Hamilton

Act 1: The Early Years of Alexander Hamilton and the American Revolution

Main Characters:

• Alexander Hamilton:

  • Initial Outfit:
    • Hamilton’s early costume reflects his youthful ambition. He wears a simple, formal coat, waistcoat, and breeches, typically in dark colors like navy or black, with a white shirt and cravat.
    • Accessories: A pocket watch, boots, and a tricorn hat (for the period look), reflecting his determination and desire to rise above his circumstances.
  • Later Outfit:
    • As Hamilton begins to gain influence, his costume becomes more polished with a more refined waistcoat and brighter colors like royal blue and gold.
    • Accessories: A more distinguished, mature look with higher-quality fabric and a more ornate cravat.

• Aaron Burr:

  • Outfit:
    • Burr’s costume reflects his role as a more calculated, ambitious character. His outfit is more refined and subtle than Hamilton’s, often in dark, solid colors, with a high collar and crisp lines.
    • Accessories: A cravat, waistcoat, and boots. Burr's more conservative look contrasts with Hamilton’s bolder style.
  • Later Outfit:
    • As Burr grows in prominence, his costume becomes more refined, often in darker tones like deep purple or gray to reflect his increasing political influence.

• Eliza Schuyler:

  • Outfit:
    • Eliza’s costume in Act 1 is elegant but simple, often in muted colors like soft blue, cream, or lavender to reflect her status as a well-bred aristocratic woman.
    • Accessories: A delicate necklace, hair ribbons, and a light shawl or gloves to highlight her poise and grace.
  • Later Outfit:
    • Eliza’s costume may evolve to reflect her deeper emotional growth and maturity, with more regal fabrics like satin or silk and additional accessories.

• Angelica Schuyler:

  • Outfit:
    • Angelica’s costume is bold and fashionable, often in darker shades like deep purple or red. Her look reflects her intelligence, wit, and confidence, as she is often seen as the intellectual counterpart to Hamilton.
    • Accessories: Bold jewelry, a ribbon in her hair, and a more dramatic hairstyle to reflect her independence and confidence.

• Martha Washington:

  • Outfit:
    • Martha’s costumes reflect her status as a high-ranking lady in society, with formal, classic 18th-century dresses, often in rich fabrics like velvet or brocade.
    • Accessories: A white wig, fine jewelry, and a fan.

• Thomas Jefferson:

  • Outfit:
    • Jefferson’s costume reflects his aristocratic background, featuring a fine, tailored coat and breeches in rich colors like burgundy or deep blue.
    • Accessories: A powdered wig, a cravat, and lace cuffs to reflect his sophisticated and flamboyant personality.

Ensemble (Revolutionaries, Founding Fathers, Soldiers, and Citizens):

• Revolutionaries and Soldiers:

  • Costumes for soldiers reflect the colonial army’s military style, with simple coats, waistcoats, and breeches, often in muted tones like brown, gray, or blue to signify their allegiance to the Revolution.
  • Accessories: Tricorn hats, swords, and boots to complete the military look.

• Citizens and Founding Fathers:

  • The ensemble costumes are period-appropriate, with men in coats, waistcoats, and breeches, while women wear gowns with empire waists, bonnets, and shawls, often in rich colors to reflect their upper-class status.

Act 2: The Political Career of Alexander Hamilton and the Downfall of His Legacy

Main Characters (Continued):

• Alexander Hamilton:

  • Later Outfit:
    • As Hamilton grows in power, his costumes become even more polished and refined. He wears finely tailored coats with an emphasis on luxurious fabrics like satin or velvet for the more formal occasions, such as his interactions with political figures.
    • Accessories: Gold buttons, elaborate waistcoats, and cravats that reflect his high political status.

• Aaron Burr:

  • Outfit Change:
    • As Burr becomes more involved in the political scene, his costumes evolve to reflect his role as a man seeking power. His wardrobe consists of more high-end, formal suits in rich, dark colors (often black or deep navy).
    • Accessories: A gold cravat pin, lace cuffs, and more refined boots.

• Eliza Schuyler:

  • Costume Change:
    • As Eliza’s role in Hamilton’s life deepens, her costumes grow more mature and formal. Her dresses become more elegant, often with detailed embellishments like lace or embroidery, to reflect her devotion to her husband and the public role she takes on.
    • Accessories: Fine jewelry, a more elaborate hairstyle, and accessories like shawls or gloves to show her elegance.

• Angelica Schuyler:

  • Costume Change:
    • Angelica’s costumes continue to reflect her strong, independent nature. As she matures, her outfits become more sophisticated, with richer fabrics like silk or satin and more structured silhouettes.
    • Accessories: A fan, lace gloves, and bold jewelry to complement her confident demeanor.

• George Washington:

  • Outfit:
    • Washington’s costume reflects his high rank as the first President of the United States, with elegant military-inspired uniforms in royal blue or dark navy.
    • Accessories: Gold epaulettes, a powdered wig, and a ceremonial sword.

Ensemble (Revolutionaries, Politicians, and Citizens):

• Revolutionaries:

  • The costumes remain consistent with Act 1, featuring simple colonial-era military wear and civilian clothes in muted tones.

• Politicians:

  • Politicians wear more formal attire, including finely tailored coats, waistcoats, breeches, and cravats, with accessories like lace cuffs, silk stockings, and powdered wigs to reflect their status.

• Citizens:

  • The ensemble costumes for civilians in Act 2 shift to more formal, 18th-century dresses and suits, with luxurious fabrics for upper-class citizens, such as velvet, brocade, and satin.

Special Notes:

• Color Palette:

  • Act 1: Rich, primary colors like blue, red, and gold dominate the costumes, reflecting the patriotism and ambition of the characters. More muted tones for the ensemble and soldiers help to distinguish the political and personal battles of the time.
  • Act 2: Darker, more refined colors like navy, burgundy, and gold represent the power struggles and political maneuvering, with costumes reflecting the ambition and downfall of many characters.

• Fabric Choices:

  • Act 1: More casual fabrics like wool, linen, and cotton are used for the early, revolutionary scenes, reflecting the early days of the country and the Revolution.
  • Act 2: More luxurious fabrics like velvet, satin, and silk are used to reflect the political rise and fall of the characters. The grandeur of costumes in formal political settings reflects the power dynamics of the story.

• Key Costume Elements:

  • Hamilton’s Iconic Look: A simple yet powerful look for Hamilton that evolves into more regal attire as his status grows.
  • Aaron Burr’s Reserved Elegance: Burr’s costumes reflect his ambition and more calculated rise to power, with dark, polished colors and elegant tailoring.
  • The Schuyler Sisters’ Contrasting Styles: Eliza’s modest, elegant attire contrasts with Angelica’s bold, colorful outfits to reflect their personalities.
  • Political Power: Washington’s and Jefferson’s costumes emphasize their political authority with more luxurious and formal outfits, showcasing their elite status.