Why is Benjamin Franklin not in the musical Hamilton?

He was in an early draft, cutting to a scene in France where Franklin and Adams worked their VERY different styles of diplomacy. My favorite Franklin quote (and I'm paraphrasing) is “I got more diplomacy done after midnight in the brothels of Paris than Adams did every morning before noon. read more

Hamilton was a young whipper snapper when Franklin was on his last legs. Franklin died in 1790 just as the new government was being formed. read more

Hamilton is cast without regard to race—none of the actors who play Aaron Burr, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson are white—which makes it easier to forget that this is a retelling of history. read more

In awesome news, on Friday, Dec. 15, Lin-Manuel Miranda dropped a new Hamilton song, and fans already can’t seem to get enough of the catchy tune. The single, which is titled "Ben Franklin's Song," features a roll-out of Miranda's most recent lyrical offerings set to music from indie-rock band, The Decemberists. read more