Pretty much everybody knows about Hamilton.  Lin-Manuel Miranda’s distinctive show — which frames early American history through the lens of hip-hop, delivered by a diverse cast — has captured our hearts, along with a Pulitzer Prize and 11 Tony Awards. (Miranda was last year’s commencement speaker here at Penn.)

But Hamilton is also the latest in a distinguished list of American musicals which, since the 1920s, have dealt — sometimes critically — with our historic roots.  We often think of musicals as popular comedic entertainment — but works like Show Boat, Porgy and Bess, Oklahoma!, West Side Story, Hair and many others have played a serious and significant role in our cultural awareness.  

Tonight, we’ll explore  them in Rodin M30.

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