Great episode! I have a different interpretation of the character of Aaron Burr. I believe Burr is a traumatized autistic person whose mask has become his identity. He contrasts greatly with Hamilton, who I believe is unmasked Audhd. Burr carefully calculates the risk of all his actions and has systems for keeping things safe and predictable, but it also leaves him feeling lonely and wishing he could be part of the action. Burr struggles with the way Hamilton behaves in the world because he wants what Hamilton has, but the constant risk taking and uncertainty would be too much for him.
Sami here - I'm the Content Manager for The Autistic Culture Podcast. I had the honor of seeing Hamilton at the Pantages in 2021, and I absolutely agree with this theory as well!!
I've been waiting for this one! I was not a theatre kid, but my child was for sometime in the middle school years and we really bonded around musicals, which I love. My kid had the Hamilton shirt that read "My Thoughts Have Been Replaced by Hamilton Lyrics". Anyhow, I have created a Broadway playlist I call Tism' Show Tunes. Some of the songs may not be necessarily autistic coded characters, but I believe many are. You hit most of the one's that I would have mentioned like DEH, Matilda ("Quiet!"), Wicked, Hamilton, Legally Blonde, Sunday in the Park with George, etc., but here are a couple of other characters I believe are autistic or at least autistic coded.
Dawn from Waitress. "When He See's Me" is perfect.
Natalie in Next to Normal. "Everything Else" Maybe the mom Diana too, probably misdiagnosed bipolar.
Christine in Be More Chill. "I Love Play Reversal" is a great summary of the Theatre Kid trope.
Also probably Jeremy and Michael ("Michael in the Bathroom") in Be More Chill. Even Jeremy's Dad never wants to wear pants.
Deb in Ordinary Days. "Calm" is a great song of sensitivity overload.
Olive in 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. I love "My friend the Dictionary".
Most of the characters in Band Geeks. Especially Laura "Lost in the Brass"
Cady in Mean Girls? Stupid with Love. Also maybe Gretchen Weiner "What' Wrong with Me"
Seth in Kimberly Akimbo. "Anagram"
Also I agree on what was said about How to Dance in Ohio. I'm glad I missed the Macy's float thing. I don't think I want to see the play, but I have listened to the Original Cast Recording and there are a couple good songs. The autism mom song is the worst as is the one's that the therapist character sings on. Even some of the songs centered on the kids seem to be a little trite and over simplified. "Under Control", "Unlikely Animals", and "Nothing at All" are good songs that have made my playlist though.
Hi Quinn! Sami here, and I'm the new Content Manager for The Autistic Culture Podcast. As a fellow autistic former theater kid, I'm stoked that you loved the episode! I loved the recent Mean Girls musical movie and I absolutely agree that Cady's character in the musical is autistic coded (I think you could make the same argument with Regina's character as well). I will have to check out all your other recs! Thanks for sharing! :)
While I can’t speak on autistic representation on the stage, I can provide testament to neurodiversity and its relationship to the stage. My senior year of high school, I auditioned for the drama club’s production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “State Fair”. I ended up being cast in the role of David Miller, as well as in the ensemble doing some singing and dancing during the show. It was the best experience of that time in my life and I carried it into my college days and the last part of my twenties, as a volunteer and/or a mere patron.
Great episode! I have a different interpretation of the character of Aaron Burr. I believe Burr is a traumatized autistic person whose mask has become his identity. He contrasts greatly with Hamilton, who I believe is unmasked Audhd. Burr carefully calculates the risk of all his actions and has systems for keeping things safe and predictable, but it also leaves him feeling lonely and wishing he could be part of the action. Burr struggles with the way Hamilton behaves in the world because he wants what Hamilton has, but the constant risk taking and uncertainty would be too much for him.
Sami here - I'm the Content Manager for The Autistic Culture Podcast. I had the honor of seeing Hamilton at the Pantages in 2021, and I absolutely agree with this theory as well!!
OOOOHHHH I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS!!! Going back for another listen. <3 thank you for sharing.
I like this theory!
I've been waiting for this one! I was not a theatre kid, but my child was for sometime in the middle school years and we really bonded around musicals, which I love. My kid had the Hamilton shirt that read "My Thoughts Have Been Replaced by Hamilton Lyrics". Anyhow, I have created a Broadway playlist I call Tism' Show Tunes. Some of the songs may not be necessarily autistic coded characters, but I believe many are. You hit most of the one's that I would have mentioned like DEH, Matilda ("Quiet!"), Wicked, Hamilton, Legally Blonde, Sunday in the Park with George, etc., but here are a couple of other characters I believe are autistic or at least autistic coded.
Dawn from Waitress. "When He See's Me" is perfect.
Natalie in Next to Normal. "Everything Else" Maybe the mom Diana too, probably misdiagnosed bipolar.
Christine in Be More Chill. "I Love Play Reversal" is a great summary of the Theatre Kid trope.
Also probably Jeremy and Michael ("Michael in the Bathroom") in Be More Chill. Even Jeremy's Dad never wants to wear pants.
Deb in Ordinary Days. "Calm" is a great song of sensitivity overload.
Olive in 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. I love "My friend the Dictionary".
Most of the characters in Band Geeks. Especially Laura "Lost in the Brass"
Cady in Mean Girls? Stupid with Love. Also maybe Gretchen Weiner "What' Wrong with Me"
Seth in Kimberly Akimbo. "Anagram"
Also I agree on what was said about How to Dance in Ohio. I'm glad I missed the Macy's float thing. I don't think I want to see the play, but I have listened to the Original Cast Recording and there are a couple good songs. The autism mom song is the worst as is the one's that the therapist character sings on. Even some of the songs centered on the kids seem to be a little trite and over simplified. "Under Control", "Unlikely Animals", and "Nothing at All" are good songs that have made my playlist though.
Hi Quinn! Sami here, and I'm the new Content Manager for The Autistic Culture Podcast. As a fellow autistic former theater kid, I'm stoked that you loved the episode! I loved the recent Mean Girls musical movie and I absolutely agree that Cady's character in the musical is autistic coded (I think you could make the same argument with Regina's character as well). I will have to check out all your other recs! Thanks for sharing! :)
You're so welcome! Thank you for providing a place where I can geek out about this with other fans! 😀
It's like they're both master chess players, but Burr is hyperfocused on how he could lose and Hamilton is hyperfocused on how he could win.
Yes! I agree :)
While I can’t speak on autistic representation on the stage, I can provide testament to neurodiversity and its relationship to the stage. My senior year of high school, I auditioned for the drama club’s production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “State Fair”. I ended up being cast in the role of David Miller, as well as in the ensemble doing some singing and dancing during the show. It was the best experience of that time in my life and I carried it into my college days and the last part of my twenties, as a volunteer and/or a mere patron.