These costumes did not throw away their shot #TEDTalks

At its core, Hamilton is a story of us At its core, Hamilton is a story of us versus them. Colonists versus empire. versus them. Colonists versus empire. versus them. Colonists versus empire. Immigrants versus the establishment. Immigrants versus the establishment. Immigrants versus the establishment. But Lin-Manuel Miranda handed me But Lin-Manuel Miranda handed me But Lin-Manuel Miranda handed me something radical. something radical. something radical. He said, "I want the audience to see our He said, "I want the audience to see our He said, "I want the audience to see our founding fathers through today's lens." founding fathers through today's lens." founding fathers through today's lens." So, imagine that challenge. Black and So, imagine that challenge. Black and So, imagine that challenge. Black and brown bodies dressed in 18th century brown bodies dressed in 18th century brown bodies dressed in 18th century coats and breeches rapping about coats and breeches rapping about coats and breeches rapping about revolution. History reimagined in real revolution. History reimagined in real revolution. History reimagined in real time. I designed period silhouettes, time. I designed period silhouettes, time. I designed period silhouettes, yes, but with restraint. Neutral tones yes, but with restraint. Neutral tones yes, but with restraint. Neutral tones on much of the ensemble while allowing on much of the ensemble while allowing on much of the ensemble while allowing their skin to show through, the power of their skin to show through, the power of their skin to show through, the power of their voice to ring true and center their voice to ring true and center their voice to ring true and center stage. And then, in contrast, King stage. And then, in contrast, King stage. And then, in contrast, King George the III appears in full regalia. George the III appears in full regalia. George the III appears in full regalia. Bewigged, jeweled, painted in perfect Bewigged, jeweled, painted in perfect Bewigged, jeweled, painted in perfect detail from his portraitist. He is the detail from his portraitist. He is the detail from his portraitist. He is the old world, they are the new. That visual old world, they are the new. That visual old world, they are the new. That visual duality, modern bodies in period shape duality, modern bodies in period shape duality, modern bodies in period shape versus one man preserved in all his versus one man preserved in all his versus one man preserved in all his pomp, is what makes pomp, is what makes pomp, is what makes the story of democracy unfolding so the story of democracy unfolding so the story of democracy unfolding so compelling. It takes the historically compelling. It takes the historically compelling. It takes the historically familiar to frame a modern perception of familiar to frame a modern perception of familiar to frame a modern perception of how our nation was formed.

how our nation was formed. how our nation was formed. And suddenly, there's Thomas Jefferson. And suddenly, there's Thomas Jefferson. And suddenly, there's Thomas Jefferson. Tommy Kail, our director, and I decided, Tommy Kail, our director, and I decided, Tommy Kail, our director, and I decided, "Let's make him a rock star." "Let's make him a rock star." "Let's make him a rock star." So, on stressed Jefferson in flamboyant So, on stressed Jefferson in flamboyant So, on stressed Jefferson in flamboyant purple modeled after a pop icon. purple modeled after a pop icon. purple modeled after a pop icon. Not by chance. Not by chance. Not by chance. That was a statement. That was a statement. That was a statement. History isn't dry or static. It's alive. History isn't dry or static. It's alive. History isn't dry or static. It's alive. It's charismatic. It's charismatic. It's charismatic. It's complicated. It's complicated. It's complicated. Even in subtle contrast like Hamilton's Even in subtle contrast like Hamilton's Even in subtle contrast like Hamilton's vibrant green suits versus Burr's muted vibrant green suits versus Burr's muted vibrant green suits versus Burr's muted raisin palette, I was planting seeds, raisin palette, I was planting seeds, raisin palette, I was planting seeds, setting up a visual duel until finally setting up a visual duel until finally setting up a visual duel until finally at the end, the two men stand together at the end, the two men stand together at the end, the two men stand together both in black capes both in black capes both in black capes equal in power equal in power equal in power equal in tragedy, balanced not in life equal in tragedy, balanced not in life equal in tragedy, balanced not in life but in history's memory. but in history's memory. but in history's memory. The costumes weren't decoration, they The costumes weren't decoration, they The costumes weren't decoration, they were commentary, a way to ask whose were commentary, a way to ask whose were commentary, a way to ask whose history is this history is this history is this and who gets to own it?