10 Best Moments from Hamilton’s America

NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 18: The Hamilton creative team: Andy Blankenbuehler (choreography), Lin-Manuel Miranda (book, music, and lyrics), Alex Lacamoire (musical supervision and orchestrations), and Thomas Kail (director) attend the ‘Hamilton’ Meet and Greet at the New 42nd Street Studios on June 18, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Walter McBride/Getty Images)

6. The Music Man

"Lin in Hamilton is doing exactly what Shakespeare did in his history plays. He’s taking the voice of the common people, elevating it to poetry…and by elevating it to poetry… he is bringing out what is noble about the common tongue. -Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director for The Public Theater"

Watching Miranda writing lyrics is the one of the best (and funniest) parts of the documentary. He puts so much thought into each line, into the style of how each character raps. There are so many layers, each time you listen you uncover something new. Like the fact that Jefferson is still singing Jazz because he was in Europe and doesn’t realize the rest of America has moved onto rap.

It is safe to assume that most people watching Hamilton’s America have never written a Tony Award winning play. To see the process of how something like that is created is fascinating. I wish there were more scenes like the one with what Miranda calls “his cabinet”. Along with arranger/orchestrator/conductor/keyboard player Alex Lacamoire and director Tommy Kail, he plans the structure of “The Story of Tonight.” The men all have the same buzzing energy that is palpable, even through the screen. They bounce ideas off of each other. You can see their ease and passion. These are the places where we get to see how Miranda’s incredible mind works. And we just can’t get enough.