"Hamilton" has officially ticked off a full decade of its revolutionary spin on Broadway. According to a report from ABC7 New York, the history-making show celebrated its 10th anniversary with back-to-back performances, including a special fundraising event for the Immigrants: We Get the Job Done Coalition. It's expected to bring in close to $3 million for the cause. The star-studded evening wasn't just a charity affair, though; it was also an emotional reunion with many of the original cast making appearances.
Fans, too, turned out en masse – some even quite young, having literally grown to love the soundtrack. One fan, Emma, couldn’t hold back her excitement, saying, "So many years I've been watching it. I've been listening to the soundtrack on repeat." Another fan, Emily, added a personal touch, noting, "We're a military family and I always feel really close with founding father things, and anything involving actual American history." These statements were obtained by ABC7 New York during their coverage outside the famed Richard Rodgers Theatre.
As the curtains closed on this momentous occasion, the stage was reportedly flooded with a collective of 85 alumni and 23 O.G. cast members, with "Hamilton" producer Jeffrey Seller leading the charge for a historic curtain call. According to People, Seller's gesture prompted a wave of roaring applause and struck up emotional chords as he thanked the small army of individuals – from ushers to artists – who've kept "Hamilton" afloat through the ebb and flow of Broadway's seas.
Director Thomas Kail took to the heart of the stage, dishing out an insightful nugget that attendees, from the likes of Pink and Chelsea Clinton to superfans, undoubtedly will remember: "And the one thing we did not have to generate or fabricate tonight is what it felt like to do this for the first time because what happened tonight will never happen again and will never happen." This slice of the night was chronicled by People, who captured the essence of Kail's speech that celebrated the pursuit of a first-time feeling in the theater's ephemeral world.
Capping off the anniversary events, a block party took Broadway festivities outside, where fans and cast alike could nosh on an array of street food and groove to beats spun by The Roots' drummer Questlove, as reported by People. In keeping with the Hamilton legacy, attendees walked away with "Hamil-ten" tote bags, photos with cast members, and memories of dancing in the closed-off streets under the theater's balcony.
The cultural phenomenon that is "Hamilton" shows no signs of slowing down. After cementing its place with a host of accolades, including 11 Tony Awards and a Pulitzer Prize for Drama, it's now set to grace movie theaters on Sept. 5. The film version, already a staple on Disney+, is a testament to the show's lasting impression and its ability to revolutionize the concept of musical theater – and it all began with the story of America's $10 Founding Father.
