Hamilton's Education Program continues its third year in Chicago
Wed. March 13, 2019 7:44 AM
1,900 students and teachers attend performance at CIBC Theatre
Chicago, IL -
On March 13, 2019, 1,900 students and teachers from 29 Chicagoland area high schools will attend the matinee performance of the Hamilton musical at Broadway In Chicago's CIBC Theatre (18 W. Monroe Street).
The performance is the second of the 2018/2019 school year of three all-student matinee performances that will provide more than 5,000 Chicago high-school students the opportunity to experience the musical Hamilton after having spent several weeks in their classrooms studying American history through a special integrated curriculum about Alexander Hamilton and the nation's Founding Fathers.
In addition to seeing a performance of Hamilton, the Chicago students will participate in a Q&A with members of the Hamilton cast. As well, students representing various schools in attendance will perform an original work they created based on their classroom studies – songs, rap, poetry, scenes, monologues – on the CIBC Theatre stage in front of their peers.
Hamilton producer Jeffrey Seller, who was instrumental in developing the Hamilton Education Program, says about the program in Chicago, "Our goal is to ensure that students have a shot to see Hamilton and use its words, music and staging to further their understanding and enjoyment of American History, music and drama. We've had the pleasure of expanding the education program outside of New York in Chicago and other cities around the country."
The Hamilton Education Program is one of several history education programs at the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. Its president, James G. Basker – who devised the education program in New York in tandem with Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, producer Jeffrey Seller, The Rockefeller Foundation and the NYC Department of Education – adds, "This project is transformative. Hamilton has struck a chord with our nation's students because it embodies what great history education is all about: bringing the past to life, and fostering connections with the exceptional individuals and moments that have made us who we are. This program empowers students to reclaim their own narrative and empowers teachers to bridge classroom learning with the stage."
The Hamilton producers are making tickets for this educational partnership available for $70, $60 of which is subsidized by an Anonymous donor, the Lloyd A. Fry Foundation, and the Polk Bros. Foundation. Tickets will cost $10 for each student.
Schools participating in the March 13, 2019 program include:
21st Century Charter School
ACE Amandla Charter High School
Alexander Hamilton High School
Aspira Business and Finance High School
Baker College Prep
Berrien Springs High School
Crete Monee High School
Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep
Elgin High School
Fenger Academy High School
Foundations College Prep
George Rogers Clark Middle/High School
Golder College Prep
Horizon Science Academy Southwest Chicago
James Whitcomb Riley High School
Jefferson High School
Kenwood Academy
Muhammad University of Islam
Reuther Central High School
Rowe-Clark Math and Science Academy
Sarah E. Goode STEM Academy
Sor Juana Ines De La Cruz - ACERO Schools
Steinmetz College Prep
Theodore Roosevelt High School
Thornton High School
Waukegan High School
Waverly Senior High School
Wendell Phillips High School
Wheeling High School
The Rockefeller Foundation provided an initial grant of $1.46 million that funded the educational partnership in New York City. After the resounding success of the partnership, the Foundation committed an additional $6 million to the effort to support the program's national expansion.
Hamilton is the story of America's Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, an immigrant from the West Indies who became George Washington's right-hand man during the Revolutionary War and was the new nation's first Treasury Secretary. Featuring a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, blues, rap, R&B, and Broadway, Hamilton is the story of America then, as told by America now.
With book, music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, direction by Thomas Kail, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler and musical supervision and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire, Hamilton is based on Ron Chernow's biography of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton.
The Hamilton creative team previously collaborated on the 2008 Tony Award ® Winning Best Musical IN THE HEIGHTS.
Hamilton features scenic design by David Korins, costume design by Paul Tazewell, lighting design by Howell Binkley, sound design by Nevin Steinberg, hair and wig design by Charles G. LaPointe, casting by Telsey + Company, Bethany Knox, CSA, and General Management by Baseline Theatrical.
The musical is produced by Jeffrey Seller, Sander Jacobs, Jill Furman and The Public Theater.
The performance is the second of the 2018/2019 school year of three all-student matinee performances that will provide more than 5,000 Chicago high-school students the opportunity to experience the musical Hamilton after having spent several weeks in their classrooms studying American history through a special integrated curriculum about Alexander Hamilton and the nation's Founding Fathers.
In addition to seeing a performance of Hamilton, the Chicago students will participate in a Q&A with members of the Hamilton cast. As well, students representing various schools in attendance will perform an original work they created based on their classroom studies – songs, rap, poetry, scenes, monologues – on the CIBC Theatre stage in front of their peers.
Hamilton producer Jeffrey Seller, who was instrumental in developing the Hamilton Education Program, says about the program in Chicago, "Our goal is to ensure that students have a shot to see Hamilton and use its words, music and staging to further their understanding and enjoyment of American History, music and drama. We've had the pleasure of expanding the education program outside of New York in Chicago and other cities around the country."
The Hamilton Education Program is one of several history education programs at the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. Its president, James G. Basker – who devised the education program in New York in tandem with Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, producer Jeffrey Seller, The Rockefeller Foundation and the NYC Department of Education – adds, "This project is transformative. Hamilton has struck a chord with our nation's students because it embodies what great history education is all about: bringing the past to life, and fostering connections with the exceptional individuals and moments that have made us who we are. This program empowers students to reclaim their own narrative and empowers teachers to bridge classroom learning with the stage."
The Hamilton producers are making tickets for this educational partnership available for $70, $60 of which is subsidized by an Anonymous donor, the Lloyd A. Fry Foundation, and the Polk Bros. Foundation. Tickets will cost $10 for each student.
Schools participating in the March 13, 2019 program include:
21st Century Charter School
ACE Amandla Charter High School
Alexander Hamilton High School
Aspira Business and Finance High School
Baker College Prep
Berrien Springs High School
Crete Monee High School
Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep
Elgin High School
Fenger Academy High School
Foundations College Prep
George Rogers Clark Middle/High School
Golder College Prep
Horizon Science Academy Southwest Chicago
James Whitcomb Riley High School
Jefferson High School
Kenwood Academy
Muhammad University of Islam
Reuther Central High School
Rowe-Clark Math and Science Academy
Sarah E. Goode STEM Academy
Sor Juana Ines De La Cruz - ACERO Schools
Steinmetz College Prep
Theodore Roosevelt High School
Thornton High School
Waukegan High School
Waverly Senior High School
Wendell Phillips High School
Wheeling High School
The Rockefeller Foundation provided an initial grant of $1.46 million that funded the educational partnership in New York City. After the resounding success of the partnership, the Foundation committed an additional $6 million to the effort to support the program's national expansion.
Hamilton is the story of America's Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, an immigrant from the West Indies who became George Washington's right-hand man during the Revolutionary War and was the new nation's first Treasury Secretary. Featuring a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, blues, rap, R&B, and Broadway, Hamilton is the story of America then, as told by America now.
With book, music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, direction by Thomas Kail, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler and musical supervision and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire, Hamilton is based on Ron Chernow's biography of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton.
The Hamilton creative team previously collaborated on the 2008 Tony Award ® Winning Best Musical IN THE HEIGHTS.
Hamilton features scenic design by David Korins, costume design by Paul Tazewell, lighting design by Howell Binkley, sound design by Nevin Steinberg, hair and wig design by Charles G. LaPointe, casting by Telsey + Company, Bethany Knox, CSA, and General Management by Baseline Theatrical.
The musical is produced by Jeffrey Seller, Sander Jacobs, Jill Furman and The Public Theater.