As a playwright, I cherish the moments when theater and film are seamlessly blended. There are many times when these attempts don’t work out. I don’t want to sit through a static, onscreen conversation for an hour and a half, whereas I may be on the edge of my seat watching that same interaction onstage. However, when films like The Whale master the art of adaptation or hit musicals are made accessible to the masses through cinema like the 2024 version of Mean Girls, my faith in the ability to mix my two favorite mediums is restored. Here are my favorite music moments in the best musical of all time– that’s right, Lin Manuel-Miranda’s rap-musical Hamilton– brought to you by Disney+.
Lin-Manuel Miranda
Leslie Odom Jr.
Renée Elise Goldsberry
Phillipa Soo
Daveed Diggs
Christopher Jackson
Jasmine Cephas Jones
Okieriete Onaodowan
Anthony Ramos
Jonathan Groff
Carleigh Bettiol
Ariana DeBose
Alexander Hamilton
This opening number gets you hooked and introduces our legendary, notorious Alexander Hamilton, who, up until 2015, slipped under history’s radar. The intensity of the beat and hilly nature of the melody articulate his turbulent backstory. It’s incredible how much he overcame, and it’s incredible how little we knew about the man whose face was on our $10 bills.
My Shot
Hamilton’s drive is expressed emphatically in this song. The lyrics, again, reflect his character, except this time, he tells the audience himself. This is how much success means to him. He cares about his new country because he sees himself in its narrative, and after losing everything, he’s willing to risk everything he has left. He’s bold and brazen, like the orchestra and the beatboxers around him. He is dead set on making his mark.
Satisfied
What I admired most about Lin Manuel-Miranda as he told this story of a great man was that he three-dimensionally painted the women around him just as strongly. Angelica Schuyler, played by Renée Elise Goldsberry, was the epitome of such strength– the pulse of every song. “Satisfied” is her R&B moment, and we get to see her perspective on Hamilton. She replays their first introduction over and over again to tell the true story as opposed to the glossy version that appeared on the cover of society newspapers at the time. The stage rotates, and she belts out the reason why she chose to lose him to her beloved sister Eliza (Phillipa Soo)– even though these powerhouses were more kindred spirits.
Dear Theodosia
This is the only instance where enemies Aaron Burr (Leslie Odom Jr.) and Hamilton (Lin Manuel-Miranda) are on the same page. Both men have their children around the same time and are in awe of how their infants have made everything else seem so small. This is a rare number where there is no rap or intense beat. It is sung like a nursery rhyme, and the chimes reflect beauty in the stillness. They will do better than their fathers. Many believed that this tune was inspired by Lin Manuel-Miranda's own entry into fatherhood, but he admitted that it was based on his love for his dog, which only makes the song more relatable.
The Reynolds Pamphlet
This is where Hamilton pitchforks his personal life. He has an affair with Maria Reynolds (Jasmine Jones) while his wife and kids are away. Hamilton has been known to stray and prioritize his work over family, but the ominous harmony lets us know that this time is different. Her husband finds out and threatens to blow up his political career if he doesn’t come clean. So he does, ruining his prospects of becoming president as well as his marriage to his blind-sided, steadfast wife, Eliza. This leads into “Burn,” depicting the aftermath of Eliza’s worst nightmare and her choice to walk away. The letters that he wrote her go up in flames, and so does their love– or at least in the heat of the horrible moment.
Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story
The finale after Hamilton’s unfortunate yet honorable death at the hands of his bitter, now guilt-ridden rival will make you cry. This slow song is his memorial. It’s all about legacy– something that Hamilton and most of us work for our entire lives. His loved ones mourn, and the wife who wanted to scorch their history after being humiliated does everything in her power to ensure that he is not forgotten. It’s been a slow burn, but this musical fulfilled their dreams. Hamilton is now on Broadway, and he has been everywhere for years.
If you wince at the thought of a musical, especially one that plays on your TV, don’t fear Hamilton. This show on screen will expand your horizons and prove that more theater can be broadcast to a larger audience, chomping at the bit to watch it unfold.
Check out the full Hamilton soundtrack here.