Musical Experience: Hamilton in Manila (I didn't throw away my shot!)
- Donnut Moonyap
- Nov 18, 2023
- 6 min read
Updated: May 27
Watching Hamilton live in Manila at Solaire last Sunday, Nov 12, genuinely felt like one of those moments my younger self would never believe actually happened.
Growing up, watching live theater was always part of our grade school field trips, so theaters have always felt familiar to me. I grew up sitting in dark auditoriums watching actors sing their hearts out onstage while all of us kids tried to act mature for two hours straight. But despite all of that, this was actually my first time watching a musical live alone.
And honestly? It was kind of terrifying.
Not because of the musical itself, obviously, but because I’ve been really anxious lately, and the thought of commuting, aka Grab, to the theater alone already stressed me out for days. I was scared to drive there alone, so I basically spent the entire day fighting for my life internally over transportation. Very glamorous! Very independent girly of me!
What made everything even more chaotic was the fact that I almost didn’t get tickets at all.
I was so caught up in school and drowning in plates that I completely lost track of the ticket-selling date. By the time I remembered and rushed to buy one, it was already sold out.
And yes, of course, I cried a little bit.
Then I did what every desperate theater kid does: I started searching for resellers online like my life depended on it. And somehow, against all odds, guess where I found a ticket?
Twitter.
Looking back now, I genuinely cannot believe I trusted a random person on Twitter with my money because that could have gone SO badly. I didn’t even fully realize how suspicious the entire situation was at the time or how huge the possibility of getting scammed actually was. But somehow.. I didn’t get scammed! Yay! The ticket was real! Everything worked out, so I took that as a sign that maybe I was meant to watch this musical live.
The entire experience already felt unreal before I even entered the theater.
My outfit was also very last-minute because, once again, school and plates consumed my entire existence that week. I didn’t really get the chance to fully dress up the way I wanted to, but I still pulled something together at the last minute and called it a win.
While getting ready, I put on the soundtrack and just vibed around my room pretending I was emotionally stable for a few hours. I was singing along, fixing my outfit, trying not to panic about being late, and simultaneously reminding myself that yes, I was actually about to watch Hamilton live in a few hours.
The second I got to Solaire, all the anxiety slowly started turning into excitement. And as soon as I walked into the theater and saw the set for the first time, I immediately wanted to cry.
I think that was the exact moment everything finally hit me. After years of only hearing the soundtrack through headphones and watching the proshot in Disney+, seeing the actual stage right in front of me felt almost overwhelming in the best way possible. The wooden set, the lighting, the atmosphere–everything suddenly felt real.
There’s something so comforting about being surrounded by people who love theater as much as you do. Everyone looked excited, emotional, and slightly overwhelmed in the same way I was.
Then the orchestra started.
And suddenly everything became real.
The opening number alone gave me chills immediately. Hearing “Alexander Hamilton” live felt so much bigger and louder and more emotional than I ever expected. The moment I heard the first note, I immediately cried! I’ve listened to the soundtrack an unhealthy amount of times over the years, but hearing those harmonies in person somehow made everything hit differently.
And don’t even get me started on “Satisfied.” I genuinely think my soul left my body during that entire sequence. The rewind choreography was INSANE live. I already loved the song before, but seeing the movement, timing, vocals, and lighting happen all at once made me appreciate it in a completely different way.
I was especially excited for “Wait For It” because it was actually my favorite song at the moment. It still felt surreal hearing it live. But I think DeAundre' Woods absolutely stole the room later on during “The Room Where It Happens.”
“The Room Where It Happens” absolutely changed the atmosphere of the theater. The energy became so intense that it genuinely felt impossible to look away for even one second. Also, the lighting design throughout the show deserves its own standing ovation because HOW did every single scene look cinematic with such a simple set?
I was also really excited to hear “Guns and Ships” live, especially because of how fast and intense it is, and well.. felt even more impossible (in the best way) hearing it performed right in front of me! The Cabinet Battles were another highlight too; they were so fun to watch live, with all the energy and back-and-forth that made the whole theater feel like it was really a rap battle, especially with the microphone effects used.
I think the songs that emotionally destroyed me the most were “Burn” and “Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story.”
During “Burn,” I was honestly so focused on trying to see if it was Rachelle Ann Go performing that night.. sorry! But sadly, it wasn’t her. It was Kirrah Amosa instead–and she did such an amazing job! But then, “Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story” emotionally finished me.
By the end of the show, my head was literally throbbing from trying so hard not to ugly cry in the theater. Forcing myself to cry tiny, quiet tears instead of fully breaking down was actually painful! I was literally fighting for my life in that seat lol!
I think that’s what I love most about live theater in general. Nothing is paused. Nothing is edited. Everything is happening right in front of you for the very first and last time simultaneously. Every performance is temporary, and maybe that’s what makes it feel so human.
And somehow the experience got even better after the show ended.
The second curtain call finished, I RAN to the stage door because I wanted my program book signed and to meet the cast. Thankfully, everyone there was incredibly nice despite probably being exhausted already.
I even got to sing a tiny snippet of “Aaron Burr, Sir” to DeAundre' himself, and I still can’t process that interaction properly.. lol! I have such a huge crush on him!
I also got to tell Jason Arrow that he’s gwapo, and we ended up talking for a bit after. He was SO good as Hamilton that there were moments during the show where it almost felt like Lin-Manuel Miranda was performing. The energy was just spot on, which was weird in the best way possible. Then you see him up close afterward, and suddenly your brain goes “oh wait.. that’s Jason.”
One of my favorite post-show moments was meeting Shaka Bagadu Cook at the stage door. He played Hercules Mulligan and James Madison, and he was genuinely so nice—patiently signing everything for fans, even a mug! Small interactions like that honestly make theater experiences feel even more special.
Also, the post-show brain rot was severe!
I was really emotional throughout the entire show–happy, anxious, excited, overwhelmed–you name it. My emotions were basically doing acrobatics the whole day. So when I finally got out of the theater and started listening to the soundtrack again on the way home (as if I hadn’t just spent hours hearing it live already), I suddenly felt hunger lol!
And that’s when I realized I had been so excited and anxious about the entire experience that I completely forgot to eat the whole day.
Very theater kid of me!
Overall, Hamilton in Manila was made possible by so many people beyond just what we see onstage. Everyone did amazing–the cast, the crew, the orchestra, and all the incredible people working behind the scenes, including the ushers and everyone who helped keep everything running smoothly. Thanks to all of them, we all got to have such a powerful, seamless, and unforgettable experience of Hamilton in Manila.
And lastly, a quiet thank you to my parents for always supporting my love for watching musicals live. I know it’s not a cheap hobby, and I really appreciate it more than I probably say out loud.
Anyway.. I will now be emotionally recovering for the next ten business days!
D.
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