"" is going to be a movie featuring the original Broadway cast By Post, adapted by Newsela staff on 02.11.20 Word Count 596 Level 850L

Image 1. People line up to see the Broadway play "Hamilton" at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in on November 19, 2016. Photo: Bebeto Matthews/AP Photo

The hit musical "Hamilton" follows the life of . He was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. "Hamilton" also explores the meaning of democracy in America. The play will be turned into a movie. It is to be released on October 15, 2021. "Hamilton" won a Tony Award in 2016. Tony Awards are given to theater productions to recognize their excellence. They are considered the highest award in American theater.

The Walt Disney Company purchased the rights to the film. Lin-Manuel Miranda is the creator and star of the play. The film will star Miranda and the rest of the original Broadway cast. It was filmed four years ago during a live show in New York City. The musical has been performed in the same theater since 2015.

"Lin-Manuel Miranda created an unforgettable theater experience and a true cultural phenomenon, and it was for good reason that 'Hamilton' was hailed as an astonishing work of art," Bob Iger said in a statement. Iger is the head of Disney. "All who saw it with the original cast will

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. never forget that singular experience. And we're thrilled to have the opportunity to share this same Broadway experience with millions of people around the world."

The Broadway show covers Hamilton's life as a young man. It does this with groundbreaking hip- hop music and a cast of different races. It recounts Hamilton's role in the . It also portrays his relationship with George Washington, Aaron Burr and . Previously, Hamilton was mostly ignored in American history. In the most moving way, the play explains the ways Hamilton shaped the beginning of the U.S. government as the nation's first treasury secretary.

The Musical Received Many Awards

The musical was sparked by a 2004 book about Hamilton's life. The book is simply named "Alexander Hamilton" and is written by historian Ron Chernow. The musical won 11 Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for drama in 2016.

The filmed version of the musical is directed by Tommy Kail. He was the director of the original show.

"We are thrilled for fans of the show, and new audiences across the world, to experience what it was like onstage — and in the audience — when we shot this," Kail said in a statement.

Miranda said that it was "no secret" that the show had been filmed in June 2016. It was the week before the founding cast members began to leave the musical. Turning it into a movie everyone could see was about the timing, he said.

Original Cast Will Be In The Movie

"What I'm most excited about is there will be a point at which, you all have that friend who brags, 'I saw it with the original cast,'" Miranda said. "We're stealing that brag from everyone. Because you're all going to see it with the original cast."

Miranda said that he was excited to bring "Hamilton" to "the largest audience possible." Miranda starred in Disney's film "Mary Poppins Returns." He also wrote music for the animated film "Moana." He said that he was "so proud" to work with Disney.

Miranda listened to Disney's "The Little Mermaid," "Beauty and the Beast" and "Aladdin" as a kid. He says, "I fell in love with musical storytelling growing up."

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. Quiz

1 Read the introduction [paragraphs 1-4].

Select the paragraph that shows the MAIN topics of the musical "Hamilton."

(A) The hit musical "Hamilton" follows the life of Alexander Hamilton. He was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. "Hamilton" also explores the meaning of democracy in America. The play will be turned into a movie. It is to be released on October 15, 2021. "Hamilton" won a Tony Award in 2016. Tony Awards are given to theater productions to recognize their excellence. They are considered the highest award in American theater.

(B) The Walt Disney Company purchased the rights to the film. Lin-Manuel Miranda is the creator and star of the play. The film will star Miranda and the rest of the original Broadway cast. It was filmed four years ago during a live show in New York City. The musical has been performed in the same theater since 2015.

(C) "Lin-Manuel Miranda created an unforgettable theater experience and a true cultural phenomenon, and it was for good reason that 'Hamilton' was hailed as an astonishing work of art," Bob Iger said in a statement. Iger is the head of Disney. "All who saw it with the original cast will never forget that singular experience. And we're thrilled to have the opportunity to share this same Broadway experience with millions of people around the world."

(D) The Broadway show covers Hamilton's life as a young man. It does this with groundbreaking hip-hop music and a cast of different races. It recounts Hamilton's role in the American Revolution. It also portrays his relationship with George Washington, Aaron Burr and Thomas Jefferson. Previously, Hamilton was mostly ignored in American history. In the most moving way, the play explains the ways Hamilton shaped the beginning of the U.S. government as the nation's first treasury secretary.

2 Read the section "Original Cast Will Be In The Movie."

Which selection from this section shows WHY Disney is releasing a "Hamilton" movie?

(A) "We're stealing that brag from everyone. Because you're all going to see it with the original cast."

(B) Miranda said that he was excited to bring "Hamilton" to "the largest audience possible."

(C) He also wrote music for the animated film "Moana." He said that he was "so proud" to work with Disney.

(D) Miranda listened to Disney's "The Little Mermaid," "Beauty and the Beast" and "Aladdin" as a kid.

3 What caused Lin-Manuel Miranda to write the musical "Hamilton"?

(A) He was inspired by a book that he read about Alexander Hamilton's life.

(B) Hamilton was a character in some of his favorite childhood movies.

(C) Disney asked Miranda to write a musical they could turn into a movie.

(D) Miranda thought that Alexander Hamilton was often overlooked.

4 What effect did Alexander Hamilton have on U.S. history?

(A) He was friends with Thomas Jefferson during the American Revolution.

(B) He fought in the American Revolution and was the first treasury secretary.

(C) He wrote an autobiography that inspired Lin-Manuel Miranda to create a musical about his life.

(D) He was George Washington's close friend and vice president.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com.