@showsiveseen Lin-Manuel Miranda's "#Hamilton" #musical at the Paramount #Theatre from Broadway Seattle and @Seattle Theatre Group. Starring Blaine Alden Krauss. Great stage presence from @simonlonglegs. Review: showsiveseen.com/11511 Director: Thomas Kail Stage Mgr: Rodrigo Herrera, Rolando A Linares, Jimmie Lee Smith Choreo: Andy Blankenbuehler Music Supervision: Alex Lacamoire #showsiveseen @Hamilton ♬ original sound – Hamilton
Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton musical at the Paramount Theatre from Broadway Seattle and Seattle Theatre Group. Starring Blaine Alden Krauss. Great stage presence from Simon Longnight.
See it.
Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show? No, I’ve seen this twice already at the Paramount in 2022 and 2018. What else can I say that hasn’t already been said regarding this popular musical?
Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? I think three times is enough for me! 🙂
Mainstream Appeal: Ordinarily, I’d say medium. But with the hype, I’d say high.
If A Random Stranger Asked What Show They Should See This Weekend, Would I Mention This Production? Yes
My Synopsis (No Spoilers): The life and times of founding father Alexander Hamilton from young adult to death during the birth of the USA.
Synopsis from the Licensor or Theatre Company: A revolutionary story of passion, unstoppable ambition, and the dawn of a new nation. HAMILTON is the epic saga that follows the rise of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton as he fights for honor, love, and a legacy that would shape the course of a nation. Based on Ron Chernow’s acclaimed biography and set to a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B, and Broadway, HAMILTON has had a profound impact on culture, politics, and education. HAMILTON features book, music, and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, direction by Thomas Kail, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler, and musical supervision and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire. In addition to its 11 Tony Awards, it has won Grammy®, Olivier Awards, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and an unprecedented special citation from the Kennedy Center Honors.
Type: Musical
World Premiere: No
Several or Few Scenes: Several
Several or Few Settings/Locations: Several
Static (Stationary) or Dynamic Set: Mostly static, but the stage rotated
Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: No
Defined Plot/Storyline: Yes
Union Actors: All
Total Actors: Too many to count
Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium speed
Was there an intermission? Yes
Length (Including Any Intermission): 2.75 hours
Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned Above
- Alexander Hamilton: When he wasn’t rapping, Blaine Alden Krauss (who played Hamilton) showcased a nice smooth voice.
- Final Moments: The monologue-like lines in the final moments of Alexander Hamilton’s life was compelling. However, I’m not sure I would have fully appreciated its depth without the context of seeing the musical multiple times.
- Philip Hamilton: The scenes with Philip Hamilton (played by Lucas Hinds Babcock) were endearing, especially moments like when he tried to impress his father by rapping or when he ran in an exaggerated, child-like anime manner.
- Thomas Jefferson: Simon Longnight, who played Jefferson, delivered strong stage presence. His 80s/90s afro was a nice touch. However, I always find it a bit odd when shows introduce major characters in the second act.
- “Helpless” Song: Kendyl Sayuri Yokoyama’s portrayal of Eliza Hamilton in the song “Helpless” was endearingly unconfident and vulnerable. Whether intentional or not, this worked in her favor, adding depth to the character.
Rant(s)
- Least Favorite Line: I absolutely hate when Hamilton tells George Washington, “Call me son one more time.” The moment is so cliché.
Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)
- King’s Microphone: King George’s main microphone cut off in the beginning of one of his last solos. Fortunately, the sound engineers immediately utilized the muffled backup microphone. Oh, the magic of live theatre!
- Reputation: The characters obsess over honor, reputation, and legacy. It’s as if “I’ve got a rep to protect” is the end-all, be-all. But wouldn’t it be refreshing if we could just live our lives without worrying about what others think? It would save so much personal agony. After all, a person with a tarnished reputation, no honor, and countless scandals still recently achieved the presidency twice! 😐
- Energy: The show began with less energy than I remember. It felt as though the production got too comfortable with the hype, resting on its laurels and going through the motions. Perhaps the sound balancing played a role. Improving it so the lead singers’ voices come through more clearly could make a difference.
- Hype: Hamilton is undoubtedly groundbreaking, and the lyrics are undeniably genius. However, the intense hype surrounding it always puts me off. There are countless other musicals I’d rather see. Perhaps I’d appreciate it more if I were a fan of rap, hip-hop, or R&B. But the subject matter is dry and dressed up in an attempt to seem cool. It reminds me of a teacher at an urban public school trying to rap through a history lesson, in an effort to appeal to poor inner-city teens from the projects. When someone claim it’s their favorite musical, I can’t help but wonder if it’s because 1) they’re a fan of rap, hip-hop, or R&B 2) they don’t watch many musicals, 3) or they’re just a basic lemming.
Theatre Company: National Tour from Broadway Across America and Seattle Theatre Group
Venue: Paramount Theatre
Venue Physical Address: 911 Pine Street, Seattle, WA 98101
Price Range: $49-289 plus the insane Ticketmaster fees. Buy your ticket at the box office to avoid the exorbitant fees. Down with the Ticketmaster Live Nation monopoly!
Ticket Affordability Options: Seattle Theatre Group might partner with an organization you’re affiliated with for discount tickets. For example, I believe UW employees/students are eligible for an organization discount.
Dates: 2/4/25 to 3/2/25
Seating: Assigned Seating
Parking: Paid street parking and paid garage parking. The best parking garage is under the convention center w/ the entrance on Pike around the Pike and Terry intersection. Last I checked, this is one of the cheapest, least busy, and closest garages. Alternatively, you can probably find street parking as you move closer to the West Precinct (810 Virginia St, Seattle, WA 98101). Do NOT park where the Paramount subscribers park. Last I checked, they usually park in the garage attached to the Cheesecake Factory. It’ll take you at least 30 minutes to exit that garage after the show.
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Buy a Ticket or Learn More:
- https://seattle.broadway.com/shows/hamilton-2/
- https://hamiltonmusical.com/us-tour/
- https://www.stgpresents.org/events/hamilton/
- Program
Pictures: See production pictures below by Joan Marcus.
Cast and Production Team: See after pictures below.
