PHOTO FLASH: Music Legend Judy Collins Visits Backstage, Raves About HAMILTON

While theatre lovers and cabaret fans were rightfully mad about Stephen Sondheim in the early 1970s, it wasn't until Judy Collins released a hit single of "Send In The Clowns" that he started gaining national attention as an important composer/lyricist.

In a time when folk singers could become international superstars, Collins had her first hit with a 1961 cover of Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now." Her cherished recordings include "Someday Soon," "Amazing Grace" and "Chelsea Morning."

Judy Collins paid a third visit to Hamilton last week, along with writer Ron Chernow, whose biography of the great patriot served as the musical's inspiration. The music icon is very impressed, to say the least, as she writes on her Facebook page:

"Here I am with Lin-Manuel Miranda, the star, writer, author, composer and singular performer in Hamilton, the great show on Broadway that is making history. It was my third trip to see Hamilton, based on the book by my friend Ron Chernow."

"The play is beyond brilliant," she continues, "and wonderfully staged. I think I am going to have to see it in every season. See it if you have to beg, borrow, steal and bargain to do so. It is amazing, brilliant, wonderfully musical and totally engaging. The best thing I have seen on Broadway since the MARAT/SADE in 1966."

"Here I am with Ron Chernow and some of the great cast from Hamilton on the last day of their run at The Public Theater in May. Ron, Eliza (Philippa Soo), Angelica (Renée Elise Goldsberry), me and Burr (Leslie Odom, Jr.).

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 (Eliza Hamilton).

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.