HamilTEN

On Aug. 6, 2025, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s acclaimed musical “Hamilton” celebrated its 10-year anniversary, appropriately nicknamed “HamilTEN.” The musical is a hip-hop and R&B-influenced biography of Alexander Hamilton, “the ten-dollar founding father,” most known for developing the American financial system after the Revolutionary War. Through its purposefully diverse casting and emphasis on the founding fathers’ identity as immigrants, “Hamilton” reframes the Revolutionary War and relates it to the modern-day experiences of people of color and immigrants in America. Lin-Manuel Miranda described it as "America then, as told by America now." First presented publicly in 2009 to Barack Obama at the White House Evening of Poetry, Music and the Spoken Word, “Hamilton” has since received “near-universal critical acclaim” through its Off-Broadway shows and its nearly nine-year Broadway run.

When “Hamilton” first debuted at the Richard Rogers Theater on Broadway on Aug. 6, 2015, it was at a time when the issue of immigration was at the forefront of politics. This premiere came two months after President Donald Trump announced his first presidential candidacy. From the beginning, Trump ran on an anti-immigration platform. “Hamilton” presented a counter-narrative to this dialogue by reframing Alexander Hamilton, through the casting of Lin-Manuel Miranda, as an immigrant of color with prowess and drive. This is stated several times throughout the show through lines such as “by working a lot harder, by being a lot smarter, by being a self-starter,” and “immigrants, we get the job done.” “Hamilton” gave a voice to the positive impact of immigrants in America at a time when that was not the popular conversation.

“Hamilton” continued its political relevance on July 3, 2020, its five-year anniversary, when a professionally shot full-length recording of the musical was released on Disney+. It became one of the most-streamed films of 2020, with the American Film Institute naming it one of the best films of the year. The summer of 2020 was a year of heavy protests over racial injustice. By June 2020, every U.S. state had held a protest over the murder of George Floyd. As demonstrators called for racial justice and police accountability, the musical reflected this with its themes of revolution, resistance and representation.

By 2025, “Hamilton” still remains politically important as the musical’s 10-year anniversary arrives during President Donald Trump’s second term, amid renewed debates over immigration, national identity and historical memory. With policies targeting asylum seekers and undocumented immigrants back in the spotlight, “Hamilton” continues to offer a counternarrative that celebrates the immigrant experience as foundational to the American story.

Throughout its Broadway run, the “Hamilton” team continued the musical’s themes through its activism. After a performance on Nov. 18, 2016, in which Vice President-elect Mike Pence was in attendance, Brandon Victor Dixon, who was playing Aaron Burr at the time, addressed Pence in front of the audience with a statement co-written by Miranda and the cast, addressing concerns with the Trump Administration. Pence stated that he was not offended and listened to their concerns. However, Trump criticized them for "harassing" Pence and demanded an apology.

One of the most enduring initiatives tied to the show is the “Immigrants: We Get the Job Done” Coalition, a fund created in partnership with the Hispanic Federation. Established in 2017, the coalition has raised millions to support immigrant rights organizations, legal aid, and advocacy groups.

The team continued its activism in 2020 with the launch of #Ham4Progress, an initiative led by a group of Hamilton cast members and staff, dedicated to highlighting social justice causes and inspiring fans to take action through education and civic engagement. 

The Aug. 6, 2025, anniversary celebration, HamilTEN, consisted of an invitation-only performance and reception with Lin-Manuel Miranda and original cast members. The event raised funds for the Hispanic Federation's Immigrants: We Get The Job Done Coalition.

In a political climate where exclusionary rhetoric has resurfaced, “Hamilton” stands as both art and activism. It reminds audiences that change is possible and that anyone can make it happen. Ten years on, the musical continues to ask: “Who tells your story?”