It has been 10 years since Lin-Manuel Miranda debuted a very unique musical about one of America’s founding fathers – Alexander “Hamilton”.
Still packing the house each night, the show will officially celebrate a decade of performances with a special night invite only event on August 6; a night that Miranda is also using as a fundraising event for organizations that provide immigration services. Miranda is looking to raise some $3 million for the 14 nonprofit organizations including We Get the Job Done Coalition, Hispanic Federation and National Immigration Law Center to the Haitian Bridge Alliance and the Tahirih Justice Center.
Donations will come form Miranda himself, the Miranda Family and Miranda Family Fund, and cast members of the musical “Hamilton”.
Noting that Hamilton himself would not have considered himself an immigrant, Miranda spoke on the fundraising event sayin,g “it seemed like a fitting tribute to ‘Hamilton’ and its inspiration, Alexander Hamilton. His narrative in our country kind of mirrors that of an immigrant story. He did not grow up here. He didn’t come from England. He came from the Caribbean, escaping harsh circumstances. And he really helped shape this country.”
Noting that the audience will be “stacked”, Miranda said that every person who has ever appeared in the Broadway show is invited to sit in the audience and watch the current cast. Miranda noted, “we’re working on something special for the curtain call and another nice special thing after that. That’s about all I can say.” Audience members will also include people who have made contributions to Miranda’s fundraising efforts.
Of Latin heritage himself, Miranda noted, “one of America’s greatest exports — at least for me growing up — was the immigration narrative. So many people I know… came to this country from somewhere else seeking a better life and then helped make this country better by being here. And I believe that’s one of the greatest promises, one of greatest things about the American experiment, and I’ll continue to fight for that and support organizations that are helping that cause.”
In recent months the immigrant community has been turned upside down with the current White House administration looking deport anyone they deem as “an illegal” (or undocumented) person. Since the onslaught of the “Mass Deportation Now!” campaign, legal immigrants and citizens have also been ensnared in the roundups.
Heartened by the donations to Lin-Manuel Miranda’s fundraising efforts, President and CEO of the Hispanic Federation Frankie Miranda (no relation) said,3 “I think it is the beginning of what could be an incredible movement of philanthropy and individual donors basically saying, ‘Enough is enough’. We have seen it also in the different demonstrations of people around the country where they are expressing their concern and their frustration out in the streets.”
He added, “we need bold ideas like ‘Hamilton’ where everybody feels that they can stand behind it.”
Asian Law Caucus executive director Aarti Kohli noted, “at this time, when so many people are afraid to speak out and support vulnerable communities, Lin-Manuel Miranda being willing to use the ‘Hamilton’ platform just shows real leadership and bravery. And I’m hoping that more donors will step up and support our sector. We are the firewall between authoritarianism and democracy.”
Saying it was, “a bulwark against unconstitutional actions carried out by this administration”, president of the Nation Immigration Law Center Kica Matos noted it was a “full circle moment to use funding generated by the story of one of our nation’s Founding Fathers who himself was an indigent immigrant, who through his own grit, determination and his brilliance, worked his way up. He was somebody who thought deeply about this new nation’s democracy. What better way to honor Hamilton and to express our gratitude for these resources?”
The show includes the line: “Immigrants, we get the job done!”
“I thought it was no big deal,” said Miranda. “But from the moment it was performed on stage, the audience reaction was so joyous at just the utterance of that simple fact. It’s one of the things that just heartens me and gives me hope. In these dark times, it still gets a big cheer.”
Even the Major League Baseball team the New York Yankees is getting in on the 10th anniversary celebration with a special cap.
For the August 25 game at Yankee Stadium against the Washington Nationals, the first 10,000 fans through the gates will receive a special baseball cap featuring both the Yankees and “Hamilton” logos.
Original George Washington from “Hamilton” Christopher Jackson will sing the National Anthem and for the singing of “God Bless America” in the seventh inning will be performed by “Hamilton” cast members Stephanie Umoh, Morgan Anita Wood, and Cherry Torres.
Tony Award winning performer Renee Elise Goldsberry will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.