See the musical Hamilton

When we think of Broadway, we often think of the great classic musicals that have been playing for decades, or of the shows based on Disney’s most popular works. But Broadway also offers some particularly creative and modern musicals 🙂

Such is the case with Hamilton, a unique musical that will take you on a journey through the history of one of the founding fathers of the United States – all with period costumes and a hip-hop sound! If you don't yet know what to do in New York, seeing a Broadway musical is a great activity that will allow you to better enjoy the atmosphere of the city! 😄

Hamilton: An American Musical

The central character of this musical is Alexander Hamilton, who was the first Secretary of the Treasury and one of the founding fathers of the United States. The incredible life of this colourful Caribbean character was certainly worth narrating 😉

Hamilton recounts this period with great historical accuracy, and brings out great characters such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. While this theme may at first glance seem rather unappealing to anyone who is not a big fan of US history, it actually isn’t! The staging, which mixes period costumes and sets with modern music, helps to create an particularly interesting atmosphere, and the exciting epic of these founding fathers immediately draws the audience into the musical.

Since its premiere in 2015, Hamilton has created a tidal wave. It all started in 2009 when creator and performer Lin-Manuel Miranda sang what later became the show's opening song at the White House in front of the Obama couple. A few years later, the musical itself was born. It was an Off-Broadway show then, but due to its incredible success, it soon joined the Theatre District. Often considered the best Broadway musical of the last decade, Hamilton set a record at the Tony Awards back in 2016, with no less than 16 nominations and 11 awards 🏆

Hamilton is a groundbreaking play that has brought a real breath of fresh air to Broadway. It tells a chapter of American history in an exciting and surprising way 😀

How much do tickets cost for Hamilton on Broadway?

Hamilton is one of Broadway’s most expensive musicals. Demand is extremely high, which is why ticket prices are capped. Depending on the location you choose, you can expect to pay between £175 and £355. In addition, these prices are likely to increase during certain periods, such as weekends or during the summer or end of year school holidays 😕

How to choose your seat at the Richard Rodgers Theatre?

The Richard Rodgers Theatre is a historic Broadway landmark built in 1925. It was the very first theatre designed so that all visitors, regardless of their ticket, walked in through the same entrance.

The theatre is large and very well designed, so you will be able to enjoy the show no matter where you sit. However, some seats are indeed better than others:

• The best seats are those in the centre of the orchestra area. You should expect to pay around £355 for a seat in this area.
• Seats in the centre of the Front Mezzanine or Rear Orchestra areas are a little cheaper but still very good (£210 to £265).
• The off-centre spaces in the Rear Orchestra and Front Mezzanine Sides areas offer quite acceptable views at slightly more affordable prices (around £175).

To get a better idea of the view from some of the seats in the Richard Rodgers Theatre, you can visit seatplan.com (click on one of the coloured dots to see the photo for a view from the seat) 😊

Lottery for Hamilton

As with many of the most popular Broadway musicals, theatres hold lotteries that can allow participants to win discounted seats. Many try their luck and few win the jackpot, but it never hurts to try! 😉

The Hamilton lottery allows one to get tickets to attend the show for only $10! You can find it on the official hamiltonmusical.com app, on Android or iOS.

Where to buy tickets for the musical Hamilton?

If you want to find a ticket to see one of the Broadway musicals – and even more so if it is one of the shows that sells out every night – the best option is definitely to book your tickets online. By buying your tickets for Hamilton online, you'll have a lot more choice in terms of choosing your seats, and you'll often be able to get the best prices. Most importantly, it is the only way to make sure that you will be able to attend the show on the date of your choice.

As prices often rise as the performance date approaches, avoid waiting too long to book your tickets. If you already know the date of your trip to New York, I would recommend booking them 2 months or more in advance! You can always try to get your tickets directly at the theatre box office, but not only will you have to wait in a very long queue (the box offices are only open at specific times), you will also have to make do with the seats available – and you won't be sure that you will get a ticket for the date that best suit you!

Who can see the musical Hamilton?

Hamilton is a musical with a lot of comedy. There are not many dialogues, but the songs do have a lot of lyrics, the phrasing is fast and some of the puns can be quite hard to catch, although this will not stop you from following the story.

Unlike most other Broadway musicals, in order to follow all the ins and outs of Hamilton's story, you'll still need a fairly good understanding of English (I speak for those for whom English isn’t their mother tongue). This show is therefore not necessarily for the youngest audience members. Entry is allowed for everyone aged 4 and over, but people under 10-12 and people with poor English comprehension will not be able to fully enjoy the show 😕

Anyway, if you like hip-hop, then you won't regret seeing Hamilton on Broadway – even if you have no particular interest in the history of the founding of the United States 😁

Schedules for the Broadway musical Hamilton

Performance times and dates are subject to change, but the musical usually runs 8 times a week, with a day off, which is usually Monday. Most of the time, the show starts at 7pm.

On days when there are two performances (usually Wednesdays and Saturdays), they will be at 2pm and 8pm.

Try to arrive at the venue at least 30 minutes before the show starts. Once the musical has started, no newcomers are allowed to enter the theatre, and tickets are not refunded! The musical Hamilton lasts approximately 2 hours 45 minutes, with a 15 minute intermission 🙂

How to get to the Richard Rodgers Theatre?

The Richard Rodgers Theatre is located in the heart of the Theatre District, near Times Square.

The nearest New York City underground stations are:

• Times Square – 42nd Street station (lines 1, 2, 3, 7, N, Q, R and S), which is also accessible by bus (lines A, C and E);
• 49th Street station (N, Q and R lines)

The exact address of the Richard Rodgers Theatre is:

226 West 46th Street

Theater District, Manhattan

That's all for this article on Broadway’s musical Hamilton. I hope you now have all the information you needed to discover this very original show during your next stay in New York! If you want to discover other Broadway shows, you can also check out my articles on the romantic musical Moulin Rouge!, or the comedy Wicked – two other must-see musicals 😄

And if you're planning your trip to New York, do read my articles on when to go to New York and where to sleep in New York, they should prove helpful! 😊