This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Watch Kristen Bell, Joss Whedon, Rachel Bloom, And Others Perform 'Hamilton' for #Ham4All
Ah yes, hashtag challenges: the Triple Dog Dare of our modern times. Though, the end result has less to do with icy flagpoles, and more to do with icy buckets of water. They're also often tied with a good cause (the bucket challenge was done to promote awareness of ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease), so there's a point to it all.
Late last month, Lin-Manuel Miranda (the man behind Hamilton) put forth a new challenge into the world. It was called #Ham4All, and the challenge was for participants to:
1. Donate $10 or more to Immigrants: We Get the Job Done Coalition
2. Sing a small part from Hamilton
3. Challenge a pal or two to the same task
Participants were entered into a sweepstakes for two VIP tickets to the opening night of Hamilton in Los Angeles, two tickets to the after-party, roundtrip airfare, hotel accommodations, and a meet-and-greet with Mr. Miranda himself.
Unsurprisingly, a slew of celebrities joined in on the fun, probably to grow awareness of the challenge, less so to snag tickets for themselves (if this latter scenario is indeed the case, we're worried about your own chances on getting into Hamilton). In the spirit of the challenge, and in stoking hype over Hamilton's imminent arrival in L.A. (it starts on August 11 at the Pantages Theatre), we've rounded up some of our favorite celebrity takes on the smash musical.
Evan Rachel Wood may have given the most stirring rendition. If you're not familiar with the actress, her voice is a revelation:
Jenny Slate keeps it short but sweet:
U got me, @edhelms! I humbly submit my @Lin_Manuel #Ham4All song! Donate now at https://t.co/TBvbvHHbEN WUH OH I CHALLENGE @maebirdwing pic.twitter.com/CptfF38WK8
— jenny slate (@jennyslate) July 2, 2017
Joss Whedon channels his inner Orson Welles (as noted by one Twitter user):
Two pints of Sam Adams but I'm working on three...https://t.co/wtwH2iC6ii @rikilindhome#Ham4All pic.twitter.com/fJZL1dziS3
— Joss Whedon (@joss) July 5, 2017
Here's Ben Stiller chilling out at the park:
Donate to support the Immigrants: We Get the Job Done Coalition! I challenge @TheLucasSteele @JoshGroban! #Ham4All @Lin_Manuel pic.twitter.com/NzDo8u9nC9
— Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) June 26, 2017
"Weird Al" Yankovic also got into it. This is right up his alley, after all:
I challenge @thomaslennon & @meganamram. #Ham4All pic.twitter.com/bYF9CryFIx
— Al Yankovic (@alyankovic) June 27, 2017
And here's Eva Longoria:
I just donated to support the Immigrants: We Get The Job Done. I challenge @ricky_martin and @MarioLopezExtra! Thank you @Lin_Manuel! pic.twitter.com/P4QJrBOlr6
— Eva Longoria Baston (@EvaLongoria) June 28, 2017
Kristen Bell looks to be suffering from a bout of insomnia:
My #Ham4All song was easy-I sing it to my kids often. Donated proudly to #immigrantswegetthejobdone.https://t.co/7cQs9sAURW UR up @joshgad! pic.twitter.com/3Vw4W5lKJ9
— Kristen Bell (@KristenBell) June 29, 2017
Lea Michele obviously knows how to belt it out, so this is a bit unfair:
And here's Bobby Cannavale keeping it casual with a backwards ballcap:
And America Ferrera with an inspiring background:
My #Ham4All ! I challenge @unfoRETTAble @captdope -Donate, sing, post 4 chance 2 win tix 2 LA opening w/ @Lin_Manuel https://t.co/5rb4KYT5N6 pic.twitter.com/5UT53rSZtG
— America Ferrera (@AmericaFerrera) June 29, 2017
Rachel Bloom, our pal in West Covina, chimes in with her version:
Ed Helms brings out his banjo:
Ok @rainnwilson, here's my @Lin_Manuel #Ham4All song! Donate now at https://t.co/rf1SGwI5hy NOW I CHALLENGE @jennyslate!!! pic.twitter.com/4LI3Gg77b9
— Ed Helms (@edhelms) June 30, 2017
Here's super chill couple Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade:
Olivia Munn says the challenge resonates with her, as she's the daughter of an immigrant mother:
The sweepstakes ends on July 31 at 4:00 p.m. Check here for more info about the challenge.
-
Donald Trump was a fading TV presence when the WGA strike put a dent in network schedules.
-
Pickets are being held outside at movie and TV studios across the city
-
For some critics, this feels less like a momentous departure and more like a footnote.
-
Disneyland's famous "Fantasmic!" show came to a sudden end when its 45-foot animatronic dragon — Maleficent — burst into flames.
-
Leads Ali Wong and Steven Yeun issue a joint statement along with show creator Lee Sung Jin.
-
Every two years, Desert X presents site-specific outdoor installations throughout the Coachella Valley. Two Los Angeles artists have new work on display.