‘Hamilton’ leaves powerful historical impression on Phoenix-area youth

TEMPE, Arizona — Lin-Manuel Miranda’s award-winning musical “Hamilton” wrapped up its stay at Arizona State University’s Gammage Auditorium this week.

Some theatergoers paid hundreds of dollars for tickets — a price too high for many underprivileged students.

But thanks to a program known as EduHam, thousands of them were able to see the 11-time Tony award winning production.

“Often this will be the students’ only Broadway experience, first experience or only experience,” Colleen Jennings-Roggensack, Gammage’s executive director, said.

As part of the program, all 2,700 students had to come up with their own interpretation of the 1770s. They spent weeks immersing themselves in American history preparing for their chance on stage in front of the production’s cast and crew.

Isabel, a senior at ASU Prep Charter School, wrote a rap — “Hamilton” uses all hip-hop lyrics — for her performance.

“Without the right to religion, would we be allowed to pray,” she wrote. “Without the right to the press, we could be oppressed.”

As a Mexican-American, Isabel felt a personal connection to Miranda’s theme.

“Hamilton was an immigrant and he was able to do so much,” she said.

Ashley Yap, Isabel’s English teacher, was more excited to see the students’ work than Hamilton itself.

“Letting these students dive into the history themselves and choose what speaks to them is really cool to see,” she said.