It’s 2017 and a line of people from all different backgrounds wrap around the Orpheum Theater in San Francisco as Hamilton fans wait impatiently for the doors to open. Behind these doors, the original cast of Hamilton put on a masterful blend of history, rap and acting that captured the attention of many.
Three years later as the world was confined inside their houses due to the looming risk of covid, the release of Hamilton on Disney+ in July of 2020 helped many fans find comfort amid a time of chaos and uncertainty.
Now, five years later, in celebration of their ten year anniversary, Hamilton has once again reclaimed the spotlight and brought with it a renewed sense of cultural enthusiasm. Hamilton came to movie theaters all around the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico for a limited time. With the flurry to see the musical on the big screen, Hamilton started gaining more media attention as people made videos to their favorite Hamilton sounds, audiences dressed up as characters from the musical to recreate viral memes and to visit Hamilton in theaters.
For senior Amanda Goody, and many other Paly students, Hamilon never lost its popularity but instead gained more relevance when they were able to relate it to their classes.
“It was probably in preparation for the APUSH exam junior year that I started listening a lot and getting really interested in the deeper meaning to the play,” Goody said.
Goody’s interest in Hamilton first began when she was ten and saw the musical in San Francisco with her family and she now shares her enthusiasm for the musical with her friends.
“I went to see [Hamilton] in the theaters for the 10 year anniversary with a couple friends,” Goody said. “It was such a fun moment that I will forever cherish, and seeing it with my friends who are also big Hamilton fans definitely improved the experience!”
Videos trending on different social media platforms showed audiences singing along in the theater and coming together over their shared love for the musical. Junior Alana Chun saw it in the movie theater this year with her friends and had a similar experience.
“There were lots of people singing which I think made it a lot more fun and entertaining,” Chun said. “There was someone dressed up as King George who would stand during his scenes which was really funny.”
Unfortunately, for Goody, the theater was not as openly involved in the musical.
“People weren’t openly singing in the theaters, although I’m sure people were singing along in their head,” Goody said. “That’s one thing I wish I could have experienced, it was a shame that my theatre didn’t have as involved people as others that I saw on TikTok.”
The Hamilton franchises expert move to bring the musical to the big screen and its spiked social media presence rekindled many fans’ love for the show
“I think seeing Hamilton a lot more in the media definitely got me more into it again since I remembered how much I liked it when I was younger, and me and my friends have fun singing it together,” Chun said.
Although the 10 year anniversary of Hamilton highlighted the undeniable love shared by so many for the musical, it also reinforced the ongoing appreciation it has hung onto since the opening night back in 2017 and the love it will undoubtedly continue to receive for years on.
“I think Hamilton was never unpopular,” Goody said. “I think that with the increased media presence from the 10 year anniversary and cast reunion, more people started to listen and truly understand why so many people love the cast, music, and franchise so much.”
