January 11 is Alexander Hamilton’s birthday. In lieu of a 261-candled cake, we’re celebrating with a weeklong package that explores the production and significance of the Founding Father’s eponymous Broadway musical.
Sure, Instagramming a Hamilton Playbill is cool, but you’re not a real mover and shaker unless you’ve gotten the chance to go backstage and leave your John Hancock (a guy who’s not in Hamilton). Back behind stage right of the Richard Rodgers Theater, just down a few stairs, is a nearly-life-size image of Alexander Hamilton affixed to the wall; basically, it’s a Federalist Fathead. Any fancy people who attend the show are invited to come back and write a brief pleasantry. Below, you can see a selection of those who have — with, as far as we can decipher, what it is they wrote.
1
“To Hamilton and Beyond!†- John Lasseter
2
“Thank you — you taught me about politics!†- Andrew Cuomo
3
“Chance the Rapper was here and loved the play!!†- Chance the Rapper
4
"Genius! So wonderful, subversive! Amazing Lin-Manuel!" - Tom Hooper
5
“Unlike Hamilton, I’m speechless!†- Molly Ringwald
6
“Great, great history lesson told like never before we are indebted!†- Joe & Jill Biden
7
“Amazing. That’s All!!!!!†- Trevor Noah
8
“This is history!†- Steven Spielberg
9
“It's all our story†- Dana Delaney
10
“No words — just exaltation!†- Oprah
11
“Everyone knows when you witness the game change ... This was close ... OK, OK ... this is it!†- John Krasinski
12
“Astonishing! You make NYC proud and uplift us with the beauty of this show.†- Bill de Blasio
13
“The best show ever! (Outside The Producers)†- Mel Brooks
14
“Mind and heart blown. ‘Thank you’ isn’t enough.†- J.J. Abrams
15
“Best show ever. Thank you for moving me.†- Natalie Portman
16
“You crazy talented man, loved it†- Jennifer Lopez
17
“God Bless!†- Denzel Washington
18
“The greatest theater I’ve ever seen.†- Ellen Burstyn
19
“I heart Hamilton†- André De Shields
20
“History. Who knew?†- Jason Sudeikis
21
“Wow. Just wow. Thank you†- Olivia Wilde
22
“Amazing!†- Kirsten Gillibrand
23
“I love Hamilton†- Kate Burton
24
“Extraordinary, beautiful, transformation.†- Anna Gunn
25
“Fucking Bitches†- Danny Devito
26
“Legacy, legacy, legacy†- Lucy Liu
27
“Hair ... blown. back.†- Emily Blunt