In 2015, the musical Hamilton turned the American founding fathers into rapping, singing, guns-ablazing pop culture icons. The critically acclaimed Broadway musical had the cultural zeitgeist in its tight, gloved grasp, as fans around the world obsessively mouthed along to its songs that flowed less like traditional musical theater ditties and more like hard rap diss tracks. Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda (and the original 10-dollar founding father himself) had let loose a cultural behemoth, gifting audiences worldwide with a musical that resonated with our feelings on identity, revolution, and legacy.
While Hamilton draws heavily from the early days of American history and makes clear parallels with the country’s more recent politics, the musical has definitely found purchase among its strong, loyal Filipino fanbase. In 2016, Pinoy “Hamilfans” created a dedicated Facebook group to share their love for the musical and promote any Hamilton-centric events in their different neighborhoods. As of writing, the group is currently still active and has more than 12,000 members.
During the 2016 elections, the political themes of Hamilton intersected with Filipino politics as fans launched the viral hashtag #Ham4Halalan, using it to record campaign events and the election while pairing them with lyrics from the musical. “The musical explores themes of leadership and legacy,” said Filipino actress Rachelle Ann Go, who played Eliza Schuyler in the 2017 West End production of Hamilton and in the 2023 Philippine premiere of Hamilton, in an interview with Billboard. “Filipinos, especially the youth, can learn about responsible leadership and the impact individuals can have on shaping the future of their nation.”
The 2023 Philippine run of the musical saw critical acclaim, with critics calling it “a visual and sensory feast,” a feat of “astonishing stagecraft,” and a production so captivating that its three-hour runtime was easily forgiven as audiences gave the show its “guaranteed standing ovation.”
Hamilton has also seen several Filipino actors grace the stage as part of its talented ensemble cast. In 2018, Marc dela Cruz became the first Filipino-American to take on the role of the titular character for its Broadway production. At the same time, dela Cruz also performed as Philip Hamilton, Philip Schuyler, James Reynolds, John Laurens, and King George. Before Go joined the musical’s Philippine production, she also performed as Eliza Schuyler in the West End production of Hamilton from 2017 to 2019. For her performance, Go earned the title of Best Actress at the 2018 West End Awards.
“I think the themes of revolution, freedom, and resilience in the face of adversity mirror aspects of Filipino history, making the musical relatable,” said Go.
