By Kristy Puchko | Film | July 6, 2020 |
By Kristy Puchko | Film | July 6, 2020 |
On Friday, Hamilton hit Disney+, granting wide access to the Broadway sensation that won 11 Tony Awards. That night, the history-inspired musical’s creator and star, Lin-Manuel Miranda, took to Twitter for a Live-Tweet event, where he shared details from behind the scenes, memories of the original Broadway cast, and even some critiques of Hamilton.
Here are the highlights.
Let’s kick off with a pre-show shot from Manuel’s father, Luis A. Miranda, Jr.
Stage Manager: Ladies and Gentlemen this is your five minute call. Five minutes.#Hamilfilm https://t.co/MDexfLQ0wX
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) July 3, 2020
Lin-Manuel watched the show with his two young sons, Seb and Frankie, and his wife, Vanessa Nadal.
Just @VAMNit and my kids, up past bedtime. We got magnatiles and popcorn. https://t.co/GGLE1PLajn pic.twitter.com/ThihFzm9Xf
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) July 3, 2020
Frankie is already dancing.
— Vanessa A M Nadal (@VAMNit) July 3, 2020
Ever wonder which character Anthony Ramos is playing in the first song, when he declares, “I died for him?” John Laurens or Phillip Hamilton? Lin’s got your answer.
https://t.co/H21NMxAMYJ pic.twitter.com/O1YxywlzWI
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) July 3, 2020
Watching along were conductor Alex Lacamoire and Lin’s Eliza, Phillipa Soo.
Everybody is singing LIVE, y'all. While dancing that hard. And sounding as good as THAT. Bravo to the amazing performers in our fam, I love you all#HamilFilm @HamiltonMusical
— Alex Lacamoire (@LacketyLac) July 3, 2020
The #HamiltonFilm ensemble is a force!!! So proud to have been in this company among the fiercest performers in this town. Basically Olympian athletes….so good.
— Phillipa Soo (@Phillipasoo) July 3, 2020
Tony-winner Renée Goldsberry (A.K.A. Angelic Schuyler) also turned out.
favorite hairstyle was the last 1. High bun! Mature woman hair! But in the movie, I luved the 1st look best bcuz we changed it up. I normally wore a wig, but I didn’t want that lace front in the movie, so I wore my own hair w/added volume in the back. Big last min risk. Worth it! https://t.co/gVXvUuWSyq
— RenéeEliseGoldsberry (@ReneeGoldsberry) July 3, 2020
We added that between off Bway and Bway so @Phillipasoo @ReneeGoldsberry and @JasCephasJones could FLEX. https://t.co/nB8L7t0AOk
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) July 3, 2020
My sisters â¤ï¸ @JasCephasJones @ReneeGoldsberry pic.twitter.com/q9d6Vy3I91
— Phillipa Soo (@Phillipasoo) July 3, 2020
Lin also shared love from some famous Hamifans, including the superb Amber Ruffin.
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) July 3, 2020
When “You’ll Be Back” hit, audiences learned that spittle played a major role in Jonathan Groff’s performance…Is that why Lin calls him “Groff Sauce?”
Everyone get your raincoats, #Groffsauce is here! #HamiltonFilm
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) July 3, 2020
King George's spit drool is truly transgressive in 2020, mercy me #Hamilton
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) July 3, 2020
While many love the romance between Alexander and Eliza (and Angelica), Lin’s real-life wife is not such a fan. It’s all in good fun when she boos him kissing someone else, but that night she wasn’t alone.
Sebastian joined you tonight 🤣 https://t.co/IeTRK7v23b pic.twitter.com/7Zrrsa35lG
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) July 3, 2020
If “Satisfied” has you in awe, consider Goldsberry never missed a beat or flubbed a line. No wonder she won the Tony for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical.
She's really the only one of us who never broke. In awe of her forever. https://t.co/XJnZ9Tpw8O
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) July 3, 2020
I just want Vanessa to be proud, that’s it https://t.co/I5I3NkvDJ8
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) July 3, 2020
Satisfied. I'll never top it, as long as I live. From idea to Tommy and Andy and Lac's work to Renee's flawless execution. Will never top it. #HamiltonFilm
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) July 3, 2020
Things got a little weird when Lin retweeted this insight into Alexander’s Daddy Issues. Wait for it.
The way they talk past each other… https://t.co/AreTnK8BRK
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) July 3, 2020
You know Hamilton the play is fiction right? Its a creative interpretation of history. Not the REAL history..
— monarch (@monark24) July 3, 2020
Did you know that, Lin-Manuel Miranda?
— Dana Schwartz (@DanaSchwartzzz) July 4, 2020
For those irked that Disney+ cut the “f*cks” out of Hamilton, Lin offered a “composer’s commentary.”
Composer’s commentary #Hamilton #unrated pic.twitter.com/223kz1pBU5
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) July 4, 2020
Composer’s commentary pt 2 #Hamilton #Unrated pic.twitter.com/cAG16jmvE0
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) July 4, 2020
Vaness and Lin shared how “Dear Theodosia” has a special meaning to their firstborn.
I used to sing Dear Theodosia to Sebastian every night for bedtime. I would imagine that @Lin_Manuel was singing it on stage at the same time (but, lies, infants go to bed before curtain!). #HamiltonFilm
— Vanessa A M Nadal (@VAMNit) July 4, 2020
Sebastian thinks @VAMNit wrote this song. She sang it to him that whole year on Broadway when I couldn’t tuck him in. No one ever correct him. https://t.co/VnQfWtzFs8
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) July 4, 2020
Curious how the double-casting of roles came about?
I realized early that characters that were important early in his life fade away while others appear later. The double casting was so that we’d be INSTANTLY invested. “Jefferson? Hey that’s Daveed!” Same w Laurens/Phil. https://t.co/mecytQbD9c
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) July 4, 2020
After a brief intermission, during with Lin and Vanessa tried and failed to put their boys to bed, it was time for Daveed Diggs entrance as Thomas Jefferson.
Madison: Where have you been?
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) July 4, 2020
Daveed improvised “France?” It stayed in. #HamiltonFilm
Lin also retweeted users who were using the Hamilton discussion to set the historical record straight on some points brushed over or lost on the musical.
Reminder: Sally Hemings was not Thomas Jefferson's lover, she was his rape victim. https://t.co/S9CVu0wQbg
— Britni Danielle (@BritniDWrites) July 3, 2020
The second act shows Alexander making the biggest mistakes of his life, among them bedding Maria Reynolds (Jasmine Cephas Jones).
Hey, did you grow up Catholic? Imagine having to write Say No To This. #HamiltonFilm. I felt like sh** for days.
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) July 4, 2020
She is the absolute best. One of my last theater experiences before the pandemic was seeing her in Cyrano and I'm so grateful. https://t.co/e1Ivd1pTsO
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) July 4, 2020
Everyone is booing in my house, lol. https://t.co/KoTJViA70V
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) July 4, 2020
Speaking of booing “Say No To This,” Lin retweeted a stand-up bit from Katherine Ryan, who offered a blistering critique of this song in her comedy special Glitter Room (now on Netflix).
Oh it is THE BEST. https://t.co/Da2jm9HO0q
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) July 4, 2020
Christopher Jackson was praised for his impeccable performance of George Washington and “One Last Time.”
I mean. When you have a friend and he can sing in a way you never could, you build the scaffolding so he can soar. https://t.co/myJlXZnpUF
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) July 4, 2020
In “Hurricane,” Thomas Kail’s incredible stage direction creates the visual of this force of nature using a spinning stage, cast members, and props. The results demand rewatching.
Hurricane. Tableau on the second chorus. YOu can pause it. You'll see something new every time. King George. Redcoats. Ma Hamilton. Maria. Burr. Everything. It's a cat scan of his brain. #Hamilton
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) July 4, 2020
However, if you want to true devastation, listen to Soo’s shattering performance of “Burn.”
Pippa breaks my heart in Burn. I watched it from the wings. #hamilfilm
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) July 4, 2020
They're all cursive transcripts of real letters. But we're not there yet! #HamiltonFilm https://t.co/WuEHMPDsf0
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) July 3, 2020
More agony for Eliza, we move to Phillip’s duel and some historical context for Alexander’s fateful advice.
History check. Ow. https://t.co/VmXx6Z1zOz
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) July 4, 2020
Now, a family check.
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) July 4, 2020
My 2 year old is pointing at the screen saying "He's sad. He's sad!" This just got really tough. #QuietUptown #Hamilfilm
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) July 4, 2020
Best of wives and best of women… https://t.co/R9WHOpnIKS
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) July 4, 2020
Next, a history check on “The Election of 1800” via retweet.
Jefferson didn't win in a landslide & AH didn't decide the election. He certainly wrote LOTS of letters attacking Burr, but by that point he didn't have as much influence in his party. They seem to have reasoned their way to a conclusion on their own.#HATM #HamiltonFilm
— Joanne Freeman (@jbf1755) July 4, 2020
In the final showdown, Lin didn’t speak of Alexander or his performance. Instead, he celebrated Tony-winner Leslie Odom Jr., Soo, and Kail.
This shot of Pip, framed by Leslie. Give Kail everything. #hamiltonmusical
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) July 4, 2020
I stay on the second level for Leslie's moments through "The world was wide enough for both Hamilton and me." Then I move on. #hamiltonmusical
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) July 4, 2020
What is there to say about @Phillipasoo? What can be said in the face of such a performance? No words for the final moment. No words. #hamiltonmusical
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) July 4, 2020
I remember the 1st time in our rehearsal room heard @Phillipasoo sing the end of the show. We were all on the floor crying. And I couldn’t believe she could keep singing. I have marveled at her strength & beauty & honesty & simplicity since the moment I met her. It is her time.
— RenéeEliseGoldsberry (@ReneeGoldsberry) July 4, 2020
And that’s the show.
Thank you for tonight.
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) July 4, 2020
I'm so grateful you just have the whole thing now.
With this extraordinary company and crew.
It's yours.
Hamilton is now on Disney+.