“Text less. Vote more. Show everyone what you’re against or what you’re for,” the current cast of “Hamilton” sang in a new get-out-the-vote video filmed backstage in New York City Saturday night.
The cast has a tradition of getting political and now the group is encouraging everyone to hit the polls Tuesday. The cast made headlines in November 2016 when they read a speech to Vice President-elect Mike Pence, who was taking in the show. Members of the audience booed Pence as well, and then-President-elect Donald Trump demanded an apology on Twitter and called the mega-hit show “highly overrated.”
“Democracy is frail, we stack the deck with our inaction,” their new song goes as it moves through the melodies of the show’s hits. The cover urges “fellow Federalists” to get to the polls, a term from the musical’s song, “The Election of 1800.”
“The company of ‘Hamilton’ won’t get no satisfaction until we raise the voter turn-out with a plan of action,” they sing.
The song was written by music director Kurt Crowley, according to a source with the show. It was posted on Twitter by Deanna Werner, the show’s assistant stage manager.
(MORE: 8 things ‘Hamilton’ fans may not know about the show)
“It’s not just a problem in the north where apathy is spreading. There is wide confusion in the land, a problem we’ve been dreading,” the lyrics go, as they sing about low turnout and cite specific complaints.
“There’s long lines and weather and citizens just plain forgetting.
“People see their vote is ineffective,” it continues. “We have to change their mind or democracy is defective.”
One more standout line: “It might be nice, it might be niiiiice to get to democracy back on track.”
APThe cast of “Hamilton” at the Tony Awards at the Beacon Theatre on Sunday, June 12, 2016, in New York.
Trump repeats his call for ‘Hamilton’ cast to apologize to Mike Pence)
“Hamilton,” about the country’s first secretary of the treasury, was written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, who originally took on the leading role on Broadway, where the show debuted in July 2015. Miranda exited the show in July 2016, but it still plays to sellouts every night.
Miranda has been politically active himself, especially in the wake of Hurricane Maria, which caused unprecedented damage in his ancestors’ home of Puerto Rico. He has lobbied politicians for further support for the island and even will take his hit show there to raise money. He also performed at the anti-gun violence rally, March for Our Lives, organized by Parkland, Florida, students.
The show won 11 Tony Awards in 2016, and also won a Grammy and Pulitzer Prize the same year.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
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