History is our porthole to the past. It is the greater story of our shared humanity that shows us how to move forward with wisdom and compassion. American history is filled with notable figures that transcended the odds despite their humble beginnings. Broadway composer and creator of Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda brought the life of Alexander Hamilton center stage with an ethnically diverse cast of characters. He depicted the life of the statesman as a man of conviction whose sheer determination propelled him to great success. The play helped change the dialogue about history among young people and struck a chord with audiences across racial and social lines.
Twenty Hayesmen had the privilege of attending the Tony Award-Winning musical. Jonathan Mercedes developed a deeper appreciation for history and what it has to teach us about the human experience. “Hamilton’s storyline has similarities to what we are going through as a nation at this very moment. It was inspiring to see how our Founding Fathers presented new strategies to change the nation. The play made what I was listening to in class more vivid and lively. They also found ways to incorporate contemporary musical elements in the form of rap songs and dance. I have a greater appreciation for Hamilton and how he changed the narrative.”
Many of the students were unaware that Alexander Hamilton’s early life was filled with misfortune. Hamilton, the son of immigrants was orphaned as a boy due to his mother’s death and his father’s abandonment. He was taken in by a wealthy family who noticed his intellectual abilities. His journey reflects the challenges that many foreigners face in a new land. Hamilton‘s rise to prominence embodies the American story of pure grit and resilience. Miranda‘s fresh new perspective on Hamilton’s story with a multicultural cast resonated with a younger generation. Junior David Morreo enjoyed the powerful imagery. “They brought the time period to life by putting a more modern twist which made it exhilarating to watch.”
This wonderful cultural experience was made possible by The Gilder Lehrman Institute for American History. The organization won a $1.46 million grant from the Rockefeller Foundation. As a result of their partnership, this grant will provide 20,000 students from New York City Schools with the opportunity to see Hamilton on Broadway. Cardinal Hayes High School who is an affiliated school of the institute benefited from this incredible opportunity. In order to see the highly sought after play, students had to successfully complete a detailed classroom project. Amy DiChristina, Project Manager for the Hamilton Education Program at The Gilder Lehrman Institute for American History believes that this is a great way for students to understand history and how it continues to impact our lives today. “One thing that we see from the student survey is that the students have been able to see themselves in the show. Some of them were surprised that many of the key historical figures were immigrants. They were able to make connections with today’s issues with the world of 1776.”
For some students like Raj Patel having the opportunity to see a play of this magnitude was a quite treat.” This was my first Broadway play. It was an eye-opening experience for all us. We get to see what we are learning about in the classroom through this amazing play.” Hayes History teacher, Mr. Ralph Coffey notes the importance of learning from our past. “I think that Hamilton shows us that many of the past issues are still relevant. We are the sum total of 200 years of experience. They failed in some cases and in other cases it worked. It shows human frailty. Hamilton had problems when he came to New York without a name, but overcame the odds to become a great figure in American history.”
Twenty Hayesmen had the privilege of attending the Tony Award-Winning musical. Jonathan Mercedes developed a deeper appreciation for history and what it has to teach us about the human experience. “Hamilton’s storyline has similarities to what we are going through as a nation at this very moment. It was inspiring to see how our Founding Fathers presented new strategies to change the nation. The play made what I was listening to in class more vivid and lively. They also found ways to incorporate contemporary musical elements in the form of rap songs and dance. I have a greater appreciation for Hamilton and how he changed the narrative.”
Many of the students were unaware that Alexander Hamilton’s early life was filled with misfortune. Hamilton, the son of immigrants was orphaned as a boy due to his mother’s death and his father’s abandonment. He was taken in by a wealthy family who noticed his intellectual abilities. His journey reflects the challenges that many foreigners face in a new land. Hamilton‘s rise to prominence embodies the American story of pure grit and resilience. Miranda‘s fresh new perspective on Hamilton’s story with a multicultural cast resonated with a younger generation. Junior David Morreo enjoyed the powerful imagery. “They brought the time period to life by putting a more modern twist which made it exhilarating to watch.”
This wonderful cultural experience was made possible by The Gilder Lehrman Institute for American History. The organization won a $1.46 million grant from the Rockefeller Foundation. As a result of their partnership, this grant will provide 20,000 students from New York City Schools with the opportunity to see Hamilton on Broadway. Cardinal Hayes High School who is an affiliated school of the institute benefited from this incredible opportunity. In order to see the highly sought after play, students had to successfully complete a detailed classroom project. Amy DiChristina, Project Manager for the Hamilton Education Program at The Gilder Lehrman Institute for American History believes that this is a great way for students to understand history and how it continues to impact our lives today. “One thing that we see from the student survey is that the students have been able to see themselves in the show. Some of them were surprised that many of the key historical figures were immigrants. They were able to make connections with today’s issues with the world of 1776.”
For some students like Raj Patel having the opportunity to see a play of this magnitude was a quite treat.” This was my first Broadway play. It was an eye-opening experience for all us. We get to see what we are learning about in the classroom through this amazing play.” Hayes History teacher, Mr. Ralph Coffey notes the importance of learning from our past. “I think that Hamilton shows us that many of the past issues are still relevant. We are the sum total of 200 years of experience. They failed in some cases and in other cases it worked. It shows human frailty. Hamilton had problems when he came to New York without a name, but overcame the odds to become a great figure in American history.”