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Grant Lets 20,000 NYC Students See 'Hamilton' On Broadway

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Some 20,000 New York City high school students will see the Broadway hit "Hamilton'' thanks to a $1.46 million grant announced Tuesday by the Rockefeller Foundation.

Classroom materials integrating "Hamilton'' into the 11th-grade U.S. history curriculum will also be provided under the program.

"Hamilton,'' created by Lin-Manuel Miranda, uses hip-hop and other popular music forms to tell the story of the Founding Fathers.

The musical is based on Ron Chernow's biography of Alexander Hamilton and has been praised by scholars for its vivid depiction of historical events, including Hamilton's death at the hands of Aaron Burr in a duel.

It tells the unlikely story of an orphan from the Caribbean island of Nevis who served as George Washington's right-hand man during the Revolutionary War and later became the first secretary of the U.S. Treasury.

"The Rockefeller Foundation recognizes 'Hamilton' as a groundbreaking work of genius, and everyone should have the opportunity to see it, regardless of their resources,'' Rockefeller Foundation President Judith Rodin said. "This is doubly true of students who are finding their passions and deciding on career paths.''

Under the initiative starting next April, the producers of "Hamilton'' will make tickets to select Wednesday matinees available for $70 for students attending New York City public high schools. The Rockefeller Foundation will subsidize $60 of each ticket, and students will pay just $10.

Students will learn about their "founding fathers" in the classroom before they come see the musical and will even prepare a piece to perform on stage. They will also meet the cast, CBS2's Jill Nicolini reported.

"How it will inflame the imaginations of our students, I just can't wait to see what they create once they've seen it," Miranda said.

"Our goal is to ensure that all students have a shot to see 'Hamilton' and use its words, music and staging to further their enjoyment of American history, music and drama,'' said "Hamilton'' producer Jeffrey Seller.

Miranda, a native New Yorker who plays the title role in "Hamilton,'' called the initiative "a dream come true.''

"I can't wait to perform for a theater full of students who are learning about our Founding Fathers in class and seeing how it still relates to their own lives on stage,'' Miranda said.

New York City Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina said the opportunity to see "Hamilton'' will "give teachers and students the opportunity to experience American history in a unique way while connecting to the class curriculum and cultivating a deep love of learning.''

Dr. Judith Rodin, the president of the Rockefeller Foundation said that if this program is a success, there is a possibility they will extend the initiative after 2017.

(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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