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Thousands Of Chicago Kids To See 'Hamilton' Thanks To Grant

By David Matthews | February 21, 2017 12:36pm | Updated on February 21, 2017 1:37pm
 Javier Munoz is the title character in the Chicago run of
Javier Munoz is the title character in the Chicago run of "Hamilton."
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Facebook/Hamilton

THE LOOP — Chicago schoolchildren are getting to see "Hamilton" thanks to a generous grant out of New York.

Students from 30 Chicago schools are seeing the Wednesday matinee performance of the hot hip-hopera about America's Founding Fathers thanks to a $1.46 million grant from The Rockefeller Foundation via the Gilder Lehrman Institute, the institute announced on its website

Another 28 schools are going March 1. About 20,000 students and teachers from Chicago will go to 10 "Hamilton" shows this year, according to ticket website Broadway in Chicago. 

Making "Hamilton" accessible to schoolchildren has long been a priority of show creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, who brought 20,000 students in New York to the show thanks to the Rockefeller Foundation. Miranda said in an interview last year he was hoping to duplicate that effort in Chicago. 

RELATED: Lin-Manuel Miranda Wants To Take Chicago Kids To See 'Hamilton'

Students and school staff paid $10, a steep discount, for their tickets. How the schools were selected was unclear. Representatives of some of the schools going Wednesday said the students attending the show are taking American history classes. Some students will perform songs inspired by "Hamilton" Wednesday morning before the matinee. 

Participating schools include Muchin College Prep in the Loop, Senn High School in Edgewater, Benito Juarez Community Academy in Pilsen and Gary Comer College Prep in Grand Crossing. 

View the full list of participating schools here

"Hamilton," starring actors of color, is a cultural phenomenon that has won a Pulitzer Prize, 11 Tony Awards, and the adoration of even non-theatergoers. 

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