Hamilton, the smash hit musical created by Lin-Manuel Miranda, has become a worldwide phenomenon since its Broadway debut in 2015. With innovative hip-hop music and multi-racial casting of the Founding Fathers, Hamilton has received immense critical acclaim and fan devotion. For those looking to see Hamilton live when it comes to their city, one question always comes up – how long is the runtime of the show?
Quick Answer
At the Altria Theater in Richmond, Virginia, where Hamilton is playing as part of its national tour, the runtime of the show is approximately 2 hours and 50 minutes, including a 15 minute intermission. The actual time can vary slightly based on applause and scene changes, but audience members can expect a performance time of around 2 hours and 50 minutes total.
What is the runtime at other theaters?
While the runtime varies slightly from venue to venue, here are some general guidelines on show lengths for Hamilton:
- Broadway in New York: 2 hours 45 minutes
- Angelico Theater in Chicago: 2 hours 55 minutes
- Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco: 2 hours 50 minutes
- Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles: 2 hours 50 minutes
- Buell Theatre in Denver: 2 hours 55 minutes
- Benedum Center in Pittsburgh: 2 hours 50 minutes
As you can see, the runtime hovers right around 2 hours and 50 minutes for most major touring theater productions of Hamilton. The Altria Theater show length fits right in line with these other major theater runs.
Breakdown of Show Acts and Runtimes
To give a more detailed view, Hamilton is broken down into two acts with one 15 minute intermission between them. Here is an approximate breakdown of the show by act and song:
Act | Songs | Approximate Runtime |
---|---|---|
Act 1 | Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, Sir, My Shot, The Story of Tonight, The Schuyler Sisters, Farmer Refuted, You’ll Be Back, Right Hand Man, A Winter’s Ball, Helpless, Satisfied, The Story of Tonight (Reprise), Wait For It, Stay Alive, Ten Duel Commandments, Meet Me Inside, That Would Be Enough, Guns and Ships, History Has Its Eyes On You, Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down) | 1 hour 30 minutes |
Intermission | 15 minutes | |
Act 2 | What Comes Next?, Dear Theodosia, Non-Stop, What’d I Miss, Cabinet Battle #1, Take A Break, Say No To This, The Room Where It Happens, Schuyler Defeated, Cabinet Battle #2, Washington On Your Side, One Last Time, I Know Him, The Adams Administration, We Know, Hurricane, The Reynolds Pamphlet, Burn, Blow Us All Away, Stay Alive (Reprise), It’s Quiet Uptown, The Election of 1800, Your Obedient Servant, Best of Wives Best of Women, The World Was Wide Enough, Who Lives Who Dies Who Tells Your Story | 1 hour 15 minutes |
This breakdown shows that Act 1 is the longer of the two acts, clocking in around 1 hour and 30 minutes with Act 2 running approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. The 15 minute intermission splits up the two acts.
Reasons for Length of Show
Why does Hamilton clock in at close to 3 hours in length, which is longer than many other musicals? There are a few key reasons:
Dense and Complex Storytelling
Hamilton attempts to tell the life story of Alexander Hamilton and the founding of America using ambitious music and narrative arcs. Covering Hamilton’s entire life from his childhood in the Caribbean to his death in a duel with Aaron Burr requires a lot of plot points and character development. This complex storytelling adds runtime compared to more simplistic musicals.
Sung Through Musical Format
Unlike some musicals which contain spoken dialog, Hamilton is entirely sung through. There is very little non-musical dialog in the show. Having the show be sung through means that much more story must be packed into musical verses, which naturally extends the show length compared to musicals with spoken word scenes.
Elaborate Musical Production Numbers
The musical production numbers in Hamilton are very detailed and elaborate, with complex choreography, lighting, and harmonies. Songs like “Satisfied” and “Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down)” contain 5-6 minute long productions numbers to fully serve the narrative and emotional arc. The detail adds great artistic value but also adds to the runtime.
Intermission Length
In terms of the intermission length, most Hamilton productions feature a 15 minute break between Act 1 and Act 2. This allows adequate time for restroom breaks and grabbing snacks or drinks, without letting the show momentum stall too much. Some very quick audience members may feel 15 minutes is too long, while others may want more of a break, but overall 15 minutes serves the general needs of most audiences.
How Long Does It Feel While Watching?
An important perspective on runtime is that many Hamilton fans report the show feeling like it goes by very quickly and the time flies by. Despite clocking in at close to 3 hours, the gripping narrative and powerful music helps immerse the audience and makes the show feel like it passes in a fast and furious blaze. The enthusiasm of the audience also contributes to the feeling of the runtime passing quickly.
Conclusion
At the Altria Theater in Richmond, Virginia, audience members can expect a Hamilton runtime of approximately 2 hours and 50 minutes, including a 15 minute intermission. This show length is on par with other major Hamilton productions around the country and allows enough time to fully tell Alexander Hamilton’s ambitious life story through sung through musical numbers. While the nearly 3 hour runtime may seem long on paper, most fans find themselves completely engrossed in the show’s world and hardly notice the length. The fast paced music, passionate acting, and clever storytelling makes Hamilton fly by as one of the most thrilling and satisfying musical theater experiences for audiences today.