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.
Well @MrJasonRBrown, you were right. The Universe hit me with a haymaker just now. http://t.co/63Z51zKs1v
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) June 17, 2015
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.
Yay Women! RIP, my "10 Dollar Founding Father" lyric! I hope they put Eliza on it. http://t.co/63Z51zKs1v — Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) June 17, 2015
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."