Greetings, Encore fans! If you’re anything like us, the Disney+ premiere of Hamilton: An American Musical has been marked on your calendars for weeks, the anticipation building ever faster with each passing day. To help pass the time before the big day, we’re hosting #EncoreHamiltonWeek as a celebration of this captivating and innovative show that has captured the hearts of so many. Be sure to sign up for our e-mailing list and follow us on social media to ensure that you won’t miss out on any of the fun. We can’t wait to hear your song covers, see your awesome cosplays, and revel in the excitement with you! Today, we’re breaking down three of our favorite Hamilton-related resources to allow you to dive deep into the world of the musical, learn more about the creation of the show, and, perhaps, even flesh out your characterizations when you make your big debut…
Lin-Manuel Miranda, Shakespeare, and Hip Hop
Hamilton’s America on PBS
Based around the wonderful documentary that aired on the same network, PBS has crafted a series of entertaining and educational videos for students in Grades 4-12, ranging in topic from hip-hop to Shakespeare, elections to immigration. Whether you’re wanting to dive into the Founding Fathers’ world in preparation for your viewing of the show or aiming to ace your next round of trivia, this is a great place to start.
Rise Up! An American Curriculum
Get creative at home with lessons that delve simultaneously into artistic expression and civic responsibility. The Rise Up! team describes its mission as follows: “Rise Up! uses creative inquiry to explore Hamilton: An American Musical. Lessons help students to understand and critically examine Hamilton themes and artistry, and to express their own personal narrative through writing and performance. If you’ve been searching for a way to start (or continue) the conversation about racial equity and justice in our country, this may prove to be a valuable resource. Our team is certainly excited and intrigued to delve deeper together.
YouTube
In this unusual time where much of life has found itself on a screen of some sort, we’ve found YouTube to be an extremely valuable resource. From socially distant cast-wide reunions to captivating interviews and behind the scenes footage, the rabbit hole of knowledge is seemingly endless. The video above, from The Wall Street Journal, is just one example of the fascinating thought and detail that goes into any Broadway show. We can’t wait to spot these smooth moves during our viewing of Hamilton on Disney+ this weekend!
If you’re ready to “Rise Up” and keep learning “Non-Stop,” there’s still time to join us at virtual summer camps this #EncoreSummer. From Shakespeare to stage combat, choreography to characterization, there is something for everyone who’s heart is captivated by the magic of theatre.
Encore photos by Aileen Pangan Christian and Cindy Kane Photography. Blog contribution by Shannon McCarthy.