Hello, everyone! As you probably know if you follow me either on Twitter or Instagram, I had the opportunity to see Hamilton’s “And Peggy” tour last week.
When Lin-Manuel Miranda said he would bring Hamilton to Puerto Rico, I was sceptical about the chances I would have to see it. (Especially if he would play the role one more time!)
Last year I had the chance to buy one ticket. (Immediately after I bought it I checked if it was transferrable because I would be going alone!) I felt kind of guilty because my friends also wanted to go, but I did not have the chance to buy some for them. (The online tickets sold incredibly fast!)
But, as A. Ham himself says,
I am not throwing away my shot!
So there I was. Not having any idea what to do, how I would get there, but I was going to see the musical I first fell in love with! My friend offered me a ride –I’m still immensely grateful to him! –and that was that, I would see Hamilton, in my island, on Wednesday, January 16. (And no. I had no idea it was Lin-Manuel’s birthday back then, which probably makes me a terrible fan)
Fast-forward to exactly one week ago: The day arrived (I hardly had any sleep the night before- I was that excited). I found out my friends had arrived on time to buy the students’ matinee tickets! (So yeah- this made me even happier- I felt a bit guilty that they would not be able to go)
I took my classes, put myself together with the help of some of my friends (<3) and that was that. I arrived at the theater 2 hours before showtime:
Got my tickets, took a few selfies:
And waited with two students who had won the lottery. (I’m so glad I met you, Monica and Orlando! I was feeling lonely and I hope I wasn’t that awkward).
The time came to enter the theater, I bought a T-shirt, and waited for the show to start.
Here’s the deal: They do not prepare you for the time when the first note starts, when you finally see your favorite songs being performed, when LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA APPEARS ON THE STAGE singing ALEXANDER HAMILTON and the whole theater starts screaming and the applause doesn’t stop.
I wish I could describe how the performances felt.
How it felt to see Angelica Schuyler singing about an instant attraction that wouldn’t trump her love for her sister. (This performance? An instant favorite. THAT REWIND!)
How it felt to see Eliza singing her heart out as she finds out about her husband’s affair.
Her piercing scream once her son dies.
The feeling when you know it’s going to end, when you do not want it to end, but it does. And you see these people who love what they’re doing with their whole heart.
When Lin-Manuel takes his Puerto Rican flag out, with pride and love for this island that has gone through so much pain, but has become so much more than that.
When he goes out one last time as the whole theater sings “Happy Birthday”, off-key, in both English and Spanish.
I never imagined how incredible everything, from the lighting, to the moving stage, to the choreography, and the music, would be. And how amazing it would be to see the whole story unfold before my eyes.
Look. Hamilton is an experience I never thought I would have. It’s something that will stay with me forever. And I am so infinitely grateful to Lin-Manuel Miranda and the whole company for making this possible, for us. For Puerto Rico.
Thank you.
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