One Day University with The Baltimore Banner

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton premiered Off-Broadway in early 2015 and quickly became one of the most celebrated and influential musicals of the 21st century. Based on Ron Chernow’s biography Alexander Hamilton, the show began (as did Hadestown and other highly successful stage works) as a concept album before developing into a musical that would make waves in the theater scene and beyond. The libretto is incisive and humorous (Miranda’s indebtedness to Sondheim is salient throughout), and the heterogeneous score includes substantial rap and hip-hop mixed with R&B, a smattering of jazz, and more traditional musical theater idioms. The result is a show peppered with infectious songs and lyrics that have burrowed into the ear of many a theatergoer. During this program, we will delve into the genesis of Hamilton, aspects of casting and performance, critical reception, and consider what the legacy of this remarkable show might end up being.

The American Revolution is this country’s founding moment. It marks the birth of a nation committed to the promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It’s a staple of school and college curriculums and as a result, most people know something about the American Revolution and about the Founding Fathers who signed the Declaration of Independence and led their thirteen colonies into a bold new future as the United States.

But the full story of the American Revolution requires us to look beyond the lives of Washington, Hamilton, Franklin, Adams, and Jefferson. This class focuses on all the things you might not have learned in high school or college about this great struggle for independence. It probes unexpected corners of this sprawling, eight-year war and expands its cast of characters substantially to include the typhoid-ridden immigrant corset-maker who wrote the pamphlet that gave colonists the confidence to believe they could beat Britain; the Massachusetts woman who disguised herself as a man so that she could serve in Washington’s Army; the enslaved stable hand at Mount Vernon who ran off to join the war and who ended up on the other side of the world; and the widow who became the most important Native American leader during the war. Studying their lives and exploits will reveal the breadth and depth of the sacrifices that the colonists made as they worked to turn a small-scale protest over the price of goods like tea into a fight for freedom.

Join author and food historian, Sarah Lohman, for a fascinating look at American food history and how certain flavors changed the way we eat. She’ll share three stories from her book, Eight Flavors: The Untold Story of American Cuisine, showcasing the diversity of America’s culinary culture. You’ll hear the story of James Hemings, the Black chef that helped introduce America to vanilla ice cream. Next, you’ll learn about the Chili Queens: entrepreneurial Mexican American women who sold chili on the plazas of San Antonio. Finally, she’ll share the story of Ranji Smile: a Muslim Indian immigrant who became one of America’s most famous chefs.