Ten years ago, Hamilton made its debut on Broadway. And while I was an avid Broadway fan growing up, I didn’t feel compelled to see it. I had a two-year-old at home. The very idea of trying to find a babysitter or going with a friend, but having to take a train, especially at night when I was so exhausted I could barely take care of myself, seemed so out of reach.
Mix in all of my postpartum mental health issues, and I’m surprised I was even still standing on my feet. Live theater was not on my radar. Fast forward to now.
My 12-year-old daughter is a theater kid. When Disney+ put out the Hamilton pro-shot movie, her friends watched it over and over. Learning every song, every word, every dance. I’ll admit, hearing my kid rap lyrics about the Constitution really made me chuckle. But I remembered, when I was in middle school, my friends and I did the exact same thing with Les Misérables.
This is her Les Mis. Singing passionately about feelings they don’t yet know anything about and haven’t experienced. About injustices in the political arena, the similarities are not lost on me.
And while I have to admit, I usually jump headfirst into anything my kids are into, and though she told me over and over to watch it, I never did. Who had time? And also, a rap musical about Alexander Hamilton didn’t exactly do it for me. And yet, I love her spirit, her passion, and her love for this show.
So, when a friend told us that Hamilton was being released in theaters for a limited run and she bought tickets, we jumped at the chance to go. Why not? A Friday night with friends. Movie theater popcorn (and PS, there was an intermission!), it was a perfect opportunity to see what all the fuss was about, finally. And wow. I’m so glad I did.
I’m writing this the morning after the movie, and I can’t get it out of my head. I get it. I really, really get it. The talent, the storytelling, the songs I can’t get out of my head. My heart was destroyed a million times in those three hours. I laughed, I cried, I honestly felt like I was in the theater seeing it.
But I know there’s nothing that compares to live theater.
Which brings me back to something impulsive I did a few months ago. My daughter has never been to a Broadway show, even with all this adoration for the theater. And so, while on spring break, I happened to open up my Instagram and saw the breaking Broadway news that one of the original cast members of Hamilton was joining for a limited run right around her birthday. And so, I snatched two tickets up before I could even think straight.
It’s a big birthday this year, and what better way to celebrate? I’m so glad I did! I can’t wait to see it all unfold right in front of us.
I can’t wait to hold her hand in that dark theater as she enters her teen years, knowing time together like that is fleeting, and I can give her this experience.
Happy birthday, baby girl. See you at the theater!
