But it’s not the first time in the White House for the musical’s creator and lead Lin-Manuel Miranda. Michelle Obama attended the performance off-Broadway in April of 2015 and the president followed up attending a matinee performance that July.
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“Hamilton”, the Broadway phenomenon that features Ronks native and Conestoga Valley High School graduate Jonathan Groff, will be performed at the White House today.
The unlikely musical hit features a diverse cast recounting the life of Alexander Hamilton, the US founding father and first USA treasury secretary. “That’s what makes America so great”.
“So you’ll memorize these raps and then you’re like, I know too much about like, Aaron Burr like all of a sudden, cause I’ve listened to this song”, one student said. “We’re not yet finished”.
Referencing a line from the show – “I’m just like my country – young, scrappy and hungry”, the president continued, “We’re full of energy and perpetually young in spirit”.
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The White House hosted a history lesson Monday. Obama and the first lady have been major boosters of the show, in which an African-American and Latino cast play historical figures who were, of course, white. “Hamilton, I’m pretty sure, is the only thing that Dick Cheney and I agree on”, he cracked. “Lin-Manuel, if you have any ideas for a show about congress for example, we could use your help”.
