One-Sentence Summary
Hamilton: The Revolution by Lin-Manuel Miranda is a lyrical look behind the scenes of the hit musical production of the same name.
Genre
Biography, Autobiography, History
Main topic of the book
Hamilton: The Revolution looks into the development of the musical of the same name by Lin-Manuel Miranda. This includes the creative process, as well as a behind-the-scenes examination of the production.
Key Ideas
- Creative Process: The book explores the creative process in developing the musical, from the initial conception to the final product.
- Social Impact: Miranda’s musical revolutionized musical theater, spawning a resurgence in the popularity and cultural relevance of the art form.
- Background Information: Inside, readers can find the full lyrics to the musical, as well as contextual information about the characters, plotlines, and other elements of the show.
Main Parts of the Book and Summary
- Part One: Conceptualization: The first section of book looks into how Lin-Manual Miranda came up with the idea of a modern musical about the life of Alexander Hamilton. It delves into both his personal inspirations and experience in musical theater that eventually led to the formation of the musical.
- Part Two: Production: This part explores the singer-songwriter’s process of refining and bringing the musical to life. It follows the progression of the show from Off-Broadway to Broadway and documents the various changes made to the cast, script, direction, and choreography.
- Part Three: Lyrics: This section contains the official and annotated lyrics from the musical as they appear in the book. It also includes backstories and additional information about each character and song.
- Part Four: Performance: Finally, the book goes into the cultural and critical reaction to the show. It collects liners notes, afterwords, and interviews with the people who have brought the musical to life.
Key Takeaways
- Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical Hamilton revolutionized musical theater, forever transforming the way audiences view the art form.
- This book is an inside look into the creative process and production of the musical.
- It contains the full lyrics, as well as additional backstories and other supplementary information.
Author’s Background and Qualifications
Lin-Manuel Miranda is an award-winning lyricist, composer, director, and actor who is best known for creating the musical “Hamilton”. He has won several Tony and Grammy Awards, and holds a BA in Theater Arts from Wesleyan University.
Target Audience
This book is most suitable for theater enthusiasts, musical theater fans, and fans of the musical “Hamilton”.
Publisher and First Publication Date
The book was published by Melville House on April 12, 2016.