A local congregation with historical ties to one of America’s founding families will host a pair of free screenings of the acclaimed musical “Hamilton” this month as part of events commemorating the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary.
The Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Rock Tavern will present the filmed version of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical over two Sundays, June 7 and June 14, at its church located at 9 Vance Road.
The June 7 program will begin with a community concert at 12:15 p.m. featuring Hudson Valley performers Alex Haines and Gabrielle JoyY, followed by Part One of the “Hamilton” film at 1 p.m. Part Two will be screened at 12:15 p.m. on June 14. Admission is free.
The screenings are being billed as a pilot event for “Hamilburgh,” a larger July 4 celebration planned in the City of Newburgh to mark the nation’s semiquincentennial.
“Hamilton,” created by playwright and composer Lin-Manuel Miranda, reimagines the life of founding father Alexander Hamilton through a blend of hip-hop, R&B and traditional musical theater. The production became a cultural phenomenon after its Broadway debut, earning a record 16 Tony Award nominations in 2016 and winning 11 awards, including Best Musical.
A filmed version of the stage production was released in 2020, bringing the musical to a wider audience.
Organizers said the screenings are intended to encourage conversations about the nation’s history, including its social, political, economic and racial complexities, while also highlighting local artistic talent and promoting greater access to arts and culture.
The Rock Tavern congregation traces its roots to descendants of President John Adams, one of the nation’s founding fathers, according to organizers.
The June events will lead into a larger public celebration scheduled for July 4 on the Safe Harbors Green in Newburgh. The event is being organized by Newburgh Lyceum and Safe Harbors of the Hudson and will feature a free concert and outdoor screening of “Hamilton.”
The venue sits across from Washington’s Headquarters State Historic Site, where Gen. George Washington maintained his longest wartime headquarters during the Revolutionary War.
Newburgh Lyceum, a project of the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan, seeks to revive the city’s historic tradition of civic dialogue through public discussions and cultural programming. Safe Harbors of the Hudson is a Newburgh-based nonprofit organization focused on affordable housing, arts programming and community revitalization.
Organizers said they hope the anniversary events will foster civic engagement and create opportunities for diverse communities to gather and reflect on the nation’s past and future.