Rockefeller Foundation Helps to Grant Students Access to Broadway's Hamilton
(© Joan Marcus)
The Broadway production of Hamilton has teamed up with the Rockefeller Foundation to provide 20,000 New York City public school students with the opportunity to see the acclaimed musical for only $10.
The educational initiative, which will include a classroom component, is made possible through a $1.46 million grant by the Rockefeller Foundation to the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.
"It is a dream come true to have a program like this exist in connection to Hamilton," said the show's creator and star, Lin-Manuel Miranda, in a statement. "I can’t wait to perform for a theater full of students who are learning about our Founding Fathers in class and seeing how it still relates to their own lives on stage. They will see Hamilton's story, and I'm hopeful that the stories it will inspire in them, will change our lives in ways we can't even anticipate.
The Hamilton experience will come with a study and performance guide featuring an online portal for students and teachers, printed classroom materials, and a creative platform that will offer students a chance to develop and produce their own original performances of poetry, rap, songs, scenes, and more.
"This will be game changer for my students and will undoubtedly provide excitement and joy around American History," said Principal Moses Ojeda of Thomas A. Edison Career and Technical Education High School. "New York City is so rich in culture, and my students will now be exposed to a phenomenal production they can relate to. I wouldn't be surprised if this experience creates a new passion and love of learning and I'm grateful to all partners for their efforts."
Directed by Thomas Kail and inspired by Ron Chernow's biography Alexander Hamilton, Hamilton explores the life of the American founding father and first Secretary of the Treasury, as well as his experiences as an orphan of the British West Indies who immigrated to the 13 Colonies and helped shape the United States of America. It began Broadway previews July 13 and opened on August 6 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre. Hamilton had its world premiere at the Public Theater.
