Last updated on February 29, 2020
A couple weeks ago, my numerous attempts at winning the Hamilton lottery- months’ worth of daily entries and wishful thinking- finally paid off. I received an email that provided a link to purchase two tickets for the musical at a mere $10 per seat. On the night of the performance, the usher led me to the second row of the theatre and I was awestruck; it was my first time sitting so close to a professional theatre production. For someone that knows every lyric of Hamilton, it was a dreamlike scenario.
Hamilton’s latest stint in San Francisco began early this year and has maintained popularity with Bay Area audiences. A recently released block of tickets runs through March 2020, which means the show will have been at the Orpheum for a little over one year, an extensive period for a touring production.
As an audience member, I understand the allure: I laughed, cried, and everything in-between at the unfolding story before me. But while the show causes the observer to feel everything on the spectrum, it’s also a thought-provoking experience that touches on philosophical subjects like life and death, victory and defeat, love and betrayal.
One prominent theme of Hamilton is unshakeable tenacity through hardship. Hamilton was a persistent person despite coming from nothing, and this quality helped him defeat the odds. To say they were stacked against him is an understatement: the first words of the show are, “How does a bastard, orphan, son of a whore and a/ Scottsman, dropped in the middle of a forgotten/ Spot in the Caribean by providence, impoverished, in squalor/ Grow up to be a hero and a scholar?” Hamilton should have died early, alone and without key resources, but he didn’t. He could have lived in monotony, a product of a troubled adolescence, but did a lot more than just survive instead: the Biography website says that he was the first U.S. Treasurer, wrote some of the Federalist Papers, and was a member of the Continental Congress.
One moment where Hamilton shines the brightest comes with the lyrics, “Immigrants- We get the job done,” as the entire theatre erupts in thunderous applause and cheering. Hamilton was an immigrant who was born in the British West Indies and came to America when he was 16, another challenging aspect of his life– still, nothing he couldn’t handle. He made a name for himself through his political involvement, where he used his excellent writing and analytical skills. Such is an example of his ability to achieve despite adversity.
Hamilton was a student at King’s College, which later became Columbia University. While watching the scenes of Hamilton that reference education, I couldn’t help but think of all the college students in America who are immigrants and work tirelessly to receive an education. The strength it takes to start a new life within a new culture that has new practices and customs, while possibly learning a new language at the same time, is something of significant caliber.
Hamilton was an immigrant with hardships that didn’t faze him as he pursued his goals, one after another, and I think that’s a description that applies to many in the Bay Area. While he may not have finished college, the education he did receive was a stepping stone for success and helped him move up the ladder of society.
Hamilton takes place during the American Revolution, a critical turning point between the era of British Colonization in America and the creation of the independent country that now exists. “History is happening in Manhattan/ And we just happen to be in the greatest city in the world,” the Schuyler sisters excitedly sing.
Though America has long been established, it’s constantly evolving with new breakthroughs and discoveries; when I think about the enormous capacity my generation has to accomplish great things, breaking barriers and making change happen, I feel inspired… a lot like a wide-eyed young Angelica Schuyler. The same spirit is evident in Santa Cruz’s neighbors: San Jose, Berkeley, and San Francisco, cities that are leading the way in research and innovation.
To enter the Hamilton lottery, download the Hamilton app, create an account, and select the San Francisco location. To purchase tickets to see the show, visit the Orpheum Theatre’s website at broadwaysf.com.
