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Creator Of Hamilton Musical Outraged At Treasury Decision

‘The Universe hit me with a haymaker’

Lin-Manuel Miranda, director of 'HAMILTON' the musical / AP
June 18, 2015

The Treasury Department announced Wednesday that it would be making a new $10 bill, replacing Alexander Hamilton with a woman. The verdict knocked the creator of the musical "HAMILTON" off his feet.

Lin-Manuel Miranda, the lead Tony-winning star and writer of the Broadway musical, said he felt like his world was shattered after he read about the Treasury's decision.

Miranda’s musical depicts the rough upbringings and exceptional life of the founding father through a mixture of rap lyrics, hip-hop rhythms, and ballad-style storytelling. The current state of the $10 bill will cramp the storytelling style Miranda has achieved in his performance, he said.

The musical presents the life of Alexander Hamilton in a unconventional way and includes a rap-off to simulate the historic arguments of National fiscal policy and a freestyle describing his rise to prominence as, "Another immigrant, comin’ up from the bottom / His enemies destroyed his rep, America forgot him."

Viewers have found this performance style odd, but appealing. Peggy Noonan of the Wall Street Journal described it as a "musical whose sound is pure 2015 yet utterly appropriate to the tale. It is a masterpiece."

Miranda said he has loved the opportunity to tell Hamilton’s story, and that he acknowledges the responsibility that comes with it.

"I get to live a whole life every night for two hours and 40 minutes,"Miranda said. "History is long and it matters who tells your story. That lands with them."

Published under: Treasury Department