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OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF CHICAGO
LORI E. LIGHTFOOT
MAYOR
January 15,2020
TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I transmit herewith a congratulatory resolution concerning the Hamilton production. Your favorable consideration ofthis resolution will be appreciated.
Very truly yours,
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, On January 5, 2020, a sold-out audience at CIBC Theatre in downtown Chicago took to their feet with thunderous ovations for lead actor Miguel Cervantes and the superb cast of "Hamilton" as the final curtain fell on the most successful Broadway musical in Chicago's history; and
WHEREAS, Lin-Manuel Miranda's award-winning musical "Hamilton" is the story of revolutionary firebrand and Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, an illegitimate orphan raised in the West Indies, who immigrated to New York, served as George Washington's aide-de-camp in the Continental Army, co-authored the Federalist Papers, founded the Bank of New York, led the Federalist Party, and became the first Treasury Secretary of the United States; and
WHEREAS, Featuring a hugely diverse cast, and a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B, blues, pop and rap music in a most unprecedented way, "Hamilton" opened in Chicago on September 27, 2016 and immediately captured the imagination of Chicagoans. More people have seen-"Hamilton" in Chicago than in any other city, including New York; and
WHEREAS, During its remarkable 171-week run in Chicago, "Hamilton" was performed 1,341 times at sold-out shows attended by more than 2.6 million people. A wildly successful musical, "Hamilton" generated $400 million in ticket sales at the box office and contributed $250 million annually to the local economy; and
WHEREAS, Thanks to the Hamilton Education Program, a partnership of "Hamilton", the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and the Rockefeller Foundation, more than 31,000 Chicago Public School (CPS) students attended "Hamilton" after benefitting from a special curriculum on U.S. History and the Founding Era that was integrated into participating CPS classrooms across the City; and
WHEREAS, During their stay in Chicago, the generous cast of "Hamilton" raised over $1 million for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, a not-for-profit organization that raises funds for AIDS-related causes across the United States; supported several local service agencies; and participated in many civic and community events; and
WHEREAS, Lead actor Miguel Cervantes, who brilliantly played the role of Alexander Hamilton, and his wife Kelly, embraced Chicago as their new home. As a result of their tireless efforts, inspired by the death from a neurogenerative disorder of their beloved three-year-old daughter Adelaide, more than $1 million has been raised for Chicago-based Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy (CURE); and
WHEREAS, In the closing monologue of "Hamilton", as Alexander Hamilton is bracing for death on the wrong end of Aaron Burr's pistol, he remarks in his parting lines: "What is legacy? It's planting seeds in a garden you never get to see."; and
WHEREAS, In appreciation of this great American musical, and its enduring legacy as a vibrant celebration ofour Nation and its values of diversity, unity, tolerance and optimism,
Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot proclaimed January 5, 2020 to be Hamilton Day in Chicago; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and Members ofthe City Council ofthe City of Chicago, assembled this fifteenth day of January 2020, do hereby congratulate and applaud Lin-Manuel Miranda for his hit musical "Hamilton"; Miguel Cervantes for his stellar performance in the title role; and the entire cast of "Hamilton" for their many contributions to our great City and for their genius in bringing to life the memory and legacy of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton for all Chicagoans to better understand; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy ofthis resolution be presented to Mr. Miguel Cervantes as a token of our appreciation and esteem.
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adopted by C[ke Glttj QoUHCll
°f fa Gity of Qkicaao, Illinois
. ... BV&IS , On Jdnuary'5, 2020, a sold-out audience at CIBC Theatre in downtown Chicago took to their feet with thunderous ovations for lead actor Miguel Cervantes and the superb cast of "Hamilton" as the final curtain fell on the most successful Broadway musical in Chicago's history; and
WHEREAS, Lin-Manuel Miranda's award-winning musical "Hamilton" is the story of
revolutionary firebrand and Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, an illegitimate orphan
raised in the'West Indies, who immigrated fo New York, served as George Washington's
aide-de-camp in the'Continental Army, co-authored the Federalist Papers, founded the
ir-r. Bank of -New-York, led the Federalist Party, and. became^he-. first.Treasury .Secretary oWbie
: • United States; and ;.• V» . v.:-/--:' ■ ■ v."■■ /v?' '■ ' '■'X'-'^y"-•
.- /'\:'?7/:'»\A^ri^'C'V- •-."•'. ;/-'-';7'--->i :' .\'f<',; .' ; J,v .':U^/r\:'-'-'^\'--':: • :!*|\.
■^vi^ cbst/'and'la;sc6re thVt.Ble^ds^.hlp^h'o^)^^
;R&B*blues^pop and-rap (music a most unprecedented . way,:/Hamilton .opened in/ .
7 Vcgrjiif^q ^ero^emB^-^^AigOl 6 .and immediately^ tl^'WmaginatioB
- OfiiiG^aodW^^^ "seen'J-Hdmiiton" in Chicago.Than^in any' otherieify.
h including'New. York; and ,v-'> > -.- . .-;•.-.•• :, V; ^A*-<■ *yo??--'
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'^V:--^:^^^EAS/^b'u™ remarkable i 7J ,-we§k .•' run'." 'in I Chicago, -^Hamiltdn^'.yyas' ■ '•Tperfofme'd'1 ;3'41'•times' atrsdld-out shows^aftehded by rrjiore triighV2:^milliqrrpeople:--A . '; wildlyTs'ucces's'ful mu'sjcal, "Hamilton" generated- $400 miHioh ih ticket saies' at the'box office gh^ ';'
WHEREAS, Thanks to the Hamilton Education Program, a partnership- of "Hamilton", the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and the Rockefeller Foundation, more than 31,000 Chicago Public School (CPS) students attended "Hamilton" after benefitting from a special curriculum on U.S. History and the Founding Era that was integrated into participating CPS classrooms across the City; and
WHEREAS, During their stay in Chicago, the generous cast of "Hamilton" raised over $1 million for Broadway Cares/Equily rights AIDS, a not-for-profit organization that raises funds for AiDS-related causes across the- United States; supported several local service agencies; and participated in many civic and community events; and
t
WHEREAS, Lead aci or Miguel Cervanles, who brillianlly played Ihe role of Alexander Hamilton, and his wife Kelly, embraced Chicago as their new home. As a result or their tireless efforts, inspired by the death from a neurogenerative disorder of their beloved three-yea;-old daughter Adelaide, more than $1 million has been raised for Chicago-based Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy (CURE); and
WHEREAS, In the closing monologue of "Hamilton", as Alexander Hamilton is bracing for death on the wrong end of Aaron Burr's pistol, he remarks in his parting lines: "What is legacy? It's planting seeds in a garden you never get to see."; and
WHEREAS, In appreciation of this great American musical, and its enduring legacy as a vibrant celebration of our Nation and its values of diversify, unity, tolerance and optimism, Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot proclaimed January 5, 2020 to be Hamilton Day .'in Chicago; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this fifteenth day of January 2020, do hereby congratulate and applaud Lin-Manuel Miranda for his hit musical "Hamilton"; Miguel Cervantes for his stellar performance in lhe title role; and the entire cast of "Hamilton" for their many contributions to our great .City and for their genius in bringing to life the memory and legacy of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton for all Chicagoans to.better understand; and
