before the show and they too were Hispanic/Black/Latino millennials...  Lots of high school kids are learning about Hamilton now, were in attendance and had memorized the lyrics on the 2-disc Hamilton cast recording.

Hamilton is practically why we have money: As the nation’s first Treasury secretary, he designed the US financial system.

And that was after he wrote most of “The Federalist Papers” — essays that played a key role in getting the Constitution adopted.

And after he helped win the Revolution as Gen. George Washington’s right-hand man as chief staff aide.

Born out of wedlock, raised in the West Indies, and orphaned as a child, Hamilton pursued a college education through the help of local wealthy men.

When Vice President Aaron Burr ran for governor of New York state in 1804, Hamilton crusaded against him as unworthy. Taking offense at some of Hamilton's comments, Burr challenged him to a duel in 1804 and mortally wounded Hamilton, who died the next day.