How the Cast of "Hamilton" Made Philanthropy Its Mission

"Hamilton" is a success by any metric. The numbers speak for themselves: a record-breaking 16 Tony Award nominations; reported box office profits of $600,000 a week; 215 million combined plays of the "Hamilton" soundtrack on Spotify (and counting—I'm personally adding several dozen a week); seemingly endless fan posts on Tumblr; and a resale ticket market that could be singled out as a bright spot for economic growth.

But perhaps what's most exceptional about the musical is that its cast and crew have used the show as a vehicle for giving back. They hope to make "Hamilton" transformative not just for Broadway and the larger world of theater, but for children across New York City.