Fox Theatre, Atlanta, GA.
September 3, 2026.
Who tells your story? That’s the query that has lingered in my thoughts after seeing Hamilton, offered by Areas Financial institution Broadway in Atlanta, on the Fox Theatre final evening. I confess, as somebody who has at all times gravitated towards the classics, that when Hamilton first rose to recognition, I couldn’t fairly perceive the hype. However after experiencing the powerhouse present firsthand – and feeling the electrical power of a crowd full of each longtime lovers and first-time viewers – I discovered myself understanding precisely why it has grow to be the cultural phenomenon it’s as we speak.
If the stage is a canvas, Hamilton paints a masterpiece from prime to backside. Each inventive choice feels intentional, and the forged’s execution is excellent. Whereas Tyler Fauntleroy instructions the stage as Hamilton, the design of the present offers ample room for each forged member to shine. Scenes weave seamlessly collectively, shifting from character to character, whereas the dancers are the thread that ties all the pieces collectively. The poetry of the music is simply magnified by the poetry in movement of the dancers.
Not like musicals that transfer backwards and forwards between songs and dialogue, Hamilton tells its story nearly completely via music, with the songs carrying the narrative from starting to finish. Each forged member dealt with the demanding lyrics with outstanding precision. As a dancer who tends to hyper-focus on the stamina of dancers, I used to be equally impressed by the stamina of the actors. The selection to root the musical in hip-hop, with splashes of soul and jazz, offers Hamilton a refreshing and accessible lens for the trendy musical theatergoer – maybe the proper entry level for somebody who has by no means set foot inside a theater earlier than.
Inside that musical framework, the dancers grow to be the ultimate piece within the puzzle. Reasonably than centering conventional Broadway ensemble numbers, the dancers typically work extra subtly, enhancing the scenes round them. Act II’s opening quantity, “What’d I Miss,” and the showstopping “The Room The place It Occurs” are notable exceptions, incorporating nods to Fosse and swing dance. Ceaselessly wearing impartial costumes, they don’t demand consideration a lot as make every scene really feel fuller, extra dynamic and extra alive just by being onstage. Not solely does Andy Blankenbuehler’s Tony Award-winning choreography showcase the flexibility and stamina of the dancers, nevertheless it additionally demonstrates how essential they’re to the development of the story. The dancers continuously present characters with props, transfer small set items round and navigate the ceaselessly used turntable with outstanding precision.
Deon’te Goodman’s Aaron Burr provided the proper distinction to Fauntleroy’s Hamilton. Their onstage banter, full with Fauntleroy’s repeated “Burr, sir” delivered with growing disgust, created simply the correct amount of rigidity main as much as the ultimate moments of the present. Burr’s extra measured management fashion was fantastically supported by the choreographic selections in “Look ahead to It.” In a track pushed by a robust beat and hovering melody, I discovered myself ready for the dancers to leap up and improve the scene. And but, they remained seated. It was a superb choreographic choice, permitting the main target to stay on Burr’s inside battle whereas reflecting his extra polished exterior. The distinction is hanging compared with “Yorktown,” Hamilton’s first alternative to guide a battle. Right here, the dancers totally fill the stage with highly effective motion, feeding into the grandeur of Hamilton’s larger-than-life presence.
Having by no means seen Hamilton earlier than, I wasn’t positive what to anticipate from its ending. I really like a musical that makes me assume, and the ultimate ten minutes have stayed with me lengthy after the curtain name. The climactic choreographic sequence was breathtaking, serving as a strong reminder of simply how integral the dancers are to the story. Amanda Simone Lee, performing as standby Eliza, additional underscored the emotional weight of these ultimate moments with a compelling portrayal of a lady who cherished deeply, endured heartbreak and in the end discovered forgiveness for her larger-than-life husband.
And nonetheless, I discover myself pondering the magnitude of tales – our personal life tales. When our lives are over, what is going to folks say? In Hamilton’s case, his story has been given a outstanding second life via a beloved musical, leaving audiences world wide to ponder the identical query: Who tells your story?
Hamilton runs at Atlanta’s Fox Theatre via September 20. To search out tour dates close to you, go to hamiltonmusical.com.
By Melody McTier Thomason of Dance Informa.
