By Rory McNelley, Education and Enrichment Coordinator

In honor of the 10th anniversary of “Hamilton,” the musical finally made its way to movie theaters after the recorded version premiered on Disney+ during the pandemic. 

 The beloved musical was first performed in August of 2015 and has been shown “Non-Stop” on Broadway, apart from the COVID-19 hiatus in March of 2020. Having received multiple Tony awards and a Pulitzer Prize, the musical cannot seem to lose momentum with its audience.

“I was so excited when they announced that Hamilton was coming to theaters! I’ve loved it since I was little and it’s crazy to see how far the cast has come,” first-year biomedical sciences major Alex Bauer said. 

The recording took place in January of 2016 with the original Broadway cast at the Richard Rodgers Theatre and was made available on Disney+ in March 2020. The show had its eyes set on the theaters in 2021 before Disney stated their “plans shifted.” Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the show, it premiered in theaters on Sept. 5.

Fans across the country felt grateful to finally be able to see it at their local movie theaters. The move to the theaters increases accessibility for the musical. By avoiding Broadway level ticket prices but still having the theatrical atmosphere, the movie theater recreates some of the live show energy. 

Fans also flocked to theaters to enjoy the big-screen view and surround sound acoustics. This move also allows for further geographical reach to people outside major theatre hubs across the world. 

A new generation of young people are getting to experience the beloved musical with their families and friends. The move reenergized the musical’s fan base and resurged its popularity. 

“When I heard that Hamilton was coming back to theaters, I was super excited and started listening to the soundtrack all over again,” sophomore philosophy major Emma Schottmiller said.

Viewing the musical in theaters also provides a rare opportunity to experience the original cast which has not performed together since July of 2016. Additionally, it allows for a focused view of details one may miss in a crowded theatre on Broadway. The variety of camera angles and close up moments in the film version gives fans a deeper experience of the show. 

“I’m so excited to see it and witness history on the big screen,” first-year undecided major Kaitlyn Haigis said. 

The new opportunity to see Hamilton has revived the fanbase across social media platforms including TikTok where creators share their excitement. Many are going to theaters to relive the original cast’s rendition of the film and the opportunity to view it with friends close to home. 

In addition to the theatrical release of the film, original Broadway cast member Leslie Odom Jr. returned to “Hamilton” on Broadway to play Aaron Burr for the first time since the musical’s debut. This garnered significant attention from the fanbase. Broadway ticket prices have skyrocketed, and shows have sold out since his return.

Many fans have asked themselves, is it appropriate to sign along to the musical in theaters? After the discussion spread across the internet, the musical’s creator, Lin Manuel Miranda, appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon stating, “turn up, sign along,” making it clear that audience participation was more than welcome. The encouragement to the fans to fully embrace the opportunity to view the musical was successful. The movie grossed around $3.9 million in its opening weekend.