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| Scene from Give 'Em Hell, Harry |
For most of us, this weekend will be a special moment. Not only is it the annual celebration of Independence Day, but Disney+ will at long last release a professionally shot version of the musical Hamilton. Most of us have been dying to see the show ever since it hit Broadway in 2015, and now that it's available for streaming, what will it all mean for the future of live theater? Will we be seeing every big show like Dear Evan Hansen and Hadestown making their way onto Netflix or Hulu? Will this be a one-off, or will the future look a lot more accessible to those outside of major city markets? Or, if I'm being honest, the question that I am asking myself is if Hamilton will stand a chance to be an Oscar-winning production?
That's a loaded question given that Hamilton has more in common with Tony and Grammy Awards, fields that recognize stage work. Given that it was originally scheduled for a theatrical release, it does seem like would stand a chance even if there's very little precedent for it getting a nomination. Well, I want to ask for a show of hands. Does anyone know the other Oscar-nominated work that's basically a filmed piece of live theater? Any takers? While Hamilton has an uphill battle to make the cut, it wouldn't be the first to receive this distinct honor. There was one 45 years ago that earned James Whitmore his second Oscar nomination, also steeped in American history. Yes, Give 'Em Hell, Harry remains the only major crossover between stage and screen to receive an Oscar nomination. If anything suggests a potential upset by Hamilton, it's this one.
