Miranda's Role In Modern Theatre

The next element to consider is narrator. Certainly some of the story is told directly through the words and actions of the character, but there is broad use of mediation, as well. In this production, the role of narrator is one that changes regularly. Modern and postmodern theatre have long used shifting narration, which accepts the role of subjectivity in the narration delivered (Richardson, 2006). A case could be made that the primary narrator is Burr since he is the first storyteller we meet and his narration recurs most frequently. Each principal character steps into role of narrator, however. The role of narrator is very noticeable for an audience, as the narrator often addresses the audience directly, as Washington does in the “Cabinet
The musical is comprised predominantly of hip hop and the speed with which he writes adds a great deal of energy and urgency to the show. If Hamilton were performed at the same rate as Phantom of the Opera, the show’s run time would more than double (Libresco, 2015). The speed and added interest of hip hop likely draws in an audience in addition to the typical. The casting is also different in that it is far more multi-ethnic than is common. Only King George III is traditionally played by a white actor.2 Miranda wanted the more contemporary sound to be reflected in a cast that looked more like modern America (McCarthy, 2015). This choice serves to reduce the distance between the show and its broader potential audience. The white performers in the Chicago production all have international or minority heritage. These choices serve to appeal to a new, atypical audience. Likely the average Broadway audience member is easy to convince because they want to go to the popular show they have heard of while in town. Hamilton will meet that need and, once in the space, the typical audience will benefit from the adaptations without being marginalized in any