Hamilton: An American Musical

[Bill Peckham]

I am a Hamilton groupee. Prior to this I have been to musicals, recently Young Frankenstein, Book of Mormon, for a night out, could not quote a single song unless it was in a Simpson episode (see Dr. Zaius). I know just about the entire score of Hamilton. I've seen every production except Seattle, I have tickets for the 24th at Seattle's Paramount theater.

I just got back from seeing it in London. I feel so fortunate. It was a peak life travel experience. And it gave me the travel bug again.

Here are 10 minutes of clips from the musical available on youtube https://youtu.be/yvBYOBTkDRk

It is incredible in person, start to finish. I was in London for a great week but the highlight of the trip was seeing Hamilton.

In the UK there is very tight control on tickets, unlike the shows in the US there are no tickets available on the secondary market for the London production but reading through the FAQ they mention a hospitality package. Turned out for 80£ extra a ticket you could buy tickets at face value, that's how I got tickets for Friday night and great seats. I thought fine an 80£ glass of champagne and face value tickets still a better deal than any of the other performances I've gotten to see.

Actually it was more than just champaign https://youtu.be/Br8Oue7z4D8  I am forever spoiled

[cassandra]

It's lovely to read you had such a great time Bill!


Love, Cas

[Simon Dog]

for 80£ extra a ticket you could buy tickets at face value

Oxymoron alert!!!

Did you haul you NxStage to London?  If not, how much did the Brits hammer you for a treatment?

[MooseMom]

There are few finer artistic experiences than seeing a show in London's West End.  I am thrilled you were able to do this, Bill.

When I heard that Hamilton was going to open in London, I did wonder how British audiences would react to it, ie, whether or not they would "get it".  Would it be "too American"?  Obviously not, because I've heard that not only is it crazy popular but also that it has garnered rave reviews.  In fact, I don't think I've read a single even slightly negative review.

How exciting for you!  I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

[Simon Dog]

Mighty good sports, those Brits - considering they lost the war.  What's next?    A new musical "Manhattan Project" playing in Tokyo?

[lainiepop]

Hamilton has had good reviews in the U.K. how did u enjoy the rest of your time in London Bill? What did u visit? My hubbys parents live in Victoria a 10 min walk to where Hamilton is playing. Was the theatre nice inside as it has been newly refurbished? We saw Billy Elliot in there before it closed for refurbishment. Would u recommend Young Frankenstein? Tbh we have a long list of what we’d like to see but have started going with our son who 10 and 6 yr old daughter (who says she someday wants to be on the west end or be a ballerina 🙈😂). My son loved school of rock and I did too even though didn’t think would be my sort of thing. She loved Aladdin and recently saw hairspray which is her current fave. Me and hubby have seen phantom, wicked and I’ve seen mamma Mia too. Problem is every time we visit the grandparents the kids ask are we going to a musical. Not every holiday no 😂 their list includes wicked , Matilda, lion king and Elena and myself really want to see 42nd street as I have recently started learning tap where she dances. I’ve heard les mis is good (and the singing and drama teacher at her dance school was in les Mia in the west end when she was 21 but would probably bore a 6 year old). My son keeps asking about the cursed child Harry Potter play but that is booked up a year in advance I think and really expensive. Besides we are doing a month long USA road trip in the summer so maybe some of u could advise me on Vegas shows?! As that is one of our stops. Kids said cirque du soleil but is v expensive and hubby hated all the super bendy stuff 😂😂.

[lulu836]

Any of the Cirque shows would be preferable to local talent "performing" Broadway IMHO.

[KarenInWA]

I saw Hamilton in Seattle at the Paramount Theater last Thursday and LOVED it!!! I thought I was only going to be able to listen to the soundtrack, because tickets for Hamilton here on the re-sale sights are going for crazy amounts of $$ (Thanks, Amazon). I won a "Hamilton Super Fan" ticket lottery back in October which allowed me to buy up to 4 tickets at what I believe were the "real" prices for the show. I decided to go for the expensive tickets - $200 ea after fees. The view was amazing and sooooo worth it!!! I will definitely see this again if I am ever able to. Simply Amazing!!!!

My top 3 favorite musicals, in order of seeing them - Phantom of the Opera, Come From Away and Hamilton 

KarenInWA

[Paul]

Glad you had a good time over here Bill. As to:

In the UK there is very tight control on tickets, unlike the shows in the US there are no tickets available on the secondary market for the London production

Ooooh, there are plenty of places in Britain to get tickets on the black market. Just because something is illegal, doesn't mean it is difficult to do. You just have to know where to get them, or if you don't know, ask someone who knows (Hint "Alexa, where can I get black market theatre tickets in London?").

how much did the Brits hammer you for a treatment?

Ask via the NHS and it is a bloody sight cheaper than in the US. Do not ask Fresenius in the US to do it in one of their UK clinics or, I'm told, they will charge you US prices. But if you are sent to them by the NHS they charge British prices, which are a lot less.

[Riki]

I wanted to see Hamilton in Boston in September, but when I went looking for tickets, the lowest price was way out of my price range.  They were showing $400 a seat.  I started looking around to see what else I could do, and saw that Come From AWay was playing in Toronto this May.  I managed to snag two seats for the same price I would have paid for one in Boston.  Hamilton is supposed to be coming to Toronto next year, so I'll keep my eye out and maybe go then

[Cupcake]

I, too am a Hamilton maniac. I saw it in Chicago in December- well worth the money, but I did wait until the price came down from $700 to $500. It was a splurge, but it was my 60th birthday present to myself. Can't wait to go again!

[Riki]

Come From Away is a 40th birthday gift to me.. and an end of school year/about to start summer internship gift to me as well

[Simon Dog]

So, what type of internship did you get?   Sounds like congratulations are in order.

[Riki]

So, what type of internship did you get?   Sounds like congratulations are in order.

I haven't actually found anything yet, but I've got resumes in all over town.  I was kind of hoping that the Kidney Foundation would take me on for the summer, but their office manager left for another job and they are in a bit of upheaval at the moment.  I've called a couple of times, but never got a call back from them

[Simon Dog]

You could always develop a large condo complex with a dialysis unit; hire high pressure commissioned sales people to sell people the units one week at a time; offer some bogus "prize" from a "contest" that the winner must sit through a 90 minute sales presentation to collect; bus prospects from their hotel to the presentation so they cannot leave until you are done with them and hire an aggressive legal/collection team to go after people for maintenance fees while they try to resell their units on ebay for $1.

Ooops, probably not a great idea.

[kickingandscreaming]

And offer a luncheon with Donald Trump, Jr or Ivanka for the suckers who buy in.

[Riki]

Uh.. not sure if that would work well for 250 hours working with the public.  I applied at a couple of hotels and the tourism association.  I used to work for a company that had been hired to answer their information phone number, and it was fun.  They do that in house now, so I would love if I got hired on to do that