Hit Dramatic, Comedic Musical ‘Hamilton’ Wins Pulitzer Prize

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This afternoon, it was announced that Lin-Manuel Miranda’s smash-hit dramatic, comedic musical Hamilton won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The hip-hop historical musical beat out finalists The Humans by Stephen Karam and Gloria by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins. Yes it looks like the musical that has turned high profile comedians like Amy Schumer and Jim Carrey into giant tippers, and inspired a sketch on Inside Amy Schumer Season Four, is getting some serious recognition.

The musical follows the life of Alexander Hamilton, from his time as an orphaned child, through his college education, his joining the militia during the Revolutionary War and ascension through the ranks to a top aide to General Washington, his appointment to the head of the U.S. Treasury, and up to his eventual death in a duel against Vice President Aaron Burr. The musical’s appeal owes in large part to it’s broad reach; the performance is a blend of history, music, comedy, romance, action, and drama. Miranda manages to take a story about a white guy, surrounded by white people from over 200 years ago, fill the roles of said white people with Puerto Rican, African American and Asian American actors, throw a little hip-hop into the mix, and come out on the other side with a truly touching, thrilling, and poignant story that creates a bridge between the drama of the past and the present.

The spark for Hamilton first came in 2008, when Miranda read a biography of Alexander Hamilton while on vacation. The man’s life story, a rags-to-riches tale of an orphan who rose to greatness using his wits, only to die tragically, read as a type of hip-hop story to Miranda. He toiled for years on the musical, performing songs from the soundtrack as early as 2009, before premiering off Broadway (and then on Broadway) last year. In that short time, the musical has received rave reviews and been seen by such high-profile characters as Michelle Obama, Bernie Sanders, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Busta Rhymes and Q-Tip, among others.

Other winners include the Associated Press (for Public Service,) The Los Angeles Times Staff (for Breaking News Reporting,) and author Viet Thanh Nguyen and his book The Sympathizer (for Fiction.) For a full list of the winners and finalists, click here.

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Bill Tressler

Bill is a writer and comedy enthusiast from New York. An avid gamer and podcast fan, he strives to always toe the line between charming irreverence and grating honesty.
Bill Tressler
Bill Tressler
Bill is a writer and comedy enthusiast from New York. An avid gamer and podcast fan, he strives to always toe the line between charming irreverence and grating honesty.