The Ten Show Commandments: Best Practices for Watching Hamilton live.
Hamilton is back at TPAC! This year we get the Angelica Tour and I’m excited to see several Asian cast members in principal roles! Keep reading for 10 best practices to watching this show live and you can click here for more FAQ from my older post from 2019/2020.
1: This is not a sing-along. Against all temptation please don’t sing out loud. Enjoy the show quietly, and let others enjoy it too!
2: You do have two chances to sing along but only at these two points during the show.
During my shot when John Laurens goes, “everybody sing!” You can sing along to the whoa-whoa/modem part.
During You’ll Be Back when KGIII says “everybody!” You can sing along to the “dadadada” parts. And that is it.
3: Feel free to applaud/cheer when: Hamilton steps on stage and says what his name is, when Hamilton and Jefferson say “immigrants we get the job done,” after the Yorktown dance break, when Jefferson makes his appearance and descends the stairs, and whenever you feel compelled because the show is just so damn good.
4: Put your phones away. No one wants your bootleg video and also it’s just rude.
5: Don’t compare this to other casts or the Disney+ production. The show is the show, and each tour brings their own talents to the roles and it’s still the same stellar musical you know and love.
6: You don’t want to miss the very start of act two so if, by intermission, you have to go to the bathroom do it towards the end of Non-Stop around the time everyone is singing (when Angelica and Eliza are both going “he will never be satisfied” and definitely before Ham says “I am not throwing away my shot” because you won’t miss much. It’s way better to be in your seat when the lights go down at Act 2. Or you can do what I do and just not drink anything and don’t go to the bathroom at all.
7: No need to rush off after the cast takes their bows - stick around and listen to the orchestra play their closing number because it’s a bop.
8: Look around, look around! I get asked about what details to look out for and honestly there’s so much going on it’s best (especially if it’s your first live performance) to take it all in. Don’t forget the surround (the upper level of the set) too - there’s things happening up there too.
9: Download the Hamilton app and try for the lottery to get tickets so you can see it again. There’s always more to notice each time you see it and it’s always interesting to see how each tour/cast plays the characters; the fact that the show never loses its charm and newness is something I love about Hamilton so if you can see it again for a lot less $$ thanks to the lottery you should do jt.
10: I don’t know if the tours are doing Stage Door. If they are, or if you see a cast member when you’re leaving the theater if you’re going to approach them please do so politely and know that they are not obliged to take a picture with you or sign anything. Odds are, they will oblige because they’re all good people, but just be respectful of their space and their time!
And if you don’t know now you know. Enjoy the show!
