Chapter Sixteen: That Year I Went Lin-Sane
1. Those of you who know about Hamilton KNOW how foolish this thought was.
2. There’s no curtain at Hamilton. You can see the stage the entire time.
3. Lin might have had a different understanding of our “friendship,” but as far as I was concerned it was fate that brought us together and what God has joined, let no man put asunder; we were besties!
4. That obviously was not her email but it might as well have been.
5. Oak and I have very similar backgrounds. We were both born in Newark, New Jersey, and are first-generation Americans of African parents. We practically are family.
6. See addictions, chapter 2.
7. I texted Leslie from the audience to let him know we were sad we weren’t going to see him. He said he had just gotten back from his doctor and had a throat infection.
8. Hamilton: The Revolution is the book written by Lin and Jeremy McCarter chronicling the story of how Hamilton the Broadway smash came to be. It’s a beautiful book, and the signed copy given to me by Lin is a prized possession.
9. A swing is a member of the company/cast who understudies several chorus and/or dancing roles. If an understudy fills in for a lead role, a swing will act the parts normally performed by the understudy. As far as I’m concerned swings are the hardest-working folks in theater. They have to learn so many parts. I’d be scared shitless.
10. Peter appears in one of my favorite episodes of 30 Rock, where he dates Liz Lemon only to find out they’re cousins. He’s sooo charming and the familial realization brings me to tears EVERY time. Genius.
11. It’s August 2017 and I am copy editing this book and thought I’d add that I went to the Los Angeles opening of Hamilton at The Pantages. It was my sixth viewing of the show, as I had seen it a few months ago in Chicago. Now I can let it go.