Introduced by Late Show host Stephen Colbert, the cast of the hit historical hip-hop Broadway musical Hamilton performed the play's opening number about the founding father and U.S. Constitution signee at the 58th Grammy Awards. Shortly after the performance, the play won the title for Best Musical Theater Album.
Creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and his diverse cast, however, did not perform from the Staples Center alongside Kendrick Lamar and Taylor Swift--rather, they broadcast live from a special Monday night performance from the play's home at New York's Richard Rodgers Theatre. This marks the first time in history the Grammys broadcast live from Broadway.
The performance began with cast members taking the stage one by one singing biographical snippets about the founding father without a father--Alexander Hamilton himself--before asking "What's your name?" That's when Miranda appeared, introduced himself as Hamilton, and thunderous applause continued through the next few lines.
As the song continued, so did the biographical tale: dancers moved around the stage and at one point Miranda-as-founding-father traded in his beige coat for another velvety-looking brown coat.
Hamilton was up against An American in Paris, Fun Home, The King and I and Something Rotten! in the Best Musical Theater Album category. The winner was announced shortly after the winning musical's performance.
Upon Hamilton winning the title, the live broadcast turned once again to the performance at Richard Rodgers Theatre where Miranda burst into a moving, hip-hop inspired spoken word acceptance speech.
