Theater History and Mysteries
The deepest dives you can find anywhere into the history and backstory of the great musical productions. Dense content...for people who aren't. And, I’ll never miss an opportunity to pursue any mystery, bizarre coincidence, improbable event, or supernatural suggestion along the way because, in the words of Dirk Gentley, it is all connected.
You can contact me directly at theaterhistorypodcast@gmail.com
Released every other Tuesday.
Music by Jon Bruschke and Andrew Howat, arranged, performed, and recorded by Andrew Howat.
Check out the interview on Musical Theater Radio, episode 404: https://www.musicaltheatreradio.com/podcast
Theater History and Mysteries
Hamilton -- All the things that led up to the duel (Hamilton 3 of 12 episode 40).
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You have seen the musical and you know how the story ends: Aaron Burr shoots Alexander Hamilton. This is the podcast where we ask big questions, so let’s ask the biggest of all: Why? Why did these two guys do it? There IS more to know about the whole event…why was dueling even a thing? It was the 11th duel Hamilton had been involved with…was that a little or a lot? But there’s a bigger, more existential question here. Did those guys hate each other that much? Was it the election of 1800, where Burr had a shot at being President but lost? Did it start earlier?
Not only did they not always hate each other, but their first meeting…was about as far from a duel as you can possibly get. And their first experience with a duel that involved each other…was also nothing that would lead you to think these guys were destined to shoot the most famous duel in American history.
Of all the guys in all of the revolutionary period, why were these two the ones so at odds that it ended with one of them killing the other?
I’m not sure I can answer all of it, but I’ll take my best shot on this episode of Theater History and Mysteries.