A backstage pass to the groundbreaking, hit musical Hamilton, winner of the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Eleven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, including the award-winning libretto, behind-the-scenes photos and interviews, and exclusive footnotes from composer-lyricist-star Lin-Manuel Miranda, now streaming on Disney+ with the original cast.
Lin-Manuel Miranda's groundbreaking musical Hamilton is as revolutionary as its subject, the poor kid from the Caribbean who fought the British, defended the Constitution, and helped to found the United States. Fusing hip-hop, pop, R&B, and the best traditions of theater, this once-in-a-generation show broadens the sound of Broadway, reveals the storytelling power of rap, and claims our country's origins for a diverse new generation.
Hamilton: The Revolution gives readers an unprecedented view of both revolutions, from the only two writers able to provide it. Miranda, along with Jeremy McCarter, a cultural critic and theater artist who was involved in the project from its earliest stages -- "since before this was even a show," according to Miranda -- traces its development from an improbable performance at the White House to its landmark opening night on Broadway six years later. In addition, Miranda has written more than 200 funny, revealing footnotes for his award-winning libretto, the full text of which is published here.
Their account features photos by the renowned Frank Ockenfels and veteran Broadway photographer, Joan Marcus; exclusive looks at notebooks and emails; interviews with Questlove, Stephen Sondheim, leading political commentators, and more than 50 people involved with the production; and multiple appearances by President Obama himself. The book does more than tell the surprising story of how a Broadway musical became a national phenomenon: It demonstrates that America has always been renewed by the brash upstarts and brilliant outsiders, the men and women who don't throw away their shot.
Download and start listening now!
“Traces[s] the origins and progress of the show from loose ‘mixtape’ to Broadway production and cultural phenomenon. A deep dive into the world of conceiving, staging, and performing a live theater event…Audiobook listeners will want to keep the cast album close as the narrative touches on the history and evolution of individual songs, as well as gives background on the creative team both behind the scenes and on the stage. The audio edition includes the full libretto with annotations by Miranda in addition to color photographs and other bonus material. The bulk of the narration is earnestly performed by Mariska Hargitay, with McCarter reading his introduction and Miranda reading (and sometimes singing) his own annotations. Verdict: A must-have for Hamilton superfans and all public libraries.”
— Library Journal (starred audio review)
“Hamilton is a phenomenon like no other—not since Les Misérables has a Broadway show so captured the attention of our pop culture consciousness. As its subtitle suggests, this book is the closest we’re likely to come to an encapsulation of what was, and is, a revolutionary work of art. From the odd behind-the-curtain trivia, to an outlining of the debts the libretto owes to the greats of hip-hop, to the breathless accounts of the off-Broadway run and the phenomenal success of the Broadway debut, it’s an irresistible, almost giddy account of an seismic event in entertainment history.”
— Barnes&Noble.com“Mariska Hargitay takes on the role of warm documentarian in her narration of Hamilton…Listeners will need to follow along in the accompanying PDF when listening to Lin-Manuel Miranda’s footnotes on the libretto, which make up the last hour of the recording. That being said, it’s so much fun hearing them lift off the page, by turns serious and playful, in his voice. It’s fascinating listening for Broadway aficionados and an essential deep dive for Hamilton fans.”
— AudioFileBe the first to write a review about this audiobook!
Lin-Manuel Miranda is an American composer, lyricist, librettist, rapper, and actor, best known for creating and starring in the Broadway musicals Hamilton and In the Heights. He was named one of 100 Most Influential People of 2016 by Time.com. He is a Tony Award–winning composer and lyricist. As an on-screen actor, he has appeared in The Sopranos, House, Modern Family, The Sex and the City Movie, and The Odd Life of Timothy Green. His reading of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe won him an AudioFile Earphones Award.
Jeremy McCarter wrote cultural criticism for New York magazine and Newsweek before spending five years on the artistic staff of the Public Theater, where he created, directed, and produced the Public Forum series. He served on the jury of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and is writing a book about young American radicals during World War One. He lives in Chicago.