On June 3rd, The FMS Music Department watched the Hamilton Broadway Show at Richard Rodgers Theater in New York City. They took a bus to the theater and they departed from the school at around 10:50 AM for their field trip.
Everyone going on the trip was extremely excited. They had waited a long ten months to go on this trip. FMS history teacher, Mrs. Cason said, “The most exciting part was probably the build up because this time I got to see it with all my students, who I’ve been talking about Hamilton to and singing Hamilton to the whole time.”
Hamilton is known for being an amazing play that came out in 2015. Choosing a musical to attend is an expected idea, but let’s see what Mrs. Boulton, the school band teacher and director had to say: “We’ve been trying to get into Hamilton for years. At least six years, we’ve been trying to get in. The challenge was that the price of the tickets had always been just extraordinarily expensive. So when we had a chance this summer and I was looking through all the different options that we have, I called up the box office and they were willing to give us a discount for those higher seats. So as soon as they said we could get in, 100 percent, we’re in. It’s a perfect show.”
Unfortunately, and expectedly, the kids couldn’t simply walk to the theater, so they took a bus ride to the city, taking about an hour and fifteen minutes. Kids found this time perfect to eat their lunches. FMS student, Brandon S, said, “We had a lot of fun on the bus ride. Everyone was sitting at the back of the bus singing random songs. So that was fun. And we played a couple games while we were waiting to arrive at Hamilton.”
After arriving, the students had to walk a bit to get to the theater. While waiting for the show to start, kids used the time wisely to buy souvenirs and snacks. However, it was a bit overpriced. Brandon says, “I did like the merch…I got a beanie. So I was very impressed with the merch. A little bit expensive though. My take is that snacks for $7 is absolutely insane, but you gotta make money somehow.”
The first part of the show was one hour and 15 minutes long. This part included the start of Hamilton’s early life, the American Revolution, the Federalist Papers, and Hamilton’s early law career, and it mainly focused on characters like Hamilton, George Washington, Aaron Burr, Marquis de Lafayette, John Laurens, Hercules Mulligan, King George Ⅲ, and the Schuyler sisters, Angelica, Eliza, and Peggy. It also included some of the most famous songs in the show.
Brandon shared his thoughts on the play. He said, “I personally liked the first part better. I think it had better songs. Like it had “Schuyler Sisters”, “Nonstop”, it had “My Shot”, and a bunch of others. More action in the second part, but the Federalist Papers were in part one.”
The second part of the show was mainly about Hamilton’s rivalries while forming the new American government. This half also included characters such as Hamilton, Aaron Burr, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Eliza Schuyler, and Philip Hamilton. This is also the part in which we see his son’s death, Thomas Jefferson win the election, followed by Hamilton’s death. Mrs. Cason said she likes both parts of the show, but here’s what she said about the second part: “…the second half always makes me cry. The second half is more emotional and it’s deep because…if you can stay locked in on the lull moments, like there’s more chill music, it’s such an intense and deep story.”
After the show, students and chaperones walked back to their respective buses to get ready for the ride back to school, from where they would go home. This ride also took roughly one hour, but it seemed short, with all the fun and action going on.
Overall, Mrs. Boulton thought the students were well behaved. “I think you guys [students] were great. I think when we were in the theater, everybody was just so engrossed and just focused on what was happening, and it’s such a cool musical and there’s so much to see, that I think everybody was really focused.”
Everyone there enjoyed the show. Here are some people’s points of view. Mrs. Boulton stated, “I’ve never seen it live- never. I saw it on Disney Plus, but never had the opportunity to actually go and see it, and to see on that stage…the diversity, the skill level…it truly represented you, I think. You guys were able to look up there and see yourselves. You can be like ‘I can completely relate to that person because they look like me, sound like me’.”
Brandon said, “I definitely did enjoy the show. It was just really good music, and I got to enjoy with a lot of my friends.”
Mrs. Cason added, “It was epic, and it was my second time watching it. It was epic because the show is awesome, but when you see it in-person, it’s extra awesome.”
Everyone had a different favorite song and experience. One individual, Brandon said, “My favorite part of the show was “Nonstop”. It was a really good song and I got to sing it with my friends. “Nonstop” was my favorite because it had a really good beat.”
Mrs. Cason said, “The dancers, because you can’t see the dancers on Disney Plus, you could only see them when you see it live, and I feel like they tell such an awesome story that utterly moved, and some of those things they do on stage are really incredible.”
Finally, Mrs. Boulton said, “The opening act is always one of the biggests, when they come out and sing ‘Hamilton’. ‘My shot’, of course is wonderful, but ‘It’s quiet uptown’, that was in the second half, after Philip dies…The son died, and I have a son, and it just hit me…”
Hamilton was an amazing show and an amazing trip. Apparently, it’s true what they say, in New York you can be a new man!
