TAMPA, Fla. — Who lives, who dies, who tells your story? For founding father Alexander Hamilton, it's Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Miranda's Hamilton debuted in 2015, and for the last four years, the hit Broadway musical has become just as big of a part of American history and culture as Hamilton's Federalist Papers. The show based on Ron Chernow's extensive Hamilton biography has garnered a renewed interest in history and culture, a massive fan base worldwide and a return on investment of about 600 percent.
All that from a hip-hop musical about the nation's first treasury secretary.
Tampa is the latest venue on Hamilton's U.S. tour, which include more than 20 stops nationwide. Before Tampa, the show was in Fort Lauderdale and Orlando.
Opening night is tonight at the Straz Center. The Tampa tour stop will have performances through March 10.
What to know before you go
It's not a regular show. It's a "cool" show.
Hamilton is definitely not a stuffy, pretentious show. Even if you've yet to see the production and have just listened to the soundtrack, you already know how much energy is in the music.
With a mix of rap, R&B and jazz all mixed and remixed with traditional musical theater, how could it not make you want to tap your feet along to the beat?
Hamilton is a fairly accurate portrayal of American history
Alexander Hamilton was born out of wedlock in a "forgotten spot in the Caribbean." He was also the aide to General George Washington, opposed slavery, was the first treasury secretary and publicly confessed to his affair to clear his name of financial scheming.
The other founding fathers like Washington and Thomas Jefferson were not multiracial, but Miranda has said he the casting of non-white actors was a conscious choice.
You can still get tickets to Tampa performances
The Straz Center said there are still tickets available for select performances through its website.
The #HAM4HAM lottery also kicked off Sunday, which allows you to enter to win a chance to buy $10 tickets. You can use the official Hamilton app or enter through the lottery website.
Lotteries open at 11 a.m. two days before the performance date and close at 9 a.m. the day before the show. Each winner is able to buy up to two tickets for a performance.
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