Hamilton bias
Hamilton bias
TerrenceIsTheMann
Broadway Star Joined: 9/28/15
#1Hamilton bias
Posted: 5/5/16 at 1:29am
There is a true Hamilton bias now when it comes to everything in the theater community. As a theater fan, people who recognize me for being a theater person always ask me about shows. Now, all I hear about is Hamilton. All I read is Hamilton. All I see is Hamilton. Do people realize there are other shows??? I am not saying in any way that Hamilton is bad, but there are other shows that are very good that are currently running. Plays including Long Days Journey Into Night and The Humans, and musicals from Shuffle Along to Waitress. I really don't put Hamilton on the pedestal over those other great shows, if you ask me.
#3Hamilton bias
Posted: 5/5/16 at 1:48am
After missing out on Hamilton at The Public (lots of lotto entries) I made sure to see it during Broadway previews. I love Hamilton - the story moved me and I listen to the music a lot. I've seen it twice and have additional tickets. But I am also sick of Hamilton. It's frustrating to me because it's a great show but it's been shoved so far down my throat that it's starting to put a bad taste in my mouth. I know that years from now that won't be what I remember but in the meantime I'm just trying to avoid reading or watching too much more about it.
You are correct Terrence that there is lots of other great work out there right now. Thankfully the theatre news outlets are covering them due to Tony season. It was almost refreshing to see the Drama Desk nominations without Hamilton eligible.
I have said all along that the attention on Hamilton would be positive for all of Broadway and I hope that's true. Is it? Or do the non-Broadway fans interested in Hamilton only care about Hamilton? It has certainly guaranteed added interest in the Tony awards this year and that may prove the ultimate test. Those new viewers won't be getting Hamilton tickets but will they go see other shows that they see perform? I sure hope so.
I like a good rhyme more than a good time
Updated On: 5/5/16 at 01:48 AM
aaaaaa15
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/31/15
#4Hamilton bias
Posted: 5/5/16 at 1:50am
I'm a huge Hamilton fan but I also like and respect other new shows. In my next trip to NYC, I am seeing Hamilton again but I'm also seeing She Loves me and Shuffle Along and am very excited for both. I don't think there are many true theatre fans that are only talking about Hamilton, that will be the people that don't know a lot about theatre but have heard a lot about the show. As well, when a show is so hard to get tickets for, it becomes more of a subject of fascination. People can't afford to see for themselves, so they ask others what its like, if its really that good etc.
Honestly, this hype is temporary. The show will be successful for a long time but once the Tonys are over, the OBC have left, the documentary and the mixtape have been released etc. it will all calm down. It's just been difficult to NOT talk about this show (especially if you have seen it and love it) when at the moment there's something new to get excited about all the time. (Grammys, Pulitzer, record breaking Tony noms etc). As well, the tours and the London production will open and the show will become more and more accessible.
I understand not everyone likes the show (there's never something that everyone likes) but for what they set out to do and set out to create, they did it almost perfectly. The show IMO deserves its success and its time in the spotlight and I never think its a bad thing when mainstream attention is focused on Broadway for once. It will be a long time before it happens again.
TerrenceIsTheMann
Broadway Star Joined: 9/28/15
#5Hamilton bias
Posted: 5/5/16 at 1:53am
Honestly, I really like, hell, I even love the show. It's just feeling like beating a dead horse now kinda like NJ was getting at.
#6Hamilton bias
Posted: 5/5/16 at 2:03am
Also I know people on here get annoyed with too many Hamilton threads but you can just choose not to read them. The annoying thing is when other threads get detailed by Hamilton discussion when there's no need! I almost lost it the other day when someone asked if Rory was better than Groff as King George in a thread about Tony performances (or a similar thread).
I like a good rhyme more than a good time
#7Hamilton bias
Posted: 5/5/16 at 2:05am
I think you have to accept the fact that Hamilton is the first Broadway musical in most of our adult lives to break through into the broader public consciousness, and on multiple levels. Those people you refer to don't care in the slightest about Shuffle Along or Waitress or anything else that's playing. I've seen Hamilton a few times but it still represents less than 1% of the shows I've seen since I first saw it and significantly less than 1% of the music I've listened to since it was released. It doesn't consume that much of my time, but I am happy it is being talked about as much as it is and happy to talk about it. I just don't get the resentment. Maybe some day someone can explain it to me.
Broadway Forever2
Leading Actor Joined: 3/7/16
#8Hamilton bias
Posted: 5/5/16 at 2:11am
Ok some of you guys really have to realzie that not everyone is as privileged as you and that Broadway is not a mainstream thing. Most people can't go to New York City regularly and don't have the money or time to see 6 shows a season. Hamilton has reached a larger audience than usually goes to Broadway. Anything that brings more attention to broadway is a good thing. You can simply ignore Hamilton news and threads if you are tired of it. Book of Mormon was similar that it captured mainstream interest as well, perhaps on a smaller scale though.
Updated On: 5/5/16 at 02:11 AM
#9Hamilton bias
Posted: 5/5/16 at 2:17am
NJ_BroadwayGirl said: "After missing out on Hamilton at The Public (lots of lotto entries) I made sure to see it during Broadway previews. I love Hamilton - the story moved me and I listen to the music a lot. I've seen it twice and have additional tickets. But I am also so sick of Hamilton. It's frustrating to me because it's a great show but it's been shoved so far down my throat that it's starting to put a bad taste in my mouth."
I will use your additional tickets if you're so sick of the show!
I actually think that compared to other new shows this season, Hamilton really deserves to be on a pedestal. Hell, it deserves it over most Broadway musicals of this century so far. I agree the constant onslaught of articles can be a little obnoxious but that doesn't cloud my opinion of the show. It's not the show's fault people can't stop talking about it.
"Contentment, it seems, simply happens. It appears accompanied by no bravos and no tears."
Updated On: 5/5/16 at 02:17 AM
Broadway Forever2
Leading Actor Joined: 3/7/16
#10Hamilton bias
Posted: 5/5/16 at 2:31am
Yeah I don't really put Hamilton on a "pedestal" but I personally don't live close to New York and can only see a few shows a year. People very rarely watch Broadway shows. Hamilton has just captured mainstream interst. The people who always ask you about Hamilton wouldn't have asked you about anything becaue most of he population has no idea what's playing on broadway.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#11Hamilton bias
Posted: 5/5/16 at 5:47am
So why start ANOTHER thread on the subject. There have been at least 3 or 4 talking about this very thing.
For people who are sick of it, you like to talk about it a lot. Don't fall for the click bait, don't open the threads.
People here talk about other shows all the time. As evidenced by the fact that until you opened this page, there were only two Ham threads actively being opened.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
Updated On: 5/5/16 at 05:47 AM
#12Hamilton bias
Posted: 5/5/16 at 6:45am
It will never cease to amuse me that so many on here complain that Broadway is ignored by the population in general but when one show manages to get mainstream interest, everyone gets so damn salty about it.
I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.
aaaaaa15
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/31/15
#13Hamilton bias
Posted: 5/5/16 at 6:48am
Yep and most people say it is one 'gateway' show that gets them into theatre in the first place. There is no reason why that wont be the case for Hamilton fans who don't know about Broadway. They will see/hear Hamilton, realize that they do enjoy musicals after all and want to check others out, therefore bringing more attention to Broadway in general.
#14Hamilton bias
Posted: 5/5/16 at 7:18am
I love Hamilton and all that it is doing for the community. That being said, I have a feeling the Tony Awards are going to show just how tired people are of the onslaught of Hamilton this year.
aaaaaa15
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/31/15
#15Hamilton bias
Posted: 5/5/16 at 7:22am
I understand that point but I also feel that if that were true they wouldn't have received that many nominations (including ones that even the biggest Hamilton supporters weren't sure they would get like Soo, Groff and Jackson).
#16Hamilton bias
Posted: 5/5/16 at 7:46am
wonderfulwizard11 said: "It will never cease to amuse me that so many on here complain that Broadway is ignored by the population in general but when one show manages to get mainstream interest, everyone gets so damn salty about it. "
This is how I feel about this, I'm like wait...so now we're upset theater art is being appreciated, celebrated, loved and thrust into the mainstream? I thought we were always upset about it being ignored and and treated as less than? I mean, think about it, the Tony's are probably going to see a huge ratings boost this year, because of Hamilton, and because of that, people who wouldn't normally pay attention, are going to be treated to performances by all those other wonderful shows that are happening right now, and of those people, some of them will have an interest sparked. I really don't see how anything but good can come from this Hamilton overload. (Literally theater fans are the only people I've seen complain about it, well you know aside from those that can't wrap their heads around a multi-racial cast, but those are the people who have more problems than not appreciating Broadway)
But like why are we getting upset that people LOVE something. There is so much hate and negativity in the world, and this is something that people are LOVING that is sparking happy and positive comments, why on earth would we want to try and squash that?
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#17Hamilton bias
Posted: 5/5/16 at 7:47am
ChildofEarth said: "I love Hamilton and all that it is doing for the community. That being said, I have a feeling the Tony Awards are going to show just how tired people are of the onslaught of Hamilton this year.
"
I don't understand this post at all. You think the voters won't vote honestly? That they'll purposely vote for an inferior choice just to "show 'em"?
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
#18Hamilton bias
Posted: 5/5/16 at 8:31am
The point I tried to make in the latter part of my post was that I love how Hamilton is bringing attention to Broadway and the arts (I had insomnia so I might now have made perfect sense). But, I wonder if the enthusiasm and attention will extend beyond Hamilton. I really, really hope it does.
I apologize if I came off as ungrateful for the attention rightfully being paid to something we all love (Notalwaysontime you put this very well). I think the overload just got to me this week. Maybe I got greedy because I want people to take interest in the other amazing art being produced too.
I really do hope Hamilton is the "gateway drug" into theatre for people (like Wicked or Rent) and that our community grows in a positive manner. The Tonys should be bigger this year and hopefully the shows that perform get a boost.
I like a good rhyme more than a good time
#19Hamilton bias
Posted: 5/5/16 at 8:31am
ChildofEarth said: "I love Hamilton and all that it is doing for the community. That being said, I have a feeling the Tony Awards are going to show just how tired people are of the onslaught of Hamilton this year."
I'm not clear if you mean this in terms of voting or viewing audience. In either case it'll only be a month before the embarrassment of being wrong will manifest for you. Or did you mean that CBS will be doing closeups of people in the audience nodding off during the broadcast?
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#20Hamilton bias
Posted: 5/5/16 at 8:50am
I only think those in the industry that are tired of it are people that are incredibly jealous of its success. (and I don't throw around the "jealously card" often.)
And people that come on these boards (and others like it) soaking up all sorts bway information. The general theater going audience is not oversaturated with articles. They aren't overkill in general publications.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
#21Hamilton bias
Posted: 5/5/16 at 8:55am
dramamama611 said: "ChildofEarth said: "I love Hamilton and all that it is doing for the community. That being said, I have a feeling the Tony Awards are going to show just how tired people are of the onslaught of Hamilton this year."
I don't understand this post at all. You think the voters won't vote honestly? That they'll purposely vote for an inferior choice just to "show 'em"?"
Yeah I certainly hope and expect that the voters have integrity and vote honestly as Dramamama is saying.
I like a good rhyme more than a good time
aaaaaa15
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/31/15
#22Hamilton bias
Posted: 5/5/16 at 8:56am
I also think the amount of friends that Lin (and other people working on the show) have in the Broadway community means the jealousy/resentment would be pretty minimal. It's not a Harvey Weinstein musical.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#23Hamilton bias
Posted: 5/5/16 at 9:00am
^Oh, I agree. (I don't know even know if there is any community/professional resentment.
Lin is constantly sharing the love with all of his guests on Ham4Ham. (as one example)
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
#24Hamilton bias
Posted: 5/5/16 at 9:00am
I didn't mean it as anything bad. I just meant (as someone - maybe Riedel?) said, that there is "Hamilton fatigue" among voters.
John Adams
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/1/13
#25Hamilton bias
Posted: 5/5/16 at 9:01am
ChildofEarth said: "I have a feeling the Tony Awards are going to show just how tired people are of the onslaught of Hamilton this year."
If Hamilton doesn't win in all its Tony categories, I don't think that implies "people are tired of onslaught". The acting categories, for instance, seem to be overly saturated with Hamilton nominees. That situation might divide/balance the votes enough for another actor to capture the category.
That doesn't mean people are tired of the show, though. The fact that those categories are Hamilton-heavy might indicate the opposite.
aaaaaa15
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/31/15
#26Hamilton bias
Posted: 5/5/16 at 9:04am
Riedel has been bitter about Hamilton from the start to be fair, he's tried his best to make things look bad for the show at various points.
