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In Lin-Manuel Mirandaâs world, writing is never just a form of self-expression. Words, strung together, can remake entire realities. Wield them a certain way and you have a revolutionary force.
The playwright, actor and composer won the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for
Hamilton, the virtuosic musical that re-imagines the life of Alexander Hamilton, an orphan from the British West Indies who designed Americaâs central banking system. But he grew up the son of Puerto Rican immigrants in New York Cityâs Inwood, where over a third of the community is overseas-born, to a soundtrack of show tunes and hip-hop.
Hit musical Hamilton to open in Sydney
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Expires: Wednesday 4 February 4759 8:12pm
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Laura Francis caught up with the homegrown cast and the show s Broadway creators. Transcript
JASON ARROW: My name is Jason Arrow and I am playing Alexander Hamilton in Hamilton.
LAURA FRANCIS, REPORTER: Jason has a shot at one of the most coveted and demanding roles in musical theatre but when he told his mum and dad back in Perth, they weren t quite sure what to make of it.
JASON ARROW: That was met with, Oh, that s good. What s that? (Laughs)
So I said, Okay, go on the internet, type in Hamilton . Once they knew what it was, they were very excited.
To better understand the facts and fallacies of
Hamilton, and why they matter to modern America, the Charleston Library Society is hosting professor Richard Bell of the University of Maryland for a lecture Thursday. Bell will discuss the cultural impact and the stories that inspired
Hamilton.
“The play gets so many things right; I want to be clear about that,” Bell told the
City Paper. “Miranda did a lot of research for this musical, and it shows.”
For examples, Bell cites large themes, like bitter partisan politics and the rampant egoism of the founding fathers, along with textbook historical facts, like the importance of the colonies’ alliance with the French to win independence from England.
Northern Ireland council withdraws plan to honour Hercules Mulligan Rory Carroll Ireland correspondent
A Northern Ireland borough council has withdrawn a plan to honour a Northern Ireland emigrant who played a key role in the American revolution after discovering he had owned a slave.
The Causeway Coast and Glens borough council decided last month to recognise Hercules Mulligan, who was born in Coleraine, County Derry, for his exploits during America’s war of independence.
The tailor spied on British officers in New York, reputedly saved the life of George Washington and mentored Alexander Hamilton, one of the founding fathers. He was also a founder of the New York Manumission Society, which promoted the abolition of slavery,