“Hamilton” is the hottest musical in the country right now, and it has been that way for months. Proving that they are not only first class problem solvers, but also first-world problem solvers, Lex and Seth tackle the very serious and tragic issue of not being able to get Hamilton tickets. Daveed Diggs, Okieriete Onaodowan, Anthony Ramos, and Lin-Manuel Miranda of “Hamilton,” 2014–2015 Season, Public Theater (photo by Joan Marcus). The official word on “Hamilton” tickets from the Richard Rodgers Theater: “Currently, tickets to Hamilton on Broadway are extremely limited. Please enter your email below for updates, and be the first to know when new tickets are available.” Hip Hop Don’t Stop Sure, you may not be able to get Hamilton tickets right now, but your odds are quite decent of getting them later. Or heck, if Hamilton is a national treasure, then maybe Nicholas Cage will save it for everyone. No, we mean, if Hamilton is a national treasure, then maybe it will be put on display for the public free of charge, just like the national treasures in the Smithsonian and in my kitchen. Hey, get out of my kitchen. Hey, you, get off of my lawn! Anyway, even if you don’t end up seeing Hamilton in the near future, listening to Problem Solvers …Ish will still give you plenty of rhymes, and occasional insults towards historical figures. And it’s as cheap as free! AND check out this embryonic rap that gave the world a taste of things to come: https://www.greylockglass.com/podcasts/problemsolvers/051209_Poetry_LinManuelMiranda.mp4 Writer and star of the Broadway musical “In the Heights,” Lin-Manuel Miranda performs “The Hamilton Mixtape” at the White House Evening of Poetry, Music, and the Spoken Word on May 12, 2009. Accompanied by Alex Lacamoire. 4:27 (Public Domain video). What’s YOUR Problem? Every week Seth Brown and Lex Friedman tackle a listener submitted problem. It could be any kind of issue—family, career, love, religion, political. Doesn’t matter! Seth and Lex are equally unqualified to address ANY of your troubles. BUT, that doesn’t mean they won’t try. And it doesn’t mean they might not solve your problem by accident! Just Skype click the link in the sidebar to access our web-based voice-messaging system. Or, if you’re bashful, e-mail it to us at problemsgreylockglass.com At your request, we will “Anonymize” your voice, making is less likely that your boss will recognize that it’s you complaining about her peculiar bathroom habits and tendency to stalk you on social media. Problems dealt with on a “funniest-come, first-served basis.” Real Debbie-downer issues like death, IRS audits, and that sink hole swallowing up your carport? The may take a lonnnnng time for us to get around to. Just leave a voice message by clicking the picture in the side bar of the girl on the party line! About “Hamilton” From the creative team behind the In The Heights comes HAMILTON, a new musical about the scrappy young immigrant who forever changed America: Alexander Hamilton. Tony and Grammy Award winner Lin – Manuel Miranda wields his pen and takes the stage as the unlikely founding father determined to make his mark on a new nation as hungry and ambitious as he. From bastard orphan to Washington’s right hand man, rebel to war hero, loving husband caught in the country’s first sex scandal to Treasury head who made an untrusting world believe in the American economy, HAMILTON is an exploration of a political mastermind. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Eliza Hamilton, and lifelong Hamilton friend and foe, Aaron Burr, all attend this revolutionary tale of America’s fiery past told through the sounds of the ever – changing nation we’ve become. Tony Award nominee Thomas Kail directs and Tony Award winner Andy Blankenbuehler choreographs this new musical about taking your shot, speaking your mind, and turning the world upside down. HAMILTON features scenic design by David Korins ; costume design by Paul Tazewell; lighting design by Howell Binkley; sound design by Nevin Steinberg; hair and wig design by Charles G. LaPointe; music direction and orchestrator Alex Lacamoire; and choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler. About Lin – Manuel Miranda Lin – Manuel Miranda (Book, Music, and Lyrics/Alexander Hamilton ) is the Tony and Grammy award-winning composer – lyricist – star of Broadway’s “In the Heights.” In the Heights received four 2008 Tony Awards (including Best Musical, Best Orchestrations, Best Choreography), with Miranda receiving a Tony Award for Best Score, as well as a nomination for Best Leading Actor in a Musical. “In the Heights” was also recognized as a Finalist for the 2009 Pulitzer Prize in Drama. Miranda is the co – composer (with Tom Kitt), and co-lyricist (wit h Amanda Green) of Broadway’s “Bring it On: The Musical” (2013 Tony nom., Best Musical, 2013 Drama Desk nom., Best Lyrics in a Musical). Miranda contributed new songs to the revival of Stephen Schwartz’ “Working” and provided Spanish translations for the 2009 Broadway revival of “West Side Story.” Miranda, along with Kitt, won the 2014 Creative Arts Emmy for Best Original Music and Lyrics for their work on the 67th Annual Tony Awards. As an actor, Miranda appeared in the City Center Encores! productions of “Merrily We Roll Along” (Charley Kringas), and “tick, tick… BOOM!” (Jonathan). He is a co – founder and member of Freestyle Love Supreme , an improvisational hip – hop group that will launch a self – titled television series in October 2014 on Pivot TV. Additional TV and film credits include “The Electric Company,” “Sesame Street,” “The Sopranos,” “House,” “Modern Family,” “Do No Harm,” “Smash,” “How I Met Your Mother,” The Sex and the City Movie, The Odd Life of Timothy Green, and 200 Cartas. About Thomas Kail Thomas Kail ( Director ). His Broadway credits include “In the Heights” (Tony nomination for Best Director) ; and two new plays, “Lombardi” and “Magic Bird.” His Off – Broadway credits include “In the Heights” (Callaway Award, Drama Desk nom., Outer Critics nom.); at New York City Center Randy Newman’s Faust and “The Wiz;” Lincoln Center Theater’s “Broke-ology” and “When I Come to Die;” The Flea Theater’s “Family Furniture” (Drama Desk Nom.); and Second Stage Uptown’s “The Tutors.” Other credits include Williamstown Theater Festival’s “Broke-ology;” Paper Mill Playhouse’s “Once on this Island;” and the National Tour of “In the Heights.” He is the co – creator and director of the hip – hop improv group Freestyle Love Supreme, which played the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, US Comedy Arts Festival, Montreal Comedy Festival and Melbourne Comedy Festival. He served as the Creative Director of the 2012, 2013 & 2014 Webby Awards. For television he directed episodes of “2 Broke Girls”; “Oprah Winfrey’s 2010 Primetime Oscar Special” for ABC; the pilot episode of “ Storymakers” for AMC; and he served as Co – Music Director and consulting producer on first season of PBS show “ The Electric Company”. He is the Executive Producer and Co – Creator of new TV Series “Freestyle Love Supreme” for Pivot; and he is the recipient of the Martin E. Segal Award from Lincoln Center and is a graduate of Wesleyan University, CT. About Andy Blakenbuehler Andy Blakenbuehler ( Choreography )’s Broadway credits include “In The Heights” (Tony, Outer Critics, Drama Desk Awards), “Bring It On,” “9 To 5,” “The People In The Picture,” “The Apple Tree,” “Annie,” “The Wiz” (City Center Encores). Regionally his credits include “FLY” (Dallas Theatre Center), “Desperately Seeking Susan” (West End), “A Little Princess” (Andrew Lippa), “Joseph” (National tour). Upcoming projects include “Only Gold” with British singer/songwriter Kate Nash. About Jeffrey Seller Jeffrey Seller is the winner of three Tony Awards for Best Musical: “Rent” (1996), “Avenue Q” (2004) and “In The Heights” (2008). Additional productions include “De La Guarda,” Andrew Lippa’s “The Wild Party,” “La Boheme,” the 2009 revival of “West Side Story,” and this season’s “The Last Ship.” As director his credits include “Fly” (2013) at Dallas Theater Center. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan. About Sander Jacobs Sander Jacobshas been represented on Broadway with the Tony Award-winning Best Musical “In The Heights” and the Tony Award-nominated “West Side Story” revival. Jacobs has served as a co-producer and/or investor for numerous Broadway, national and international productions, with a selection of theatre’s most celebrated and critically-acclaimed musicals including “Les Miserables,” “The Phantom of the Opera,” Follies and “The Last Ship.” About Jill Furman Jill Furmanreceived the 2008 Tony Award for Best Musical for “In The Heights.” Other Broadway credits include Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “Cinderella,” “The Heiress,” “Seminar,” “West Side Story,” “The Drowsy Chaperone,” “Sly Fox” and “Fortune’s Fool.” Off – Broadway her credits include “On The Line” and “Adult Entertainment.” Furman executive produced the Pivot television series “Freestyle Love Supreme, ” starring the hip – hop improv group of the same name, and also produces the live version of the show. In 2011, Furman received the Robert Whitehead Award for Outstanding Achievement in Commercial Theatre Producing. She is a member of the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures. About The Public Theater Under the leadership of Artistic Director Oskar Eustis and Executive Director Patrick Willingham, The Public Theater is the only theater in New York that produces Shakespeare, the classics, musicals, contemporary and experimental pieces in eq
