A misunderstood art
May 10, 2016 9:59 AM Subscribe
In “ ‘Hamilton’ Aside, Where the Real Tony Competition Lies' ", one of your theater critics, Charles Isherwood, says of “Hamilton”: “I do find it slightly puzzling that it was nominated in the book of a musical category, since the show is almost sung-through.”
Drama Desk Restores Outstanding Book Category After Protest
Dramatist Guild letter to the Drama Desk Awards
An Open Book: Explaining What Musical Librettists Do
Drama Desk Restores Outstanding Book Category After Protest
Dramatist Guild letter to the Drama Desk Awards
An Open Book: Explaining What Musical Librettists Do
The second article does a fascinating job of saying what a librettist does without ever explaining what a librettist does. They're... editors? Writers? Producers? Directors? Skip to the last link for the executive summary.
posted by zamboni at 10:43 AM on May 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by zamboni at 10:43 AM on May 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
The second article does a fascinating job of saying what a librettist does without ever explaining what a librettist does. They're... editors? Writers? Producers? Directors? Skip to the last link for the executive summary.
I think it's a question of who the audience is for the letter to the editor. If the intended audience is Isherwood and the Tony voters who might agree with him -- then all of those folks should actually know what a librettist does. If it's the theatre going public or NYT readership at large, then they really should explain the context. I think in this case Doug Wright and the Dramatist Guild were more focused on the former and didn't really think to consider the later, even given the platform.
Though I might be biased here (I work in new play development, though not specifically on musicals), I think everyone tends to forget that their own shop talk is not universal. You'd hope that writers would be better about it, as communicating to an audience is the whole point, but blinders happen. I remember recently being taken aback by someone who hated that a producer wasn't the term for the writer of a piece of theatre. And as someone who both produces and writes for theatre, I was all... then what exactly do you want to call the people who write the grants, coordinate the venues, pay the actors, approve the budgets, and do all the backend work that has to happen for a show to go up? And even then, I know that my sense of what a producer does as someone who produces small scale theatre is completely different than someone who was a backer of Hamilton.
This is a long post to say that jargon can be tricky and people need to be mindful of their audiences.
posted by JustKeepSwimming at 11:00 AM on May 10, 2016 [5 favorites]
I think it's a question of who the audience is for the letter to the editor. If the intended audience is Isherwood and the Tony voters who might agree with him -- then all of those folks should actually know what a librettist does. If it's the theatre going public or NYT readership at large, then they really should explain the context. I think in this case Doug Wright and the Dramatist Guild were more focused on the former and didn't really think to consider the later, even given the platform.
Though I might be biased here (I work in new play development, though not specifically on musicals), I think everyone tends to forget that their own shop talk is not universal. You'd hope that writers would be better about it, as communicating to an audience is the whole point, but blinders happen. I remember recently being taken aback by someone who hated that a producer wasn't the term for the writer of a piece of theatre. And as someone who both produces and writes for theatre, I was all... then what exactly do you want to call the people who write the grants, coordinate the venues, pay the actors, approve the budgets, and do all the backend work that has to happen for a show to go up? And even then, I know that my sense of what a producer does as someone who produces small scale theatre is completely different than someone who was a backer of Hamilton.
This is a long post to say that jargon can be tricky and people need to be mindful of their audiences.
posted by JustKeepSwimming at 11:00 AM on May 10, 2016 [5 favorites]
For the record - as a theater person, a lot of us wouldn't trust Christopher Isherwood any further than we could throw him.
He's like - remember that critic from the movie Ratatouille who was supposed to be this stuck-up prat who didn't ever like anything? That's Isherwood. I swear I heard an anecdote from someone who said they went to some really happy perky wonderful musical, and they said they saw Isherwood sitting in the house, arms folded and a big sourpuss look on his face.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:18 AM on May 10, 2016 [6 favorites]
He's like - remember that critic from the movie Ratatouille who was supposed to be this stuck-up prat who didn't ever like anything? That's Isherwood. I swear I heard an anecdote from someone who said they went to some really happy perky wonderful musical, and they said they saw Isherwood sitting in the house, arms folded and a big sourpuss look on his face.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:18 AM on May 10, 2016 [6 favorites]
I know the following opinion will mean enduring the opprobrium and disgust of strangers and loved ones alike, and eventual exile into the wilderness. But I can hold my thoughts no longer:
I like so, so, so much about Hamilton, but I find it really hard to get into it on account of LMM himself. First, dude, you are two for two in self-casting yourself as the lead of your musicals despite being obviously out-classed by all the other performers in singing, acting, and dancing. Yes, even though you've tailored the lead's numbers to highlight your strengths and avoid your weaknesses. My side-eye intensifies when you've written this lead part you're playing as the Smartest, Best, Most Handsome-Gets-All-The-Ladiesest man in the room and then during interviews you say you identify with him. And then you get my side-eye so hard they turned around in their sockets and I go blind when not a small number of your annotations of your own lyrics on certain websites oscillate between humble-bragging and straight-up bragging.
Now, I know everyone in the world loves him, so this could all just be me. But man, I hear covers of his character's main songs--even that terrible-quality clip floating around of Javier Muñoz from a Sunday performance--and I can't help wishing someone else was playing the part.
posted by Anonymous at 11:26 AM on May 10, 2016
I like so, so, so much about Hamilton, but I find it really hard to get into it on account of LMM himself. First, dude, you are two for two in self-casting yourself as the lead of your musicals despite being obviously out-classed by all the other performers in singing, acting, and dancing. Yes, even though you've tailored the lead's numbers to highlight your strengths and avoid your weaknesses. My side-eye intensifies when you've written this lead part you're playing as the Smartest, Best, Most Handsome-Gets-All-The-Ladiesest man in the room and then during interviews you say you identify with him. And then you get my side-eye so hard they turned around in their sockets and I go blind when not a small number of your annotations of your own lyrics on certain websites oscillate between humble-bragging and straight-up bragging.
Now, I know everyone in the world loves him, so this could all just be me. But man, I hear covers of his character's main songs--even that terrible-quality clip floating around of Javier Muñoz from a Sunday performance--and I can't help wishing someone else was playing the part.
posted by Anonymous at 11:26 AM on May 10, 2016
The second article does a fascinating job of saying what a librettist does without ever explaining what a librettist does. They're... editors? Writers? Producers? Directors? Skip to the last link for the executive summary.
Librettist is one of the hardest jobs in theater. The whole story can be your creation, but then when the musicians come in to write the songs, they essentially take over the show, and then you're at their mercy. It's so much harder than being a playwright, where everything is yours and any decisions made come from your own head. If you're a playwright and you move a scene, it's generally to fix the story of the play. Often as a librettist, you have to entirely re-conceptualize an act because music doesn't fit together, or because one actor can't hit a high note in one scene, do some physical stuff onstage and then belt out another big show-stopper in the very next scene.
Nobody, nobody, NOBODY really gives the librettist credit, which is a shame, because it's so very invisible, or at least it is when it's done right. It's one of the reasons I only tried to write one musical in my life, and I'm approaching the next with a musician friend who I trust implicitly (and who is having me co-write lyrics).
posted by xingcat at 11:31 AM on May 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
Librettist is one of the hardest jobs in theater. The whole story can be your creation, but then when the musicians come in to write the songs, they essentially take over the show, and then you're at their mercy. It's so much harder than being a playwright, where everything is yours and any decisions made come from your own head. If you're a playwright and you move a scene, it's generally to fix the story of the play. Often as a librettist, you have to entirely re-conceptualize an act because music doesn't fit together, or because one actor can't hit a high note in one scene, do some physical stuff onstage and then belt out another big show-stopper in the very next scene.
Nobody, nobody, NOBODY really gives the librettist credit, which is a shame, because it's so very invisible, or at least it is when it's done right. It's one of the reasons I only tried to write one musical in my life, and I'm approaching the next with a musician friend who I trust implicitly (and who is having me co-write lyrics).
posted by xingcat at 11:31 AM on May 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
For the record - as a theater person, a lot of us wouldn't trust Christopher Isherwood any further than we could throw him.
You probably mean Charles Isherwood, though. Christopher Isherwood was an English writer.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:35 AM on May 10, 2016 [9 favorites]
You probably mean Charles Isherwood, though. Christopher Isherwood was an English writer.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:35 AM on May 10, 2016 [9 favorites]
I don't know much about musicals, but I love seeing people with opinions opine. Keep it up.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 11:36 AM on May 10, 2016
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 11:36 AM on May 10, 2016
First, dude, you are two for two in self-casting yourself as the lead of your musicals
for usnavi, that blame goes to tommy kail. he is the one that pushed lin to restructure the show to make usnavi the central character.
My side-eye intensifies when you've written this lead part you're playing as the Smartest, Best, Most Handsome-Gets-All-The-Ladiesest man in the room and then during interviews you say you identify with him.
...that is not my impression of the character of hamilton at all. if anything i thought he did a great job of showing hamilton as just as flawed as anyone else on the stage. if there is a 'best' character in the production, it's eliza.
posted by nadawi at 11:37 AM on May 10, 2016 [25 favorites]
for usnavi, that blame goes to tommy kail. he is the one that pushed lin to restructure the show to make usnavi the central character.
My side-eye intensifies when you've written this lead part you're playing as the Smartest, Best, Most Handsome-Gets-All-The-Ladiesest man in the room and then during interviews you say you identify with him.
...that is not my impression of the character of hamilton at all. if anything i thought he did a great job of showing hamilton as just as flawed as anyone else on the stage. if there is a 'best' character in the production, it's eliza.
posted by nadawi at 11:37 AM on May 10, 2016 [25 favorites]
although re: javier, i think everyone, including lin, agrees that he is technically better in the role and most people i've read who have seen both performers prefer javier. i'm betting he'll take the role over when lmm steps down.
posted by nadawi at 11:39 AM on May 10, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by nadawi at 11:39 AM on May 10, 2016 [3 favorites]
i'm betting he'll take the role over when lmm steps down.
Already basically confirmed that Javier will be playing Hamilton full time come July.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:40 AM on May 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
Already basically confirmed that Javier will be playing Hamilton full time come July.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:40 AM on May 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
ah i wasn't aware plans were that far along. i knew some of the cast would be leaving over the summer but wasn't sure if we had it confirmed yet.
posted by nadawi at 11:41 AM on May 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by nadawi at 11:41 AM on May 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
Schrodinger, you are 100% entitled to just not like a dude, but factually speaking, LMM has written music and lyrics for at least three musicals that he didn't act in, and has also acted in multiple theatrical shows and TV roles that he did not write. So he's not really two-for-two in the "casting yourself as the lead in the thing that you wrote" game.
(I do hope Leslie Odom, Jr. gets the Tony for best actor though, because he deserves it.)
posted by BlueJae at 11:44 AM on May 10, 2016 [13 favorites]
(I do hope Leslie Odom, Jr. gets the Tony for best actor though, because he deserves it.)
posted by BlueJae at 11:44 AM on May 10, 2016 [13 favorites]
How do I put this--Hamilton came off to me as the yes-he's-flawed-but-secretly-you-love-him sort of guy. Even in songs ultimately focused on his condemnation and moral failings ("Burn"), it's emphasized that he's a scrappy genius.
posted by Anonymous at 11:44 AM on May 10, 2016
posted by Anonymous at 11:44 AM on May 10, 2016
But I did learn what a Proscenium was
That's the space between your Hamilton and your Burr, right?
posted by mintcake! at 11:51 AM on May 10, 2016 [21 favorites]
That's the space between your Hamilton and your Burr, right?
posted by mintcake! at 11:51 AM on May 10, 2016 [21 favorites]
i think it's just an interpretation from the audience thing - i personally view him most of the way through as someone who, despite his obvious genius, just refuses to get out of his own way over and over and over again until it destroys the lives of those he loves the most and eventually kills him. i love pretty much all the characters and his isn't exempted, but i don't love him in a want to be like him sort of way. when i've seen lmm discuss how he identifies with him, he seems to be discussing hamilton's faults.
posted by nadawi at 11:52 AM on May 10, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by nadawi at 11:52 AM on May 10, 2016 [5 favorites]
>First, dude, you are two for two in self-casting yourself as the lead of your musicals despite being obviously out-classed by all the other performers in singing, acting, and dancing. Yes, even though you've tailored the lead's numbers to highlight your strengths and avoid your weaknesses......
....not a small number of your annotations of your own lyrics on certain websites oscillate between humble-bragging and straight-up bragging
Imma let you finish, but I'm pretty sure you just described Kanye West.
Seriously though, if you create a brilliant piece of art, and part of your impetus to work painstakingly at seeing it to fruition is your own centrality to the piece, you do you. Thanks for the art.
posted by avalonian at 12:04 PM on May 10, 2016 [9 favorites]
....not a small number of your annotations of your own lyrics on certain websites oscillate between humble-bragging and straight-up bragging
Imma let you finish, but I'm pretty sure you just described Kanye West.
Seriously though, if you create a brilliant piece of art, and part of your impetus to work painstakingly at seeing it to fruition is your own centrality to the piece, you do you. Thanks for the art.
posted by avalonian at 12:04 PM on May 10, 2016 [9 favorites]
Yes, you're totally right, nadawi. I know I am letting my weariness of public adulation for the self-defeating-but-brilliant ultra-cool anti-hero archetype (Don Draper, Walter White, Thomas Shelby, etc) affect how I see it.
BlueJae--I was under the impression his only other musical writing credits were "Bring It On: The Musical" and that 15-minute This American Life short he did. Didn't he write In The Heights in college and then basically go straight to Broadway and performing from there? I have seen clips of him performing in other shows, and I'm not gonna lie, I wasn't too impressed by those either.
If I didn't make it clear, I think both Hamilton and In The Heights are fantastic. They are doing important work for offering new, diverse insights on stage in contemporary and historical settings, in addition to being brilliant and complex pieces of art. I know they and LMM mean a lot to a lot of people, so I said my piece and am happy to go back to taking bets on the number of Tonys Hamilton will rightfully win. And am I excited to see what he will write for Moana and everything else he has in the pipeline? Yes I am.
Already basically confirmed that Javier will be playing Hamilton full time come July.
I assume this means he's totally recovered then, that's awesome.
posted by Anonymous at 12:11 PM on May 10, 2016
BlueJae--I was under the impression his only other musical writing credits were "Bring It On: The Musical" and that 15-minute This American Life short he did. Didn't he write In The Heights in college and then basically go straight to Broadway and performing from there? I have seen clips of him performing in other shows, and I'm not gonna lie, I wasn't too impressed by those either.
If I didn't make it clear, I think both Hamilton and In The Heights are fantastic. They are doing important work for offering new, diverse insights on stage in contemporary and historical settings, in addition to being brilliant and complex pieces of art. I know they and LMM mean a lot to a lot of people, so I said my piece and am happy to go back to taking bets on the number of Tonys Hamilton will rightfully win. And am I excited to see what he will write for Moana and everything else he has in the pipeline? Yes I am.
Already basically confirmed that Javier will be playing Hamilton full time come July.
I assume this means he's totally recovered then, that's awesome.
posted by Anonymous at 12:11 PM on May 10, 2016
First, I was wishing for this very post (so we can talk about the Tonys) this morning, so thanks very much for reading my mind.
I do hope Leslie Odom, Jr. gets the Tony for best actor though, because he deserves it.
This. Miranda has gotten so many accolades, I hope the Tony voters feel like they can spread the wealth.
I am, however, a little fearful that Groff will end up with the Tony for Featured Performer, against all sense, simply because he's well liked. Daveed Diggs seems like the clear and obvious choice, and I hope he wins.
posted by anastasiav at 12:16 PM on May 10, 2016 [5 favorites]
I do hope Leslie Odom, Jr. gets the Tony for best actor though, because he deserves it.
This. Miranda has gotten so many accolades, I hope the Tony voters feel like they can spread the wealth.
I am, however, a little fearful that Groff will end up with the Tony for Featured Performer, against all sense, simply because he's well liked. Daveed Diggs seems like the clear and obvious choice, and I hope he wins.
posted by anastasiav at 12:16 PM on May 10, 2016 [5 favorites]
Last night, @DaveedDiggs explained why "the fastest rapping on Bway" is really just "medium rapping" @FallonTonight.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:18 PM on May 10, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:18 PM on May 10, 2016 [8 favorites]
I love how a thread that starts off with "In ‘Hamilton’ Aside" turns into a Hamilton thread.
posted by zachlipton at 12:24 PM on May 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by zachlipton at 12:24 PM on May 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
i so hope that leslie odom jr and daveed diggs walk away with the tony awards in their categories, but i do fear it'll be lmm and groff. i hope the cast is as cohesive and close as they seem and that this won't cause harm to their relationships.
Didn't he write In The Heights in college and then basically go straight to Broadway and performing from there?
he wrote a version of in the heights in school - and then worked on it for 8 years or so (with kail and others) before it made it to broadway.
posted by nadawi at 12:26 PM on May 10, 2016
Didn't he write In The Heights in college and then basically go straight to Broadway and performing from there?
he wrote a version of in the heights in school - and then worked on it for 8 years or so (with kail and others) before it made it to broadway.
posted by nadawi at 12:26 PM on May 10, 2016
Lmm yes, but no way Groff over Daveed Diggs. No way.
posted by corb at 12:32 PM on May 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by corb at 12:32 PM on May 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
I love how a thread that starts off with "In ‘Hamilton’ Aside" turns into a Hamilton thread.
Given enough time, every thread turns into a Hamilton thread.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 12:32 PM on May 10, 2016 [15 favorites]
Given enough time, every thread turns into a Hamilton thread.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 12:32 PM on May 10, 2016 [15 favorites]
i so hope that leslie odom jr and daveed diggs walk away with the tony awards in their categories, but i do fear it'll be lmm and groff
I think it's less likely to be Groff than Diggs because two other pretty well-known folks got decent accolades for playing George III (Bryan Darcy James and Kevin Rannells) and I don't think anyone else has touched Lafayette/Jefferson. The technical skill required to pull off that part (those parts) is huge; singing a Beatlesque song and doing a funny dance doesn't go near that.
And I hope that the awarders ultimately do get that Miranda has other categories to win (which he likely will) and this should be Odom's time to shine.
posted by dlugoczaj at 12:34 PM on May 10, 2016 [2 favorites]
I think it's less likely to be Groff than Diggs because two other pretty well-known folks got decent accolades for playing George III (Bryan Darcy James and Kevin Rannells) and I don't think anyone else has touched Lafayette/Jefferson. The technical skill required to pull off that part (those parts) is huge; singing a Beatlesque song and doing a funny dance doesn't go near that.
And I hope that the awarders ultimately do get that Miranda has other categories to win (which he likely will) and this should be Odom's time to shine.
posted by dlugoczaj at 12:34 PM on May 10, 2016 [2 favorites]
I can definitely understand if people are turned off by LMM's personality... there's this combination of enthusiasm and self-deprecation and now tons and tons of exposure that can easily rub people the wrong way, but it doesn't personally bother me. Will my feelings turn sour like they have on (fellow Wesleyan alum) Joss Whedon after all these years? Hopefully not, but who knows! But for now I'm still enjoying being complete Hamilton and Lin trash.
posted by kmz at 12:34 PM on May 10, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by kmz at 12:34 PM on May 10, 2016 [5 favorites]
Oh, and this Reddit comment offered some insightful thoughts on why Hamilton has become such a phenomenon (besides the fact that it is also really good).
I'm also hoping for the success of Odom and Diggs. They're responsible for pulling off some of the more spectacular numbers (by the dudes).
I love how a thread that starts off with "In ‘Hamilton’ Aside" turns into a Hamilton thread.
I dropped the haterade early in and ruined it!
posted by Anonymous at 12:37 PM on May 10, 2016
I'm also hoping for the success of Odom and Diggs. They're responsible for pulling off some of the more spectacular numbers (by the dudes).
I love how a thread that starts off with "In ‘Hamilton’ Aside" turns into a Hamilton thread.
I dropped the haterade early in and ruined it!
posted by Anonymous at 12:37 PM on May 10, 2016
I am, however, a little fearful that Groff will end up with the Tony for Featured Performer, against all sense, simply because he's well liked. Daveed Diggs seems like the clear and obvious choice, and I hope he wins.
I think this category could be a toss-up because Groff, Diggs, and Jackson are splitting the Hamilton votes. Depending on what part of the cast recording I've just listened to, I waver between Diggs and Jackson.
posted by gladly at 12:39 PM on May 10, 2016
I think this category could be a toss-up because Groff, Diggs, and Jackson are splitting the Hamilton votes. Depending on what part of the cast recording I've just listened to, I waver between Diggs and Jackson.
posted by gladly at 12:39 PM on May 10, 2016
I can't help wishing someone else was playing the part.
You're not alone. I remain in awe of LMM's songwriting and narrative structure, but the more listens of the soundtrack, the more obvious it seems that every other cast member outshines him as a performer.
posted by Flannery Culp at 12:39 PM on May 10, 2016
You're not alone. I remain in awe of LMM's songwriting and narrative structure, but the more listens of the soundtrack, the more obvious it seems that every other cast member outshines him as a performer.
posted by Flannery Culp at 12:39 PM on May 10, 2016
I think this category could be a toss-up because Groff, Diggs, and Jackson are splitting the Hamilton votes.
If someone from Hamilton doesn't get it because of the split, I am 100% happy for Christopher Fitzgerald, who is just glorious in Waitress
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:41 PM on May 10, 2016 [2 favorites]
If someone from Hamilton doesn't get it because of the split, I am 100% happy for Christopher Fitzgerald, who is just glorious in Waitress
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:41 PM on May 10, 2016 [2 favorites]
I don't think your critique is all that wrong in certain respects schroedinger, but "self-defeating-but-brilliant ultra-cool anti-hero archetype" is not a bad summary for Hamilton the actual dude when you read Chernow's book.
I enjoyed Groff of course, but I think Rory O'Malley picked up the role pretty darn well. When I saw him a couple weeks into his reign, his dancing in "The Reynolds Pamphlet" was so over the top and hilarious that Leslie Odom, Jr. pretty clearly broke with a small fit of the giggles.
posted by zachlipton at 12:43 PM on May 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
I enjoyed Groff of course, but I think Rory O'Malley picked up the role pretty darn well. When I saw him a couple weeks into his reign, his dancing in "The Reynolds Pamphlet" was so over the top and hilarious that Leslie Odom, Jr. pretty clearly broke with a small fit of the giggles.
posted by zachlipton at 12:43 PM on May 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
I can definitely understand if people are turned off by LMM's personality... there's this combination of enthusiasm and self-deprecation and now tons and tons of exposure that can easily rub people the wrong way, but it doesn't personally bother me.
He is "theater kid" personified. I love him for it, but it's a personality type that can definitely be a lot to take, at times.
posted by a fiendish thingy at 12:44 PM on May 10, 2016 [7 favorites]
He is "theater kid" personified. I love him for it, but it's a personality type that can definitely be a lot to take, at times.
posted by a fiendish thingy at 12:44 PM on May 10, 2016 [7 favorites]
some really happy perky wonderful musical
Cats?
-Hamilton came off to me as the yes-he's-flawed-but-secretly-you-love-him sort of guy.
Like all the characters?
I get why LMM is casting himself, and I can't totally blame him, though he's pretty obviously the weakest singer (as actors in Broadway musicals go). I saw him (sadly Philippa Soo was out, and her understudy was not particularly good as Eliza), and he's pretty compelling on stage, but if I could have chosen a major actor to be out, it would have been him (or, I guess, Groff).
And my impression is that it's Leslie Odom Jr's award.
posted by jeather at 12:45 PM on May 10, 2016
Cats?
-Hamilton came off to me as the yes-he's-flawed-but-secretly-you-love-him sort of guy.
Like all the characters?
I get why LMM is casting himself, and I can't totally blame him, though he's pretty obviously the weakest singer (as actors in Broadway musicals go). I saw him (sadly Philippa Soo was out, and her understudy was not particularly good as Eliza), and he's pretty compelling on stage, but if I could have chosen a major actor to be out, it would have been him (or, I guess, Groff).
And my impression is that it's Leslie Odom Jr's award.
posted by jeather at 12:45 PM on May 10, 2016
I too hope that Leslie Odom Jr. and Daveed Diggs win. I haven't seen Javier Munoz do the part, but the first time I went, Jon Rua was performing as Hamilton. It is true that his singing was better than LMM. However, Lin's acting is top rate. When I went the second time, I was blown away by his acting.
Plus, as someone who loves theater but can't sing well enough to be on Broadway, I root for Lin who figured out a way for a person with an average singing voice to do it. Write the show yourself and then star in it too.
posted by bove at 12:47 PM on May 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
Plus, as someone who loves theater but can't sing well enough to be on Broadway, I root for Lin who figured out a way for a person with an average singing voice to do it. Write the show yourself and then star in it too.
posted by bove at 12:47 PM on May 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
Heh, people have told the King George made Leslie Odom Jr break story about Groff, Rannells, and O'Malley. (Personally I've seen it happen with both Rannells and O'Malley.) I think they must all try to do it.
posted by kmz at 12:47 PM on May 10, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by kmz at 12:47 PM on May 10, 2016 [2 favorites]
And yeah... I mean, Lin's voice is obviously not the most magnificent, but goddamn he acts his heart out in the role. Leslie is so so good too though. And Chris Jackson is mindblowing as Washington too, even if it's not as flashy a role as Lafayette/Jefferson. Argh. Just give them all Tonys!
posted by kmz at 12:52 PM on May 10, 2016 [11 favorites]
posted by kmz at 12:52 PM on May 10, 2016 [11 favorites]
I think the thing about LMM though is that yeah, he's not the greatest singer on the stage (something he's acknowledged by giving everyone else the best songs), but he's been an amazing leader of the company and champion for his show. His Twitter presence has been an extraordinary thing to watch (and I don't just say this because he retweeted my completely unauthorized video of the Prince tribute after the curtain call last month instead of sending goons to hunt me down, life goals complete there) and he's been pumping out treats like the Ham4Hams and other goodies like he's running out of time. He's been super-patient with fans and seems to be staying relatively humble for someone receiving this much attention. He seems to be having the time of his life right now, and it's just fun to see him enjoy that.
One small gesture I saw from him was during the performance actually. A young woman on the aisle not too far from the stage was really getting into one of the cabinet battles, waving her arm in the air and embracing the spirit of it. And Miranda just, quickly and pretty subtly for someone actively in the process of starring in a Broadway musical, turned toward her, put his hand on his heart, and gave her a little thanks. It was sweet, and it gave me the impression there was no place he would rather be.
posted by zachlipton at 1:00 PM on May 10, 2016 [23 favorites]
One small gesture I saw from him was during the performance actually. A young woman on the aisle not too far from the stage was really getting into one of the cabinet battles, waving her arm in the air and embracing the spirit of it. And Miranda just, quickly and pretty subtly for someone actively in the process of starring in a Broadway musical, turned toward her, put his hand on his heart, and gave her a little thanks. It was sweet, and it gave me the impression there was no place he would rather be.
posted by zachlipton at 1:00 PM on May 10, 2016 [23 favorites]
True, LMM's singing voice is not the best (especially when he shares a number of songs with the fantastic Leslie Odom Jr and Christopher Jackson - it's hard not to suffer by comparison to those two.) But it's hard to think of another actor who matches his enthusiasm and passion for a role. I also recommend watching the Ham4Ham show where LMM gets to play "Loud Hailer" in Les Miserables (an offstage voice yelling at the people on the barricades). Although LMM has written and starred in the biggest hit Broadway has seen in years (ever?), and is raking in awards, he is just beside himself with excitement at having the opportunity to be in Les Mis, even in a tiny offstage part. I can see how he could rub some people the wrong way, but his "theater kid" enthusiasm in that clip is truly charming.
posted by Mallenroh at 1:01 PM on May 10, 2016 [10 favorites]
posted by Mallenroh at 1:01 PM on May 10, 2016 [10 favorites]
So he's not really two-for-two in the "casting yourself as the lead in the thing that you wrote" game.
He's also said that he writes roles that he would want to play because he gets tired of Hispanic actors being the cab driver or gang member or bodega owner. Of course, there are other hispanic actors who could play (and will play) Usnavi and Hamilton but I can't blame the guy for writing himself some good roles. Also, he's incredibly compelling onstage. I don't think it's really fair to assess his performance based only on the cast album. (People here comparing him to Javi may not be doing that. I don't know who's seen it. The people who I know who saw Javi said he was stronger than LMM in some ways and weaker in some.)
My impression is that Leslie is the favorite for the Tony. For all Lin's accolades, I don't think I've seen or heard a single person say he's better than Leslie.
posted by Mavri at 1:02 PM on May 10, 2016 [8 favorites]
He's also said that he writes roles that he would want to play because he gets tired of Hispanic actors being the cab driver or gang member or bodega owner. Of course, there are other hispanic actors who could play (and will play) Usnavi and Hamilton but I can't blame the guy for writing himself some good roles. Also, he's incredibly compelling onstage. I don't think it's really fair to assess his performance based only on the cast album. (People here comparing him to Javi may not be doing that. I don't know who's seen it. The people who I know who saw Javi said he was stronger than LMM in some ways and weaker in some.)
My impression is that Leslie is the favorite for the Tony. For all Lin's accolades, I don't think I've seen or heard a single person say he's better than Leslie.
posted by Mavri at 1:02 PM on May 10, 2016 [8 favorites]
He's also said that he writes roles that he would want to play because he gets tired of Hispanic actors being the cab driver or gang member or bodega owner.
Although Usnavi is... a bodega worker.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:04 PM on May 10, 2016
Although Usnavi is... a bodega worker.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:04 PM on May 10, 2016
Schroedinger, after In the Heights, LMM also wrote the Spanish dialogue/lyrics for the new version of West Side Story, and a revival of Working, and he acted in a well-reviewed off-Broadway revival production of Tick Tick Boom (a posthumous Jonathan Larson musical) with Leslie Odom.
Also he and Chris Jackson and other members of the improv rap group Freestyle Love Supreme worked together writing music for PBS for the reboot of The Electric Company, and LMM has done various stuff for Sesame Street and-- what can I say? I have a permanent soft spot for nerdy rappers who teach kids phonics on public television.
posted by BlueJae at 1:07 PM on May 10, 2016 [4 favorites]
Also he and Chris Jackson and other members of the improv rap group Freestyle Love Supreme worked together writing music for PBS for the reboot of The Electric Company, and LMM has done various stuff for Sesame Street and-- what can I say? I have a permanent soft spot for nerdy rappers who teach kids phonics on public television.
posted by BlueJae at 1:07 PM on May 10, 2016 [4 favorites]
Oh man... I'm starting to tear up at work thinking about One Last Time being performed at LMM and Chris Jackson's last show together (whenever that is).
posted by kmz at 1:08 PM on May 10, 2016 [10 favorites]
posted by kmz at 1:08 PM on May 10, 2016 [10 favorites]
(Sorry-- missed the edit window-- I meant to write specifically that LMM wrote two new songs for Working.)
posted by BlueJae at 1:14 PM on May 10, 2016
posted by BlueJae at 1:14 PM on May 10, 2016
I do find it slightly puzzling that it was nominated in the book of a musical category, since the show is almost sung-through.
Evita won the Tony for best book in 1980, but it's all sung and so has no book, just lyrics.
This was really unfair to my Dad, who was nominated for book and lyrics for another show that year, but both awards went to Evita, and so he never did win a Tony. He was always sad about that.
I think there is a tradition for the Tony committee to pick one musical each year as "the big hit" and give that show a big sweep of awards, even ones that don't make sense. It's good PR for Broadway, but it's not fair. Each award should be judged on its own merits.
posted by w0mbat at 1:17 PM on May 10, 2016 [2 favorites]
Evita won the Tony for best book in 1980, but it's all sung and so has no book, just lyrics.
This was really unfair to my Dad, who was nominated for book and lyrics for another show that year, but both awards went to Evita, and so he never did win a Tony. He was always sad about that.
I think there is a tradition for the Tony committee to pick one musical each year as "the big hit" and give that show a big sweep of awards, even ones that don't make sense. It's good PR for Broadway, but it's not fair. Each award should be judged on its own merits.
posted by w0mbat at 1:17 PM on May 10, 2016 [2 favorites]
Evita won the Tony for best book in 1980, but it's all sung and so has no book, just lyrics.
The point of the OP, though, is that book does not equal script.
But it's awesome that your dad was Tony nominated.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:19 PM on May 10, 2016 [4 favorites]
The point of the OP, though, is that book does not equal script.
But it's awesome that your dad was Tony nominated.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:19 PM on May 10, 2016 [4 favorites]
Although Usnavi is... a bodega worker.
Ha, good point, but I think the subtext there is "one note bit player." And the examples I gave were from my memory, not necessarily what he said.
posted by Mavri at 1:20 PM on May 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
Ha, good point, but I think the subtext there is "one note bit player." And the examples I gave were from my memory, not necessarily what he said.
posted by Mavri at 1:20 PM on May 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
I really loved this article, which talks about LMM's singing in the context of Broadway personalities of the past who weren't the best singers.
posted by Mavri at 1:26 PM on May 10, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Mavri at 1:26 PM on May 10, 2016 [3 favorites]
Let me hijack the thread for a brief question, if I may. Y'see, I've got a mental block against listening to a show's soundtrack without seeing it first, because I feel like I don't get the full significance when the songs are out of context. I've reached the point where I'm willing to break this rule for Hamilton, because everyone says it's the best thing ever. What's the best way, official or otherwise, for me to get the whole Hamilton experience, as it were, short of actually seeing the show (which ain't happening, for obvious reasons)? Is there, like, a read-along comic or something?
posted by Faint of Butt at 1:37 PM on May 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Faint of Butt at 1:37 PM on May 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
I would recommend reading Hamilton: A Revolution, but the cast recording can definitely stand on its own, for now. Being there in person is awesome, but the cast recording is really, really great, and you don't need anything else.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:41 PM on May 10, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:41 PM on May 10, 2016 [2 favorites]
The cast album completely stands on its own. Sit in a dark room and listen for three hours and you'll feel as though you've seen the show even without the visuals. It tells the whole story.
You could also read the Genius.com annotations, but there isn't really anything out there that will give you the visuals, besides the still photos in the book.
posted by anastasiav at 1:44 PM on May 10, 2016 [3 favorites]
You could also read the Genius.com annotations, but there isn't really anything out there that will give you the visuals, besides the still photos in the book.
posted by anastasiav at 1:44 PM on May 10, 2016 [3 favorites]
Faint of Butt: I'd say you pretty much get the full context from the cast album, since the album, with a handful of smallish exceptions, contains literally the entire show. It was occasionally a little hard for me to tell who was who at first from the album, but you figure it out.
My personal recommendation is to listen to it once and let it wash over you. Then head over to the Genius.com annotations and work your way through them. That's obviously not the same experience as seeing the show, but it gives you a ton of details that you wouldn't even know if you saw the show.
Once you've done that, I had some sugguestions for further resources in a previous thread should you become obsessed.
posted by zachlipton at 1:44 PM on May 10, 2016 [3 favorites]
My personal recommendation is to listen to it once and let it wash over you. Then head over to the Genius.com annotations and work your way through them. That's obviously not the same experience as seeing the show, but it gives you a ton of details that you wouldn't even know if you saw the show.
Once you've done that, I had some sugguestions for further resources in a previous thread should you become obsessed.
posted by zachlipton at 1:44 PM on May 10, 2016 [3 favorites]
I will add - pirated videos turn up on YouTube every now and again (and vanish pretty quickly). I've watched a few, and I don't really feel like even the high-quality ones have changed the experience for me.
Which is not to say that I'm not certain that seeing the show in person would be a much more transcendent experience, but that's not ever something that will be an option for me (probably not even on tour). So, the best I have to hope for is that there is someday a movie. #13tonysandamovie
posted by anastasiav at 1:50 PM on May 10, 2016 [2 favorites]
Which is not to say that I'm not certain that seeing the show in person would be a much more transcendent experience, but that's not ever something that will be an option for me (probably not even on tour). So, the best I have to hope for is that there is someday a movie. #13tonysandamovie
posted by anastasiav at 1:50 PM on May 10, 2016 [2 favorites]
That Rolling Stone article that Mavri linked to above, is great.
posted by bove at 1:55 PM on May 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by bove at 1:55 PM on May 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
Y'see, I've got a mental block against listening to a show's soundtrack without seeing it first, because I feel like I don't get the full significance when the songs are out of context.
I hear you, I had that as sort of a rule for years and years. But yes, I broke it for Hamilton. For me, it's because after hearing some audio clips on podcasts and such, I realized that it's a very wordy show, and in the clips I heard I sometimes couldn't catch all the words. I realized the best thing for me was to just go ahead and buy the album and spend a couple hours with the lyrics in front of me.
I'm not worried that I've ruined it, because of my experience with a similarly wordy pop musical: Rent. I went into Rent not knowing much more than the premise, and came out with real mixed experiences of it. There were times I could not understand a word - (Mimi's "Out Tonight" - maybe it was my cheap nosebleed seat, maybe it was crappy mic and audio, but I sat there for three minutes thinking "I hope she's not singing anything plot-important because I can't get a word of this." ) Some time after seeing it I did manage to listen through the recording with the lyrics booklet, and realized it's much better than I thought - lots of sly "La Boheme" hints in there that totally escaped me when I saw it.
So this is just to say that I know where you're coming from but my experience is that sometimes having experience with the songs in advance can actually help. I don't plan to, like, memorize Hamilton in advance or anything, but I just know that now when I see it I won't have worries about "wait, what did he say?"
posted by dnash at 1:58 PM on May 10, 2016 [2 favorites]
I hear you, I had that as sort of a rule for years and years. But yes, I broke it for Hamilton. For me, it's because after hearing some audio clips on podcasts and such, I realized that it's a very wordy show, and in the clips I heard I sometimes couldn't catch all the words. I realized the best thing for me was to just go ahead and buy the album and spend a couple hours with the lyrics in front of me.
I'm not worried that I've ruined it, because of my experience with a similarly wordy pop musical: Rent. I went into Rent not knowing much more than the premise, and came out with real mixed experiences of it. There were times I could not understand a word - (Mimi's "Out Tonight" - maybe it was my cheap nosebleed seat, maybe it was crappy mic and audio, but I sat there for three minutes thinking "I hope she's not singing anything plot-important because I can't get a word of this." ) Some time after seeing it I did manage to listen through the recording with the lyrics booklet, and realized it's much better than I thought - lots of sly "La Boheme" hints in there that totally escaped me when I saw it.
So this is just to say that I know where you're coming from but my experience is that sometimes having experience with the songs in advance can actually help. I don't plan to, like, memorize Hamilton in advance or anything, but I just know that now when I see it I won't have worries about "wait, what did he say?"
posted by dnash at 1:58 PM on May 10, 2016 [2 favorites]
There's also so much movement and staging in Hamilton that it's impossible to concentrate on those things if you are trying to actively listen to the words. So, really, it's best to have the whole damn thing memorized. Which you will, after a few listens.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:01 PM on May 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:01 PM on May 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
Musical theatre has a long history of actors who don't sing that well. Richard Burton in Camelot. Rex Harrison in My Fair Lady. Ethel Merman, who could project to the last row back before everyone was amplified, but didn't have what most people would call a pleasant voice. Robert Preston's performance in The Music Man was a lot more talking on pitch than actually singing. I believe that Sondheim wrote Send in the Clowns specifically with small intervals and not much range because Glynis Johns wasn't much of a singer. Lots of others. As the Rolling Stone article pointed out, a great singing voice isn't necessarily critical to a great performance.
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 2:08 PM on May 10, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 2:08 PM on May 10, 2016 [4 favorites]
Related: In 5 tweets @petermarksdrama explains how @kencen's #hamiltour priority access will work.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:24 PM on May 10, 2016
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:24 PM on May 10, 2016
roomthreeseventeen, is that just for Washington D.C.? How tickets will work in Chicago still seems to be some sort of big secret.
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 2:47 PM on May 10, 2016
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 2:47 PM on May 10, 2016
They've announced something similar to that (urging people to buy season tickets for two seasons) for a lot of the announced cities on the tour, but I'm not sure how Chicago is going to work since it's starting so much sooner than the rest of them. I would imagine season ticket holders will still have an advantage though.
posted by kmz at 2:58 PM on May 10, 2016
posted by kmz at 2:58 PM on May 10, 2016
What's the best way, official or otherwise, for me to get the whole Hamilton experience, as it were, short of actually seeing the show (which ain't happening, for obvious reasons)? Is there, like, a read-along comic or something?
I recommend my (unplanned) method: listen to it on a long car ride, alone in the car. Just maybe pull over once you get to "Blow Them All Away." I won't spoil you by telling you why, just take my word on this. Anyway, I think it's best if you can listen to it in an environment where you won't be too distracted, so maybe while you work out, or just treat it like a movie and listen without doing anything else.
Then once you've listened, if you become completely obsessed and want to fill in all the gaps and/or feed your obsession, there are the genius.com annotations, and the book, and the other book (the Chernow bio), and basically all of tumblr and metafilter.
posted by lunasol at 3:32 PM on May 10, 2016 [3 favorites]
I recommend my (unplanned) method: listen to it on a long car ride, alone in the car. Just maybe pull over once you get to "Blow Them All Away." I won't spoil you by telling you why, just take my word on this. Anyway, I think it's best if you can listen to it in an environment where you won't be too distracted, so maybe while you work out, or just treat it like a movie and listen without doing anything else.
Then once you've listened, if you become completely obsessed and want to fill in all the gaps and/or feed your obsession, there are the genius.com annotations, and the book, and the other book (the Chernow bio), and basically all of tumblr and metafilter.
posted by lunasol at 3:32 PM on May 10, 2016 [3 favorites]
Ha! Rory O'Malley made Leslie Odom crack up when I saw him too! I thought that was just because it was their first performance together (it was O'Malley's second performance, but Odom had been out the night before). Funny that this is actually a super-regular thing.
On LMM, I think I've written about this here, but I was surprised by the degree to which he was not the star performer in the show. I knew Chris Jackson, Leslie Odom, and Phillippa Soo were better singers, and Daveed Diggs is a better rapper but I also knew LMM had all his LMM charisma and figured that would put him on the same level as those others. It ... didn't really. Leslie Odom is without a doubt the star, you can't take your eyes off him. Chris Jackson somehow embodies the spirit or ghost or whatever of George Washington for 3 hours, and took us all to church with "One Last Time." (Soo was also out when I saw it and that was a bummer) Daveed Diggs is just the funnest to watch and I would watch him perform literally anything. LMM was solid but not amazing. He had some real standout moments (the Cabinet Battles, Helpless, the last few songs), but overall, his performance was a bit flatter than I expected. Enough that I wondered if he is finally getting a bit tired? Of course, I still enjoyed the hell out of it, and I think his performance would have seemed like more of a standout if he weren't surrounded by otherworldly talent.
That said, I love LMM's whole "grownup theater kid" thing, probably because I myself was a theater kid. I just think he is incredibly generous with his celebrity. I love how he identifies with his fans, I love watching him appreciate the hell out of his castmates during Ham4Hams, I love his heartfelt activism (I work for an advocacy organization and can't tell you how many celebs are so half-assed about activism). I get a sense of him as someone with a pretty healthy ego but I think he's able to channel that into his work which is the best possible use of ego.
But schroedinger, I totally feel you because I had two friends jump all over me when I commented on his performance. And I was like "hey, I am like a card-carrying member of the Hamiltrash Society. I love him, but I just don't think he was as strong as some of the other cast members!"
posted by lunasol at 3:48 PM on May 10, 2016 [3 favorites]
On LMM, I think I've written about this here, but I was surprised by the degree to which he was not the star performer in the show. I knew Chris Jackson, Leslie Odom, and Phillippa Soo were better singers, and Daveed Diggs is a better rapper but I also knew LMM had all his LMM charisma and figured that would put him on the same level as those others. It ... didn't really. Leslie Odom is without a doubt the star, you can't take your eyes off him. Chris Jackson somehow embodies the spirit or ghost or whatever of George Washington for 3 hours, and took us all to church with "One Last Time." (Soo was also out when I saw it and that was a bummer) Daveed Diggs is just the funnest to watch and I would watch him perform literally anything. LMM was solid but not amazing. He had some real standout moments (the Cabinet Battles, Helpless, the last few songs), but overall, his performance was a bit flatter than I expected. Enough that I wondered if he is finally getting a bit tired? Of course, I still enjoyed the hell out of it, and I think his performance would have seemed like more of a standout if he weren't surrounded by otherworldly talent.
That said, I love LMM's whole "grownup theater kid" thing, probably because I myself was a theater kid. I just think he is incredibly generous with his celebrity. I love how he identifies with his fans, I love watching him appreciate the hell out of his castmates during Ham4Hams, I love his heartfelt activism (I work for an advocacy organization and can't tell you how many celebs are so half-assed about activism). I get a sense of him as someone with a pretty healthy ego but I think he's able to channel that into his work which is the best possible use of ego.
But schroedinger, I totally feel you because I had two friends jump all over me when I commented on his performance. And I was like "hey, I am like a card-carrying member of the Hamiltrash Society. I love him, but I just don't think he was as strong as some of the other cast members!"
posted by lunasol at 3:48 PM on May 10, 2016 [3 favorites]
I found him to be an excellent performer, of the caliber of the rest of the cast - but I also saw him some time ago and he may indeed be getting tired.
posted by corb at 3:49 PM on May 10, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by corb at 3:49 PM on May 10, 2016 [2 favorites]
Oh, and more relevant to the topic of the OPP: I will be bummed if Leslie Odom loses to Lin. LMM will get (and deserves) all the other awards he's nominated for, but Odom was just so fucking good. I am not exaggerating when I say his Burr is the single best performance I have ever seen live.
posted by lunasol at 4:04 PM on May 10, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by lunasol at 4:04 PM on May 10, 2016 [3 favorites]
he certainly seems to be getting noticeably more exhausted and frayed. i'm honestly super glad to learn he'll be giving the full time spot to javier soon. he needs a month long nap.
posted by nadawi at 4:36 PM on May 10, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by nadawi at 4:36 PM on May 10, 2016 [2 favorites]
(which is no slam on lmm - i don't think there's a human alive that wouldn't be exhausted after the year or two that lin has had)
posted by nadawi at 4:39 PM on May 10, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by nadawi at 4:39 PM on May 10, 2016 [3 favorites]
I had the same reservations about LMM playing the lead , but at least on the cast album he won me over because he just completely owns the role. I can hear that his voice is weaker, but he has this energy that is just ... right. Like, completely correct. "My Shot" is the number that sold me on him, the show, everything.
Anyway in case anyone doesn't know they do a ticket lottery for EVERY performance.
posted by Rainbo Vagrant at 4:40 PM on May 10, 2016 [5 favorites]
Anyway in case anyone doesn't know they do a ticket lottery for EVERY performance.
posted by Rainbo Vagrant at 4:40 PM on May 10, 2016 [5 favorites]
(Odom Jr doesn't come across quite as well in the recording but he is still impressive and I fully believe he deserves the award)
posted by Rainbo Vagrant at 4:42 PM on May 10, 2016
posted by Rainbo Vagrant at 4:42 PM on May 10, 2016
(Complete Hamilton fan here.)
Personally, I find My Shot the weakest of the songs on the cast recording, almost entirely because of LMM’s voice. For some reason, in that particular track his vocals have a nasal quality that really grates on my ears. It’s weird, because the rest of his vocal work in the recording doesn’t have that effect on me at all - quite the opposite: the rest of LMM’s performance is completely engaging & on a par with the other performers! But My Shot? Nails on chalkboard time for me.
Whether it’s a vocal range that’s too high for him or the word choice or what I don’t know, but if the My Shot recording was the only song from the Hamilton recording I’d heard I wouldn’t have been very keen to hear the rest of it.
Maybe this is just me though?
posted by pharm at 2:14 AM on May 11, 2016 [2 favorites]
Personally, I find My Shot the weakest of the songs on the cast recording, almost entirely because of LMM’s voice. For some reason, in that particular track his vocals have a nasal quality that really grates on my ears. It’s weird, because the rest of his vocal work in the recording doesn’t have that effect on me at all - quite the opposite: the rest of LMM’s performance is completely engaging & on a par with the other performers! But My Shot? Nails on chalkboard time for me.
Whether it’s a vocal range that’s too high for him or the word choice or what I don’t know, but if the My Shot recording was the only song from the Hamilton recording I’d heard I wouldn’t have been very keen to hear the rest of it.
Maybe this is just me though?
posted by pharm at 2:14 AM on May 11, 2016 [2 favorites]
(Ok, Daveed, what are you wearing on Jimmy Fallon?)
posted by TwoStride at 5:51 AM on May 11, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by TwoStride at 5:51 AM on May 11, 2016 [2 favorites]
an amazing suit!!
posted by nadawi at 8:09 AM on May 11, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by nadawi at 8:09 AM on May 11, 2016 [3 favorites]
That suit is AWESOME
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:33 AM on May 11, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:33 AM on May 11, 2016 [2 favorites]
FWIW, I think the odds of Lamar Odom Jr. not winning his Tony category are infinitesimal.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:34 AM on May 11, 2016
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:34 AM on May 11, 2016
My fanwank for LMM's lack of vocal power is that it's a sign that Hamilton had a much less aristocratic upbringing than the Schuyler sisters/Lafayette/Washington/Jefferson, etc. It doesn't really bother me except on Hurricane, which I think needs more of a powerhouse voice to carry it.
(I love the soundtrack so much, and am so, so sad that there's no way I can see the show live. I live on the other coast and the lottery pretty much requires being able to drop everything to attend the next day's show. I hope that they film it with the original cast at some point.)
posted by creepygirl at 9:56 AM on May 11, 2016
(I love the soundtrack so much, and am so, so sad that there's no way I can see the show live. I live on the other coast and the lottery pretty much requires being able to drop everything to attend the next day's show. I hope that they film it with the original cast at some point.)
posted by creepygirl at 9:56 AM on May 11, 2016
FWIW, I think the odds of Lamar Odom Jr. not winning his Tony category are infinitesimal.
Leslie.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:33 AM on May 11, 2016
Leslie.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:33 AM on May 11, 2016
I first listened to the album before I knew much about LMM. I didn't know who wrote it, I didn't know who played Hamilton. And I was amazed by the casting: I thought the particular vocal style for Hamilton was brilliant, so perfect for the character and yet so unexpected for a Broadway musical.
posted by meese at 9:24 PM on May 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by meese at 9:24 PM on May 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
I am at this moment waiting out intermission at Hamilton. The most surprising (to me) performance, in person, is Chris Jackson. Wow. What presence. /yes I have already cried, yes I know the Real Crying will come in act two.
posted by rtha at 5:37 PM on May 12, 2016 [12 favorites]
posted by rtha at 5:37 PM on May 12, 2016 [12 favorites]
Oh, Chris Jackson in act two is something else. Enjoy!
(p.s. don't forget to listen to the exit music after the curtain call. It's one of my favorite parts of the show actually.)
posted by zachlipton at 5:42 PM on May 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
(p.s. don't forget to listen to the exit music after the curtain call. It's one of my favorite parts of the show actually.)
posted by zachlipton at 5:42 PM on May 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
Chris Jackson just gets better and better. I'm still rooting for Daveed for the Tony but would be completely happy if Jackson won.
(Also, I love hearing about people seeing Hamilton! #yayhamlet)
posted by Mavri at 6:41 PM on May 12, 2016 [3 favorites]
(Also, I love hearing about people seeing Hamilton! #yayhamlet)
posted by Mavri at 6:41 PM on May 12, 2016 [3 favorites]
Rtha don't forget the stage door outside! Most of them are there after the show and are great with people. Get your playbill signed and also probably some impromptu music.
posted by corb at 6:42 PM on May 12, 2016
posted by corb at 6:42 PM on May 12, 2016
Waiting in the crowd outside the door now!
posted by rtha at 7:25 PM on May 12, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by rtha at 7:25 PM on May 12, 2016 [2 favorites]
Andrew Chappelle (Mulligan/Madison tonight, so fantastic) signed my Playbill.
So did Daveed Diggs. /floating
posted by rtha at 8:28 PM on May 12, 2016 [7 favorites]
So did Daveed Diggs. /floating
posted by rtha at 8:28 PM on May 12, 2016 [7 favorites]
Yay, rtha! My one regret is that I didn't do the stagedoor.
I was also surprised by Chris Jackson live. He has so much presence, and "One Last Time" just blew the roof off.
posted by lunasol at 11:35 PM on May 12, 2016
I was also surprised by Chris Jackson live. He has so much presence, and "One Last Time" just blew the roof off.
posted by lunasol at 11:35 PM on May 12, 2016
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posted by DigDoug at 10:12 AM on May 10, 2016 [1 favorite]