Broadway’s Richard Rodgers Theatre was full supporters of Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton July 12, including Hamilton creator and star Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Miranda exited the production July 9, but returned for the special July 12 matinee to introduce Clinton to a crowd who paid up to $100,000 for a special fundraising performance to benefit her campaign.
Include women in the sequel. #WORK @HillaryClinton pic.twitter.com/mRcX5GPGzs
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) July 12, 2016
During his introduction Miranda referenced Clinton’s Republican rival Donald Trump, asking the crowd, “Are you going to vote for the guy who wants to build a wall, or for someone who’s building bridges?” The speech was captured by the AP and can be viewed below.
He added, “Today you’ve heard from the first President of the United States. You’ve heard Hamilton talk smack about the second President of the United States. You’ve heard from the third President of the United States. You’ve heard from the fourth President of the United States, and right now you’re gonna hear from the 45th President of the United States. Here’s Hillary Clinton.”
In a post-show speech that touched on the musical’s themes, Clinton said, “It really is true that it matters whose stories are told and heard, and this powerful depiction of an immigrant’s story being told should remind all of us how many tens of millions of stories in our country deserve to be told and heard.”
Quoting from the score, Clinton added, “America’s best years are still ahead of us and that is really up to us to make sure that hope becomes a reality, so let’s not throw away our shot.”
Hillary Clinton Quotes Hamilton in Jab at Republican Rivals
The special 4 PM show was performed by the show’s new principals, led by Javier Muñoz, who took over the role of Alexander Hamilton from Miranda July 11. Coincidentally, Muñoz also performed at a fundraiser for President Barack Obama last summer when Muñoz was an alternate in the role.
Tickets for the July 12 performance were sold via a lottery that concluded June 30. The campaign promised to cover all travel and accommodations, and the winners also had a chance to meet Clinton. Tickets for the special performance ranged $2,700-$100,000.
Clinton saw the show during its Off-Broadway run at the Public Theater and has previously quoted from its lyrics in her speeches. She most recently saw the show again July 2.
