Before “Hamilton” was a smash-hit on Broadway, it was just a big idea for Lin Manuel-Miranda. For years leading up to the show’s opening, a film camera followed Miranda and his colleagues from New York to Washington D.C. to Philidelphia, as they researched their roles in historical settings
Alex Horowitz is the director of “Hamilton’s America,” the new documentary about the years leading up to Hamilton’s breakout success, and he talked to Jim and Margery about the concept for the film, which he said began because he was witness to Miranda’s creative process.
Horowitz said he had the chance to hear early musical numbers before Miranda even knew they’d be a part of a musical. He wanted to start “rolling on the process,” knowing that it would be something special because the footage showed Miranda “grappling with history.”
He also noted the content of the music made it interesting, because the subject of Alexander Hamilton is infrequently explored.
“It’s one of those weird oddly forgotten moments,” said Horowitz. “But not so much anymore.”
He discussed the reasons for the success of the show, citing its accessibility to Americans in general as well as its humanization of the founding fathers.
“The film... is about shared history, shared values,” he said. “We remember [the founding fathers] for the good. We don’t often enough discuss them as human beings, which they were.”
Horowitz pointed out that the influences of “Hamilton” stretch from musical theatre to political discourse to education.
“The long game effects of hamilton on this populace will not emerge for many decades,” said Horowitz.
To hear Alex Horowitz’s interview on BPR in its entirety, listen to the link above. “Hamilton’s America” will air on WGBH 2 this Friday, October 21 at 9 PM EST.
