Disney+ News

[SaintsManiac]

People criticizing Lin Manuel for “over acting” not realizing that this production wasnt recorded with an empty audience and all of the actors on stage acting to the camera. Lin Manuel’s facial expressions are geared towards the fans in the back seats that cant see. Everything in the production is perfectly staged and choreographed. But haters are going to find problems with everything. I’m not surprised that people are finding the smallest details to nitpick just so they can be the outlier in a very well received production

Anyone who says that has no idea how theatre is supposed to be.

 

[OppR2nist]

So, I've seen Hamilton live and this recorded version. I have to say I was impressed both times I saw it. A funny thought occurred to me and I'll tell you all in a way that doesn't spoil anything.

Hamilton is a prequel to Annie. Now try to unsee it.

 

[chasgoose]

I mean to do it strictly for the ones they themselves are doing and own the rights to so that wouldn't be an issue. I also wound't expect it to be added while the show is going strong but something to be added later after it's off Broadway. With them owning it they wouldn't have to pay for the rights like Hamilton, just for the filming itself. I just think doing it ahead of time allows them to have it on hand if they decide they want to. Their older shows can't really have it done now with the sets being struck. Sometimes can happen unexpectedly too like with Frozen now.

I think Disney still sources outside producers for all of their shows/tours, albeit far less than a typical Broadway show. They would still need to get buy-in from those producers in order for any of that to happen and pay them for the theatrical rights. While I wouldn't be surprised if Disney does do a Hamilton-esque taping of one of the Frozen touring companies, there's still a lot of ingrained resistance to releasing filmed versions of shows from traditional Broadway investors. The Hamilton Disney+ release will help break that down a little bit, but the reality is that most Broadway shows aren't profitable and have such high fixed costs that anything that eats into the ticket sales/adds to the operating costs is a hard sell to producers. I think there might be less resistance to doing a similar taping for another hot show (not necessarily Hamilton hot, but still a show that will likely be profitable) in the future, but I think it's either going to take COVID desperation or a proof of concept with a show that's less of a behemoth than Hamilton before its widely accepted.

 

[Mit88]

Anyone who says that has no idea how theatre is supposed to be.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1279550462698696704

People just love attention so they’ll scrub scene by scene to find anything to have a negative opinion of, especially when it comes to something that’s largely beloved

 

[The Expert]

So, I've seen Hamilton live and this recorded version. I have to say I was impressed both times I saw it. A funny thought occurred to me and I'll tell you all in a way that doesn't spoil anything.

Hamilton is a prequel to Annie. Now try to unsee it.

I agree. The choreography and staging of the live production was captured well, but seeing it in person was that much more impressive. I'm glad to have seen it both ways. And I LOVE this notion and connection to Annie!

 

[OppR2nist]

I agree. The choreography and staging of the live production was captured well, but seeing it in person was that much more impressive. I'm glad to have seen it both ways. And I LOVE this notion and connection to Annie!

I'm totally kidding, but I said that to my wife as we were leaving the theater and she lost it. I usually make weird observations when we see a live show together, and they usually get me introuble.

 

[SaintsManiac]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1279550462698696704

People just love attention so they’ll scrub scene by scene to find anything to have a negative opinion of, especially when it comes to something that’s largely beloved

It’s a difference in their character. I’m confused why anyone would post such stupidity. I’m not talking about you, obviously.

 

[Mit88]

It’s a difference in their character. I’m confused why anyone would post such stupidity. I’m not talking about you, obviously.

Its clearly a tweet made by someone who has never been to a theatre production in their life

 

[jkh36619]

I see there is now a push to have Hamilton removed. Where does it all end...

 

[Liljo22]

I see there is now a push to have Hamilton removed. Where does it all end...

There isn't. Some sites are saying that #CancelHamilton is trending but it has not been in the top 30 all week.

 

[osufeth24]

Watched it over the weekend, was very hard to get into it at first. As someone else mentioned, having everything sung/rapped threw me off at first. Used to having some sort of regular dialogue inbetween songs. But once I got to Act II i started getting more into it. Re watched act 1 last night, and enjoyed it so much more now that I knew what was going on.

 

[Leigh L]

There isn't. Some sites are saying that #CancelHamilton is trending but it has not been in the top 30 all week.

I haven't heard that but saw on the news this morning that D+ had a crazy spike in downloads once Hamilton was released.

 

[OppR2nist]

I heard they are going to replace the Thomas Jefferson animatronic with one of Daveed Diggs. (Sorry, it was too funny for me not to say it. )

 

[osufeth24]

I heard they are going to replace the Thomas Jefferson animatronic with one of Daveed Diggs. (Sorry, it was too funny for me not to say it. )

I didn't care for it first, but as it went on, I found it more and more hilarious/awesome

 

[OppR2nist]

I didn't care for it first, but as it went on, I found it more and more hilarious/awesome

I was making a joke about the Hall of Presidents.

 

[osufeth24]

I was making a joke about the Hall of Presidents.

I know, I just meant his portrayal of Jefferson. I wasn't caring for it during the play, but as it went on, I loved it

 

[TwoMisfits]

I love Hamilton. Anything that brings to light to a younger generation part of our history and it's issues is worth having. I loved 1776 (the musical) and still do. While move mature in subject matter and language, I'm glad its on Disney +.

Also Christopher Jackson as Washington is phenomonal. One Last time is my favorite song. IT makes me very emotional

The Georges (Washington and the king) stole the show. I found Hamilton mediocre, and couldn't help but feel a play about Washington ending with that song would have made for a much more dramatic arc and play.

As it was, there was very good direction, a lot of innovative scenes, 2-3 good songs...and a meandering plot that just seemed to lose the forest for the trees. The story never really built, but just lost steam and focus in the 2nd act...the writing focus was so much on catchy songs and lyrics and tying musical styles together that they forgot to actually build a story (and yes, I know Hamilton's life tends to peter out and end with a whimper, but they were already changing history in the play, so either change it more to write the great story...or write the Washington play b/c his arc is so much better)...

 

[jkh36619]

There isn't. Some sites are saying that #CancelHamilton is trending but it has not been in the top 30 all week.

Good.

 

[rteetz]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1280883733130653701

 

[NWOhiogal]

I've never seen Hamilton live, but I'm familiar with the soundtrack and the staging through "totally not a bootleg I got online."

Having now seen the official filmed version, I give it a pretty solid 7 1/2 out of 10.

SPOILERS!

Lin-Manuel Miranda is a genius at his craft. He creates fantastic songs and weaves tapestries of rhyme most people coudn't begin to even attempt. The staging and choreography are first rate. The cast is amazing and everyone inhabits their characters perfectly.

That said, I agree that the plot kind of meanders in the second act and never quite solidifies into a single narrative thread. Personally I think part of the reason for this is that Miranda pulls a switcheroo: after having 95% of the show be the story of Alexander Hamilton AS TOLD BY Aaron Burr (much the same way the story of Mozart is told by Salieri in Amadeus), in the very last scene Miranda switches and makes it all about Eliza. Eliza is great and she was obviously important to Hamilton's legacy, but I wonder if the show wouldn't have been stronger if they'd ended it with Burr's realization that "the world was wide enough for both Hamilton and me." Eliza, while a great person, had up until the very end been a supporting character; pushing her to the front just seemed awkward to me.

Some people have said the dancers are more of a distraction than anything else and the musical didn't need them. I can certainly see that argument as there were several times when I found the dancers weren't needed to get the point of the number across ("The Room Where it Happened" and "Wait for It", for example.) They were used to great effect in many places, but I'm not sure they worked in every single scene.

Also...the spit. Ugh. Anyone who's seen the film knows what I'm talking about. It was gross, unnecessary and should have been reshot. Points taken off for the spit.

Hamilton is creative, energetic, and a lot of fun. Is it the best musical I've ever seen? No. It's sometimes a little too clever for its own good and I'm not sure how well it's going to age. Somehow I can't see teenagers in 20 years rapping "Guns and Ships" in their high school auditoriums. Or if they do, it's going to have the same quaint feel that teenagers singing hippie songs in Godspell has today. A product of its time to be sure, but timeless? We'll see.