In times of upheaval, I lean on touchstones–works of art that have shaped me and the continue to be sources of inspiration, influence, and solace. It might be rereading a favorite novel, a cherished poem, a movie, or (especially often) a favorite album with a good pair of headphones.
What can I say about Hamilton: An American Musical that hasn’t already been said by better writers and thinkers than I? It is a work of art that works on so many levels. It is rich, deep, and rewards the attention you give it. It is humorous, tragic, uplifting, and challenging. It reinvents and pays homage to the past, all at once. It has become a cultural phenomenon and a personal touchstone in the last five years.
Almost any given song in the show can catch me and and bring tears to my eyes – most reliably “Satisfied” and “One Last Time” but it’s unpredictable from one listen to the next. When the album was first released, I estimate that it played in our house for easily 4 hours a day for several months. Our family was hooked hard, right away.
It took until April, 2019, before I and my family got to see this work of art in the theatre, in Chicago, and when we did, I was amazed to find that it did, in fact, exceed my heightened expectations. Every piece was so beautifully integrated – set, lighting, sound, orchestration, staging, choreography, costume. Everything.
This is without mentioning the remarkable Lin-Manuel Miranda, who has lived as a public artist in the best of all possible ways – generous with credit, generous of spirit, and generous with his creative gifts. He has been remarkable to watch and stands out as an example to me of how to be as an artist and human.
Hamilton might not be my very favorite musical, but it is without question a touchstone – I will keep going back to the cast album, to the live performance, to the score. And you can bet I’ll head to the movie theatre (virus permitting) when they release the original cast film. It’s without parallel. And if you don’t know, now you know.
Touchstones is an ongoing series of posts I’ll be writing during the COVID-19 season, reflecting on the works of art that support me in times of upheaval. I encourage you to make a list of your own “touchstones” and if you like, share them with me to publish here.