Moviefone Editorial

Tag: hamilton

  • Watch Tipsy Lin-Manuel Miranda Tell Hamilton’s Story on ‘Drunk History’ Preview

    "Grease: Live" Panel & Reception“Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda knows the story of the Founding Father as well as anybody — he wrote an entire musical about the guy, after all. But how well can he tell it when he’s drunk?

    We’re about to find out on the NOv. 29 episode of Comedy Central’s “Drunk History,” which gets celebrities to drink alcohol and then recount major events in history. Their storytelling is then reenacted by actors, and the end result is pretty hilarious.

    MIranda tells the story of Hamilton’s famous duel with Aaron Burr, with Hamilton played by Alia Shawkat and Burr played by Aubrey Plaza. Dave Grohl and Tony Hale also pop up in the reenactment. Entertainment Weekly has the first clip from what should be a sidesplitting episode.

    Who needs “Hamilton” tickets anyway? (We do. WE STILL DO.)

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  • ‘Hamilton’ Documentary Teaser Looks Back at Its Wild Success

    Lin-Manuel Miranda Makes Final Performance On Broadway's "Hamilton"Lin-Manuel Miranda became a household name after his musical “Hamilton” became an overnight sensation. With the show’s wild success inspiring the documentary “Hamilton’s America,” PBS has dropped a new teaser.

    The 30-second preview highlights just how big the musical has become, with even the likes of President Barack Obama weighing in. He is shown not only in the show’s audience with First Lady Michelle Obama but also chatting with Miranda in the Oval Office on another occasion. Jimmy Fallon also appears in the teaser, along with others who discuss the huge impact of “Hamilton.”

    The documentary film explores the making of the Broadway hit and the history behind it, according to PBS. Based on the teaser, it is full of interesting interviews, snippets of the amazing musical, and footage of screaming fans. If you haven’t seen “Hamilton,” it might just be the next best thing.

    Watch the teaser below.
    “Hamilton’s America” premieres on PBS on Oct. 21 at 9 p.m. ET.

  • A ‘Hamilton’ Documentary Is Coming to PBS (and Lin-Manuel Miranda Is Taping His Performance, Too)

    2016 Tony Awards - ShowThere may not be a “Hamilton” movie in the works any time soon, but that doesn’t mean fans won’t be able to enjoy the musical outside of Broadway: The production announced some big news yesterday that ensures there will be at least some “Hamilton” content (and possibly the entire show) coming to the airwaves very soon.

    “Hamilton” creator and titular star Lin-Manuel Miranda revealed that the Tony-winning musical smash is set for the documentary treatment, and will be featured on the ongoing PBS series “Great Performances.” The 90-minute doc will premiere on PBS on October 17, and will feature not only some in-depth behind-the-scenes footage, but also discuss “where ‘Hamilton’ intersects with history,” according to Miranda.

    The documentary is being directed by Miranda’s longtime friend (and onetime college roommate) Alex Horwitz, and includes what Miranda dubs “insane footage,” such as the composer writing “My Shot,” and interviews with big names including President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, George W. Bush, Questlove, and Jimmy Fallon. Miranda himself also conducted interviews with Stephen Sondheim, John Weidman, and Nas.

    But what could be an even bigger bit of news for fans is the announcement that the entirety of “Hamilton” itself is set to be filmed before Miranda departs the production on July 9. According to the star, RadicalMedia (the company also behind the doc) will be shooting two full “Hamilton” performances later this month, though Playbill reports that “use of the footage in its entirety or otherwise has yet to be determined.”

    The obvious application would be to air the musical on television at a later date (or even broadcast it in movie theaters), though of course, fans will fave to wait for official word from the production before we know what it plans to do with the recordings. Fingers crossed that it makes its way onto the screen — either big or small — sometime soon.

    [via: Playbill]

    Photo credit: ​Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions

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  • Watch Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Beautiful Tony Awards Speech for Orlando

    2016 Tony Awards - Show“…love is love is love cannot be killed or swept aside…”

    The 2016 Tony Awards were presented on the same night as the tragedy in Orlando, the worst mass shooting in U.S. history. In his monologue, host James Corden addressed the shooting, which killed 50 people and wounded 53 others in a gay nightclub. “Our hearts go out to all of those affected by this atrocity. … You’re not on your own. Your tragedy is our tragedy. Hate will never win. We have to make sure of that. Tonight’s show stands as a symbol of that principle.”

    The awards show ended up earning the highest ratings in 15 years, with “Hamilton” taking home 11 wins from its historic 16 nominations. When he won for Best Original Score, “Hamilton” creator and star Lin-Manuel Miranda said he wasn’t going to freestyle, he wrote a “sonnet” instead. He got emotional as he read it to the audience:


    “My wife’s the reason anything gets done.
    She nudges me towards promise by degrees.
    She is a perfect symphony of one.
    Our son is her most beautiful reprise.

    We chase the melodies that seem to find us
    until they’re finished songs and start to play.
    When senseless acts of tragedy remind us
    that nothing here is promised — not one day.

    This show is proof that history remembers.
    We live through times when heat and fear seem stronger.
    We rise and fall and light from dying embers,
    remembrances that hope and love lasts longer.

    And love is love is love is love is love is love is love is love
    cannot be killed or swept aside.
    I sing Vanessa’s symphony. Eliza tells her story.
    Now fill the world with music, love and pride.”

    Backstage, Entertainment Weekly reported, Miranda explained why he went with that sonnet speech: “I hadn’t written anything going into today. I hadn’t heard about the day’s events until after our Tony rehearsal. I’d always had this time between rehearsal and tonight to think about what I’d say if I was lucky enough to be called up, and it sort of informed all of it.” He also added this beautiful note: “We live in this world where beautiful and horrible things exist at the same time and often on the same day. … Theater doesn’t exist without the LGBTQ community. It’s the cornerstone of our industry.”

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  • ‘Hamilton’s’ Lin-Manuel Miranda and Broadway Stars Belt to ‘Carpool Karaoke’

    Carpool KaraokeBright lights, “Carpool Karaoke”!

    For the latest edition of James Corden’s popular “Late Late Show” segment, “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and Broadway stars Audra McDonald, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and Jane Krakowski boarded the vehicle for a Tony Awards-themed songfest. Corden is hosting the ceremony this Sunday.

    Miranda and Corden started the ride by rapping the opening number from the blockbuster show “Hamilton,” which set records by earning 16 Tony nominations and is poised to win big on Sunday.
    They were soon joined by six-time Tony winner McDonald, as well as “Modern Family’s” Ferguson and “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’s” Krakowski, who are both veteran stage performers.

    The group then belted out famous Broadway tunes like “Seasons of Love” from “Rent,” “You’re to Good to be True” from “Jersey Boys,” and the epic “One More Day” from “Les Miserables.”

    The Tony Awards air Sunday at 8 p.m. on CBS.

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  • Watch Lin-Manuel Miranda and J.J. Abrams Sing ‘Star Wars’ Cantina Song

    80th Annual New York Drama Critics' Circle AwardsSeriously, nobody is having a better year than Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creator of the blockbuster hit musical “Hamilton.” The show hauled in a record-breaking 16 Tony nominations yesterday, two of which were for Miranda himself.

    The pop culture sensation that is “Hamilton” fused with the pop culture sensation that is “Star Wars” when Miranda revealed that he wrote the music for a new cantina scene in “The Force Awakens.” And today, to celebrate Star Wars Day, he called up director J.J. Abrams to perform that song for its #Ham4Ham tradition (a treat for fans who waited in vain for tickets outside the theater).

    The song is called “Jabba Flow” and written in the language spoken by Jabba the Hutt.
    Miranda joked that it was a “shaggy intergalactic remix.” He and Abrams also announced that the song was now available for download on iTunes or StarWars.com.

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  • NBC Wants to Air ‘Hamilton’ Musical (But It Will Be a While)

    "Hamilton" Broadway Opening Night - Arrivals And Curtain CallEveryone is talking about “Hamilton,” the musical sensation about our founding father Alexander Hamilton that’s currently the hottest (and hardest to procure) ticket on Broadway. For those who can’t make it to NYC to see the show in person, there’s a possibility that you could simply wait for it come to a television near you — but you’ll be waiting a long time.

    That’s the word from NBC chairman Bob Greenblatt, who told a small group of reporters at the Television Critics Association this week that he was interested in tackling a televised production of the musical. Whether it would be live — like NBC’s previous musical efforts — or pre-taped — like Fox’s upcoming “Rocky Horror Picture Show” — is unclear. But whatever the format, those clamoring to see it shouldn’t bet on it airing on the network anytime soon.

    “I’m very fortunate to be a personal investor in ‘Hamilton,’” Greenblatt told reporters. “I’m friendly and close with all those producers and the creative team, and I think sure, we’d love to be able to film ‘Hamilton’ in some capacity, but I think it would be years before they even look at a movie or any kind of film version of that show.”

    While that may be disappointing for those dying to see the show, Greenblatt’s remarks still offer a faint glimmer of hope for fans of the hip-hop-flavored production.

    “It’s a thrilling theatrical experience,” the exec said. “I think it’d be a thrilling movie or television experience, and yeah, I’d love to [bring it to NBC]. I think it’s unrealistic for a decade or so, but check back with me then.”

    We plan on it, Bob.

    [via: E! News]

    Photo credit: Getty Images

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  • ‘Hamilton’ Creator Wrote New Cantina Music for ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’

    The New Yorker Festival 2015 - Lin-Manuel Miranda Talks With Rebecca MeadTwo of the biggest sensations in pop culture right now are coming together — the hotly-anticipated “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” and the hugely popular Broadway musical “Hamilton.”

    On “The Tonight Show,” director J.J. Abrams revealed that “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote new music for a cantina scene in “Force Awakens.” It happened after Abrams met Miranda after a performance of the Broadway show.

    “He says, ‘If you need music for the cantina, I’ll write it,’” Abrams said. Little did MIranda know that Abrams did, in fact, need new music for the cantina!

    “I end up emailing Lin Miranda, and I say, ‘I know you were kidding, but if you actually want to write this music, I’m actually working on something,’” Abrams explained. “He’s like, ‘I’ll drop everything.’”

    The normally spoiler-averse Abrams pointed out that nobody knew about MIranda’s involvement. And even the “Hamilton” creator didn’t know the director planned to reveal his role. But Miranda confirmed the news on Twitter:


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