scended the world of musical theater to become
a genuine pop culture phenomenon.
The show follows the life of Alexander
Hamilton, an orphan born out of wedlock
in the West Indies who became a Founding
-
sury under President George Washington.
Hamilton is usually called a hip-hop musical.
But creator Lin-Manuel Miranda also
included elements of pop, soul and rhythm
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, a Grammy
and 11 Tonys, Hamilton is based upon Alexander
Hamilton, a 2004 bestseller written by
by Miranda as “a show about Americans
then, as told by Americans now.”
original Broadway cast recording reached
No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on the
Billboard Rap Albums chart. It also won a
Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album.
The Hamilton Mixtape, a collection of re-
songs, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
■ Fiddler on the Roof (March 5–10, 2019).
-
1905, Fiddler on the Roof is as warmly colorful
as the Marc Chagall painting that gave the
musical its title, and its sets their shtetl style.
The original production, which debuted
on Broadway in 1964, was nominated for 10
Tonys — winning nine — and was presented
a special Tony in 1972 for being the longestrunning
musical in Broadway history, with
more than 3,000 performances.
Although that record would be broken
by Grease 10 years later, Fiddler on the Roof
has remained an audience favorite through
revivals and touring companies. Its songs,
such as “Tradition,” “Matchmaker, Matchmaker,”
“If I Were a Rich Man,” “Sunrise, Sun-
standards.
Fiddler on the Roof centers on Tevye, the
to protect his Jewish religious and cultural
beliefs and practices against the encroachment
of outside forces.
He must also cope both with three strongwilled
daughters, who wish to marry for love
the traditions that Tevye cherishes. Ultimately,
Fiddler on the Roof is an uplifting and
84 artsLife | FALL 2018
heartwarming story about families and the
traditions that bind them.
Tony-winning director Bartlett Sher, basing
the revival on the original staging by
Jerome Robbins, delivers a fresh and authentic
vision of this timeless theatrical masterpiece
by Tony winner Joseph Stein and
Pulitzer Prize-winners Jerry Bock and Sheldon
Harnick.
■ Dear Evan Hansen (April 16–21, 2019).
In a letter that was never meant to be seen,
a lie that was never meant to be told, a life
that he never dreamed he could have, Evan
-
The title character in Dear Evan Hansen,
a high-school senior who always feels like an
outsider, takes the suggestion of his therapist
and writes letters to himself outlining his positive
plans for each day. But one letter causes
confusion following a tragedy, prompting
Evan to reinvent himself and develop a sense
of purpose.
The heart-rending musical garnered six
Tonys in 2107, including Best Musical. The
original cast recording won a Grammy for
Best Musical Theater Album.
Dear Evan Hansen features a book by
Tony winner Steven Levenson and a score by
Grammy, Tony and Oscar winners Benj Pasek
and Justin Paul. The three have written a coffee
table book, Dear Evan Hansen: Through
the Window (Grand Central Publishing),
which includes never-before-seen production
photos and behind-the-scenes stories.
“One of the most remarkable shows in
theater history,” wrote the Washington Post.
Added The New York Times: “Dear Evan
Hansen is a gut-punching, breathtaking
knockout of a musical.” NBC News called
the show “an inspiring anthem resonating
on Broadway and beyond.”
■ Anastasia (May 14–19, 2019). The legend
of Russian Imperial Grand Duchess Anastasia
has captivated the world for nearly
a century, inspiring an award-winning 1956
lavish stage production.
The show, with book by Terrence Mc-
Nally and music by Stephen Flaherty and
Lynn Ahrens — the Ragtime
movie, but it really is a new musical,” says
Tony-winning director Darko Tresnjak.
Could Anya, a brave young woman with