Look at this stuff! Isn’t it neat? Lin-Manuel Miranda performs next to Disney favorite composer, Alan Menken, in Hamilton’s first ever digital Ham4Ham show.
Let’s catch you up on the basics if you’re still trying to comprehend this whole Hamilton craze.
Before every performance of Hamilton in New York City, creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and his team open a lottery for those having trouble getting tickets for the oft-sold out show. It’s as simple as pulling names out of a giant bucket, and those who win will have their lives changed forever (this is written from experience).
Before select performances, Miranda & Co. will put together a little show featuring stars from Hamilton, friends from other shows, or celebrities who can be roped into such craziness. You can see every single Ham4Ham performance in this spectacular list curated by Vulture.
Because of the cold, Miranda decided to move inside for the winter. This means an online lottery (which is still working out its kinks) and indoor Ham4Ham shows. Friday night saw the first digital performance, and it’s no surprise that it was an absolutely spectacular one.
Miranda was joined by none other than Alan Menken, whose credits as a composer include classics such as Aladin, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and much, much more. The duo improvised a medley, with Menken on the piano and the pair singing to some of his most recognizable songs.
Miranda continues to knock it out of the park with these Ham4Ham shows. Not only has he highlighted the talents of his cast and his friends, but he’s put together versions of his songs that have surprised and delighted fans of Hamilton. (We particularly love the Schuyler Georges and the Ladies of Hamilton videos.)
Better yet, Miranda’s enthusiasm for everything he does rubs off on everyone around him, even those who can only see him and his performances through a computer screen. “I can die happy,” Miranda says at the end of the video. So can we, Lin. So can we.