I always had an eye toward the stage for the story of Hamilton's life, but I began with the idea of a concept album, the way Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'Evita' and 'Jesus Christ Superstar' were albums before they were musicals.
Lin-Manuel MirandaRead
In 'Hamilton,' we're telling the stories of old, dead white men, but we're using actors of color, and that makes the story more immediate and more accessible to a contemporary audience.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the importance of diversity in storytelling and how it makes historical narratives more relevant today.
Lin-Manuel Miranda emphasizes that by casting actors of color in the roles of historical figures, we can connect modern audiences to the stories of the past. This approach not only revitalizes the narratives but also allows for a broader representation, enhancing the relatability and impact of the storytelling for diverse viewers.
Themes
DiversityStorytellingRepresentationTheaterHistory
In practice
Example use cases
During a lecture on modern theater, one could use this quote to illustrate the importance of diverse casting.
More from Lin-Manuel Miranda
All quotes →You know what's a great way of tricking people into thinking you're a genius? Write a show about geniuses!
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I think I'm always subconsciously trying to write the ideal school play. Lots of parts for everybody, great parts for women - don't forget, more girls try out than boys in the school play; everyone gets to be in the school play.
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Anytime you write something, you go through so many phases. You go through the 'I'm a Fraud' phase. You go through the 'I'll Never Finish' phase. And every once in a while you think, 'What if I actually have created what I set out to create, and it's received as such?'
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Everything we know about Hamilton, we knew when he was alive, because he told us.
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In the best works of fiction, there's no mustache-twirling villain. I try to write shows where even the bad guy's got his reasons.
Lin-Manuel MirandaRead
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After my performance 'The Artist is Present (2010)' at MoMA in New York, many scientists became interested in why so many people who sat across from me began to cry. I was incredibly moved by this experience also, and was very curious to know what happens in our brains when we spend time not talking, just looking at one another.
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