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I listened to the cast album on repeat all summer. I spent a solid quarter of my salary from my summer job on the most expensive ticket on Broadway. I was finally about to achieve my dream and see the show I spent a year of my life obsessing over; I was about to see Hamilton live on Broadway.

Prior to seeing the show, I was a bit disheartened as the original cast members dropped like flies, one by one leaving the show to move on to other projects. First the show’s creator, Lin, and then all the other cast members who originated the roles I had come to love through listening to the cast album.

Nevertheless, I spent my wad of cash to see the show that I had come to love so much just through listening to the songs. Anyone who knows me is probably familiar with my love for history, and although the combination of the history of the founding fathers and contemporary hip hop seemed a bit strange at first, I came to realize the musical genius that Lin Manuel’s creation truly was.

Simply by listening to the cast album one can appreciate the  reoccurring themes that Manuel weaves throughout the show, and the musical artistry that tells the story of Hamilton and his comrades in a way that anyone can appreciate.

The plot is not only understandable, but it’s relatable for you, your parents, and your grandma alike in the show’s depictions of love, ambition, and legacy. Even the political gridlock that occurred at the time and some of the debates between Jefferson and Hamilton are quite relatable to today’s political climate.

Ok, we get it, it’s an awesome show. But was the hot ticket really worth breaking the bank? For a huge Hamilton fan like myself, yes it was. The new cast members did a fantastic of portraying the roles that fans love, with musical talent and acting skills that made the songs from the cast album come to life before me.

The energy and talent that I was lucky enough to experience first hand far exceeded the experience of merely listening to the songs on my iPhone. Plus, for any SNL fans- Taran Killam is playing King George right now.

If you’re not already a fan and you’re not in the mood to fork over the money, listen to the cast album for some sweet, 90% historically accurate tunes. Any Hamilton fans or history buffs should see the show live to experience the hype first hand.