Even Barack Obama Fell for 'Hamilton: An American Musical'—Coming to Korea in December

[Financial News] In August 2015, Broadway in the United States was swept up in ‘Hamilton,’ which premiered at the Richard Rodgers Theatre. The musical, which tells the life story of Alexander Hamilton, a key figure in the founding of the United States, through hip-hop and rap, drew audiences even before its official opening.
Three weeks before opening, U.S. magazine Vanity Fair introduced the show under the headline ‘The Most Talked-About Musical Ever, Finally on Broadway.’ The buzz had been building since its run at the New York Public Theater, thanks to critical acclaim and celebrity attendance. Then-President Barack Obama also saw ‘Hamilton’ with his two daughters, Malia and Sasha. Praise continued after its official opening on August 6. U.S. public radio station WBUR called ‘Hamilton’ the most talked-about new Broadway musical since ‘The Book of Mormon.’
The frenzy extended beyond the theater. The original cast album, released that September, debuted at No. 12 on Billboard’s main albums chart, the Billboard 200. It became the first cast album ever to be certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting sales of at least 10 million copies, and spent an astonishing 500 weeks on the U.S. Billboard 200. The cover album ‘The Hamilton Mixtape’ featured international stars including John Legend, Usher, Kelly Clarkson, Alicia Keys, Sia and Queen Latifah. When it was released in 2016, it topped the Billboard 200.

‘Hamilton,’ which sparked what is commonly called ‘Hamilton mania,’ will finally meet Korean audiences. According to producer S&Co on the 13th, the Korea engagement will run at Busan’s Dream Theater from December 17 through January 16 next year, followed by a run at the Sejong Center Grand Theater in Seoul from January 21 through March 20 next year.
Hamilton, who laid the foundations of the U.S. financial system as Treasury secretary in the early years of the nation, was less well known than Washington, Jefferson and others. The U.S. government had announced plans to replace Hamilton, who appeared on the $10 bill at the time, but reversed its decision after the musical’s remarkable success.
Based on Ron Chernow’s biography ‘Alexander Hamilton,’ the musical follows Hamilton’s life as he rose to the pinnacle of power through talent and ambition amid the tumult of America’s founding. Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote the book and lyrics and composed the music, weaving together hip-hop, rap, jazz, R&B and Broadway music.
Onstage, political debates become rap battles, while the characters’ personalities and positions emerge through different styles of music. Though set against the story of America’s founding, the show is driven by a universal human drama of ambition and jealousy, love and loss, and struggles for power.
At the 2016 Tony Awards, it received a record 16 nominations and won 11 awards, including Best Musical. It also won a Grammy Award, a Pulitzer Prize and a British Olivier Award.
This Korean engagement is also significant as the start of a new world tour that will expand the show’s global journey. Having toured Broadway and North America, London’s West End, Australia and Germany, as well as internationally, ‘Hamilton’ is set to reach audiences in more regions, beginning with Korea.
Producer Jeffrey Seller said, “The success ‘Hamilton’ has achieved in cities including Manila, Singapore, London, Sydney and Hamburg has made us even more convinced of the need for a global tour to bring the show to more cities in Asia and Europe,” adding, “It is a great honor and joy to be able to present ‘Hamilton’ to audiences around the world.”
Korean producer Shin Dong-won said, “Being able to produce ‘Hamilton’ in Korea—which we once thought would be impossible—as a world-tour production that can fully convey the show’s energy and essence is an exciting moment, not only for me as a producer but also as an audience member who has been waiting for this show.”
[email protected] Shin Jin-a Reporter