HamilTEN: Being In The Room Where It Happened

It's no secret that I love Hamilton, so of course I saw the theatrical release on day one. Here are some of my thoughts.

To preface this, I've never had the pleasure of watching the show live. I've only ever seen the Disney+ movie at home while sitting on the comfort of my couch, so I can't speak to how it compares to watching live actors perform just feet in front of you.

With that said, some might ask, why watch the film in theaters if I've already seen it? To that, I rebut, why not?

I have rewatched this movie countless times, even falling asleep to the soundtrack. I watch analysis videos during my lunch break at work and actively practice learning the lyrics. In short, I'm a big fan. However, people around me or in my immediate circle do not share this same passion. Fortunately, I was able to convince my boyfriend, sister, and mom to come with me to an AMC in central New Jersey for the 9pm showing. It was my boyfriend's first time watching Hamilton, my mom's second time, and my sister was already a fan, but not as avid as I am.

For such a small theater, the place was packed, and it was easy to see who was there to watch Hamilton. Even while waiting in line for popcorn, we could see a pair of women dressed in TikTok-style Hamilton cosplay, reminiscent of the viral "climbing out of the window" meme. Everyone else prepared for the 3-hour movie with blankets, snacks, and water bottles. The theater room was small with no more than 60 reclining seats.

After sitting through more commercials than expected, Jonathan Groff's face finally came on screen, jokingly inviting us to his show. The room roared with excitement when Lin-Manuel Miranda popped onto the screen, thanking us for coming. With each cast member's appearance, the room audibly showed excitement, especially when Daveed Diggs instructed us to "turn up."

From the moment Leslie Odom Jr. walked out to center stage singing the first lyrics of Alexander Hamilton, the audience was singing. I was singing. It was a glorious feeling hearing that hum of people singing words I've spent hours learning. At first, it was soft; everyone was scared to break the social norm of silence at the movie theater, but when the song ended, we all clapped and cheered as if the cast was performing live in front of us.

Online, some viewers complained that theater audiences were lame for not being boisterous enough. If you were that person who wanted the experience of shouting out lyrics to your heart's content while dancing in the aisles with the support of your fellow audience members, I hope that is exactly what you received. I was not that person.

My theater had a hum that grew louder at pivotal moments, with the crowd shouting "51," "you're out of your god damn mind," "ain't never gonna be president now," and more. We all giggled when the scene with the sound clip from the climbing out the window meme came on. No one complained when someone sang a lyric a little early or late. Still, it was as if there was an unspoken understanding that we could all love the show and sing along, but we are not the professionals.

In moments of great emotion, like Philip's death, or moments where the actors' talents were really on display, like when Christopher Jackson belts out notes while singing "One Last Time," we all watched in awe, mostly silent. We marveled at the power and emotion seeping through every word of Lin-Manuel Miranda's brilliant storytelling and clever manipulation of music, each sound mesmerizing us the moment it rang through our ears.

During the ten-minute intermission, I learned that my boyfriend wasn't the only first-time viewer in the room. As I waited in line for a bathroom stall, I heard many people question their friends about what they thought. I heard people say they were surprised that they were so enthralled in the show that they failed to notice how much time had passed. They were all accompanied by big fans such as myself, people who can't help but love every aspect of the show.

When Eliza let out her final gut-wrenching gasp and the credits began to roll, newcomers and avid fans alike clapped enthusiastically, each one appreciating the piece of art they just watched.

It may not have been the loud, unfiltered experience others wanted, but it's the one I needed. Being in that theater was like sitting in a communal living room where each person was a distant cousin whose name you could barely remember, and only saw occasionally. Still, whenever you shared interests, they brought you together. For over three hours, there was nothing but joy, or at least that was my experience anyway.

In case you're interested, this is my boyfriend's official review after his first time watching Hamilton. "It's okay, surprisingly good for a musical." For context, the only musical he's ever liked is The Greatest Showman, so this is high praise coming from him. Take that information however you wish.