HAMILTON Historian Ron Chernow Shares 'We Really Changed the Perception of Alexander Hamilton'

"I never dreamed that I would be autographing Playbills," jokes 66-year-old author Ron Chernow in a new interview in this week's Wall Street Journal. The Pulitzer Prize-winner is the author of the Alexander Hamilton biography which inspired Lin-Manuel Miranda to create the innovative, new Broadway musical Hamilton.

In 2008, Mr. Chernow was invited by Miranda to become a consultant on his project and ensure its historical accuracy. The experience has been life-changing for the scribe. In addition to fielding "three to four calls or emails a day" from friends asking if he can get them tickets (he can't), Chernow shares that one of the biggest surprises has been the strong bond he has formed with both the cast and creative team. "They're all so damn nice. There has been very little backstage drama," he says, adding "Hardly anyone involved with the show is over 40. The fact that they have embraced me is infinitely touching."

Commenting on maintaining the historical integrity of Miranda's work, Chernow reveals that in some instances, he let the facts slide for the sake of creativity. He cites an example early on in the show when Miranda's Hamilton first encounters his new friends Hercules Mulligan, John Laurens and the Marquis de Lafayette. In reality, the Founding Father met these characters years apart, but as the author explains, "I knew this wasn't going to work if I was some finger-wagging pedant."

Chernow admits to having seen the show at least 40 times, and takes great pleasure in watching audience members enjoy the work while learning about history at the same time. "With any piece of writing, you're hoping that it will change something, and it seldom does," he said. "Between the book and the show, we really changed the perception of Alexander Hamilton."

Most of all, the author is grateful to Hamilton creator Miranda himself and the influence he has had on his own writing. "Lin has great gifts of compression and economy. Having gone through this with him will help me as a writer." He adds, "I treasure the whole year."

Read the article in full here.

The new musical Hamilton has book, music and lyrics by Tony and Grammy Award-winning composer Lin-Manuel Miranda, who also plays the title role. The musical is directed by Thomas Kail, with choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler and music direction and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire. Hamilton is inspired by Ron Chernow's biography "Alexander Hamilton."

The cast of Hamilton is comprised of Lin-Manuel Miranda (Alexander Hamilton), Daveed Diggs(Marquis De Lafayette,Thomas Jefferson), Renée Elise Goldsberry (Angelica Schuyler),Christopher Jackson (George Washington),Jonathan Groff (King George), Jasmine Cephas Jones (Peggy Schuyler, Maria Reynolds), Javier Muñoz (Hamilton alternate), Okieriete Onaodowan(Hercules Mulligan, James Madison), Leslie Odom, Jr. (Aaron Burr),Anthony Ramos(John Laurens, PhilipHamilton) and Phillipa Soo (ElizaHamilton).

HAMILTON is the acclaimed new musical about the scrappy young immigrant Alexander Hamilton, the $10 Founding Father who forever changed America with his revolutionary ideas and actions. During his life cut too short, he served as George Washington's chief aide, was the first Treasury Secretary, a loving husband and father, despised by his fellow Founding Fathers and shot to death by Aaron Burr in their legendary duel.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / WM Photos