Life at Hamilton: Sometimes You Throw Away Your Shot, Only to Find Your Story

by Mike Anthony

When Mike Anthony moved to New York City to become an actor, he’d imagined being under the bright lights of Broadway, living a life full of fame and fortune. Instead, he took a job not on stage for a Broadway show, but behind its bar, and found a life full of meaning. In Life At Hamilton , Mike takes us along on his journey, recounting his extraordinary experiences as An American Musical rocketed into Broadway history, from its unparalleled opening night, through the 2016 election, to its COVID-19 intermission. On display along the way are Mike’s heartfelt and often humorous encounters with the show’s patrons, including some of the most famous celebrities in the world, and its biggest (and littlest) Hamilfans. Mike’s story is a testament to the potent power of theater to connect, to inspire, and to heal. For as long as there have been people, they have put on plays. Life At Hamilton reminds us why.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography

296 pages, Paperback

Published November 30, 2020

Reviews

[Iper Junberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had every intention to take my time with a book I knew would be filled with heartwarming stories. That is not what happened.

Instead, I spent a day much needed with a book which not only delivered the heartwarming stories I expected, but worked in so many different ways to soothe the different breaks and cracks in my soul.

Mike Anthony has a talent for words, and an even bigger talent for seeing the good.

So when you need to stop and find a way to remind yourself of the inherent beauty and goodness of humanity, this book will do so.

[Kendra Pierce · Rating 1 out of 5]

Politics and name dropping. I literally threw it in the trash. The 25% of the book that was about Lin and Hamilton was good.

[Scarneyash · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mike Anthony is a gift!

Mike’s stories and the words he uses to tell them have made me laugh and cry, and this book is a great way to have so many of them in one place. You don’t have to be a Hamilton fan to enjoy this book. You just have to be a fan of life, and people, and kindness. Just like Mike is.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I asked my library to get this book. But, they did and I was able to borrow it. It was SO GOOD! It is one of those books that makes you want to be a better person. It made me laugh and cry. And it left me feeling hopeful. Hopeful that things will be better one day because there ARE good people in this world. I’m so glad I kept seeing that Facebook ad and looked into this great book!

[Linds · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book written by the bar tender at the Hamilton NY Broadway show. It’s filled with any observations and incidents about the cast and cameos of the famous people that visited. Mildly Recommended for Hamilton Super Fans

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a bit repetitious and found myself walking away from it a few times. I LOVED the behind-the-scenes stories from Hamilton and hearing all about Mike’s encounters with various famous people while bartending at the theater.

I actually bartender at our local theater and never had as much time as Mike did to engage with patrons the way that he was able too. Probably due to staffing-shortages and bad logistics on our end. Anyway, that part was fun and fast-paced. It became a bit of a slog when Mike would get preachy (and I’m a liberal!) and also tell stories of his upbringing and family. I try not to rate memoirs poorly, because it’s rude to tell someone who took the time to write a book that “you’re life is boring” but this book would’ve benefited from extensive editing.

Great for Hamilton fans but I found myself wishing I’d skimmed the parts that weren’t directly related to the “Hamilton Experience”.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read for HamFans

Great weaving of life (life lessons) with his experience of being a Hamilton bartender. It is much more reflective than I thought and touched me deeply on multiple occasions. Very enjoyable easy read.

[Linda Freels · Rating 5 out of 5]

I usually give stars and don't review but I just want to say how inspirational and utterly moving this book is. I totally admit to being a Hamilton "addict" and I am. Broadway baby ( including working as an usherette in the '80s). Each if the background stories and experiences were gems. Love love loved the author's perspective on life and philosophy. As you can see, I can't say enough about this touching book. Thank you Mike!!

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a massive Hamilton fan, I wanted to love it. Although the non Hamilton stories were heartwarming, they took up 50% of the book. I guess I just wanted more Hamilton theatre stories.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

President’s Day seemed like a good day to start this book, but I never thought when I picked it up that it would be a good day to finish it too. What a great book!!! For anyone who loves Hamilton, enjoys Hamilton, or has heard of Hamilton - this book is for you.

More importantly, for anyone who ever set foot in a theater and immediately felt at home, this book is for you.

This book will show you not just the who’s who of audience members at Hamilton, but the wonderful stories of what this show means to everyday people and how everyday people can impact the life of a bartender.

Thank you Mike Anthony for sharing this lobby look at one of the greatest shows ever and an inside look at how you can find yourself when you don’t even realize you were looking.

[Alicia Khamis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve only seen Hamilton on tv, and really wish I had the chance to see it on Broadway, as I love it. Reading perspectives from someone so close to it was fun. I enjoyed the stories of the people he met and his love for humanity. He genuinely finds the good in so much of life. Just slightly too much with political views, but otherwise I liked the book.

[Julie Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow. a heart clutched of a read.

Loved the pure goodness of this book and this man. What a joy to be able to peek behind the curtain a bit and see what magic Hamilton was for the entire team and for humanity. Read with my hand on my heart to keep all the love.

[Joey Madia · Rating 5 out of 5]

We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us. —Joseph Campbell
As a writer and teacher of writing for the stage, page, and screen and avid reader and researcher, my tastes are pretty eclectic, so it’s not unusual for a book that I review to resonate with me on some very personal level.
That said, the overlaps, resonances, and synergies with Mike Anthony’s Life at Hamilton are nothing short of remarkable.
I believe that the Universe, if you trust it, has an intelligent design that helps us find our bliss. To connect with the people that we are supposed to in this life, so that we can fulfill our potential. Our mission. Call it Source, or God, or even your Higher Self. And that fulfillment might just be what some have termed our Soul Contract.
Regardless of what one calls it, one of the keys to not only finding, but following, our bliss (a concept brought to the West by Joseph Campbell) is to embrace the quote that opens this review, also by Mr. Campbell.
Campbell knew what he was talking about, and so does the author of Life at Hamilton.
Mike Anthony can write. And he can write because he loves. His words nearly pop off the page, taking us through not only his life, but the life of the musical phenomenon Hamilton (as well as its predecessor, Into the Heights). That is one of our overlaps. I was introduced to the soundtrack of Lin Manuel Miranda’s take on the Founding Fathers five years ago by one of my acting students (being all-in “theatre people” since we were teenagers is another commonality). Always quick to accept such a recommendation, I promptly downloaded the 47 tracks. Since that fateful day, I have listened to many of the songs hundreds of times and, as my family will tell you, no one knows when I’ll burst into “Farmer Refuted” or “The Story of Tonight.” Anytime, anywhere.
Performing, and more precisely, storytelling, is in my blood, the same way it’s in Mike’s.
And, again like Mike, I believe Miranda is a special kind of genius. Both of my home writing and multimedia studios have a picture of him hanging on the wall. In the room where I am revising this review (a “room where it happens”), he is wearing a t-shirt that says “Artist” while typing away on his laptop wearing headphones: writing like “he is running out of time.” I get that. In my other studio room, he stares down at me as Hamilton (a page taken from the book Hamilton: A Revolution, a bible-sized tome I devoured in a week), daring me not to write. Not to Create. Not to use Story to make the world a better place.
And that’s what Mike does in Life at Hamilton. And he does it wonderfully well. It is heart and soul at a time when that isn’t always popular. He calls to task conservative politicians who seek to exclude. He takes us through his heartbreak when Trump/Pence were elected, and narrates the night Pence attended Hamilton. I remember it well. Every theatre person does. I also remember Trump’s tweet the following morning, calling for apologies for a “very good man.” That was game on as far as his Twitter tirades—a different kind of storytelling that would make for a much less resonant, important book…
Mike makes you ponder what makes a “very good man”… a very good person, by introducing us to many of them from his position as bartender and then bar manager at the Richard Rogers, from the time of Hamilton’s debut to the closing of Broadway due to COVID-19.
If you love Hamilton, that’s one reason to read this book. There are plenty of insider experiences, many celebrating Miranda’s improvisational genius and generosity toward cast, crew, theatre staff, and the public. He truly is a mensch. And so is Mike.
Much of the book is Mike’s Facebook posts during that period, and then at the onset of the pandemic. If you like stories about celebrities (who doesn't?) he’s got plenty—from Amy Schumer’s $1,000 and $2,000 bar tips, to Bernie Sanders shouting “Who?” when his wife tried to explain to him who one of the “real housewives” was, to Mike’s kidding around with megastar quarterbacks like Tom Brady and Aaron Rogers.
But those stories, as funny and charming as they are (because Mike has an awesome, at times Jimmy Stewart–esque self-deprecating sense of humor and everyman charm), pale in comparison to the stories of children—some of them terminally ill—and families whose lives suddenly made a little more sense, that shone a bit brighter, because they were experiencing Hamilton live.
There are times in Life at Hamilton when you will cry, probably because Mike did, because his emotion lives in the text, waiting to be lifted—through the act of reading—up and into your heart. But also because we are human, and the stories Mike tells reside at that overlapping sweet spot in the Venn Diagram of socio-political-economic differences where we share a Common Humanity.
Now, to the subtitle: Sometimes You Throw Away Your Shot, Only to find Your Story. Fans of Hamilton (though, again, you needn’t be one to find value in and love this book) know that the core of Miranda’s Alexander Hamilton is his vow to “not throw away [my] shot.”
Mike also took a shot—racking up $100,000 in college debt to earn an MFA in Theatre. That’s commitment. I earned a double-major BA in Theatre and English Lit and, when I didn’t get into the grad school writing program I wanted to (because, according to what the program head told my writing mentor, I didn’t know anyone there, so how could I get in?) I enrolled for an MA in Theatre, lasting a semester before realizing that Experience was where it was at. I’ve never looked back, working in theatre, commercials, film, and industrials while founding an acting school and social justice theatre company to train teenagers to become, not just working actors, but citizen-artists.
I don’t usually share my story in such detail in these reviews, but, like I said, Mike and I have a lot in common… and, far more importantly, Mike, in telling his story, inspires you to tell yours. And, as any wise person knows, the world not only needs inspiring, inclusive, accepting stories—they are the stuff from which the Universe is made.
As funny as the stories in Life at Hamilton can be, there are some tear-bringers as well. And not only from children with terminal illnesses.
Mike rotates through several Broadway theatres for the umbrella company that owns them. At one theatre, the great Robin Williams was doing a show and struck up a friendship with another staff member, an older female. I was heartbroken, but innately understood, when he took his life rather than experience the deterioration of his genius-level comedic and storytelling skills. Reading about their encounters as Mike witnessed them confirms everything I knew about this generous, sensitive person whom I still miss very much.
Most appropriate to the work I do as a paranormal investigator and experiencer who has been gathering evidence for life after death for over a decade, the stories about Mike’s dad, with whom he was extremely close, are truly inspiring. Mike’s response with evidence in the face of cynics (one a famous magician in the Houdini/Randi tradition) in the form of a butterfly appearing where butterflies should not be at the exact moment the question of consciousness surviving death comes up is a highlight of the book.
Mike’s research into life after death, specifically through messages from his father, are the subject of his second book, Love, Dad, which I am currently reading and will also review.
In these troubled, transitional times, we need to find inspiration everywhere we can and Life at Hamilton is at least as inspiring—and inspiriting—as the ground-breaking musical from which it takes its name. As to Mike’s (as well as my own) deep respect for the genius of Lin Manuel Miranda, genius comes in many, equally essential, forms, as Mike himself says:
“I’ll tell you what I think my genius might be; it’s the tendency to notice and be moved more often by what’s good than by what isn’t yet.”
It is in this use of “yet” that the core of Mike’s own kind of genius lies.

[Jena Eschenbrenner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really loved this book when I started it - my sister had it and let me read it while we were on vacation recently. We are both huge Hamilton/musical theatre fans. Unfortunately, there were several "political" stories which were too divisive for my liking. I wanted to read about life behind the scenes at Hamilton, not about the political leanings of the author. The parts I did read that did NOT show "Democrats as awesome" and "Republicans as awful" were really good. Just couldn't get past the fact that the author's political values were a big part of the book. I gave it back to my sister without finishing it!

[Betty Fernau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible!!

I absolutely loved this book. It has me in tears several times, but the Curtain Call chapter made me feel seen. Like Mike Anthony‘a mom and sisters, I spent days crying because the horrible man was elected president. It was a slap in the face of every woman. And the slaps kept coming. I’ve lost so many family members and friends to the Trump madness. I don’t understand how any moral person would vote for an immoral con artist and allow themselves to be conned. But yes, this book was amazing. I loved it and will read it again.

[Lori Worden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got to thinking more about this book after I finished it. Think about everyone who has walked into the Richard Rodgers theatre to see Hamilton… it was one of the happiest days in their life. And then you were able to have conversations with these people. The stories were funny, heartwarming, and even a little divisive depending upon your viewpoint. But I loved reading them. Also crazy to think that we were just 5 days separated from the day Matt Damon was at Hamilton!

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book. And, I did love the heartwarming behind the scenes stories. I was taken aback by the political rants and name calling, however, and it was a major turn off. Consequently, I merely skimmed the last half of the book.

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mike manages the bars at the Richard Rodgers Theater, where both In the Heights and Hamilton played. The first third was rough going, a little overwritten. The last two thirds were excerpts from his blog and social media, highlighting some memorable experiences with the show and audience members, and was much more enjoyable.

[Cindi Iritsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely wonderful!

Loving Hamilton as much as I do,it was refreshing to read a book from someone who was there every night, and who loves it too. A great read, a great book, and very profound. Being a spiritual person as well, this book feels and felt right. Loved it, loved it!

[Julie Failla Earhart · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am probably the only person in the United States who loves American history and musical theater but hasn’t seen Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway sensation, Hamilton. I just don’t think I’d like all that rapping. Of the few scenes I’ve seen on television, I can’t understand a word they are saying/singing. But maybe it’s just me. That, and I don’t want to pay $500 for a ticket just to be frustrated. That’s why I picked up this memoir from the bartender at the theater where Hamilton was/is playing. I thought it was a backstage look at the hottest ticket in town. And in ways it is.

The author, Mike Anthony, set out to be a Broadway actor. But like many wannabes, he had to pay his dues. So, he took a job as a bartender at Hamilton’s home, the Richard Rogers Theater until he could get a Broadway gig. I was never sure if Anthony kept a journal during his time at RRT, or if he set out to write a book about the people who stopped by or those he met.

The book was interesting, but I didn’t care about Anthony’s memories and anecdotes. I didn’t care about the famous people who came to see the show (Opray, twenty-five times; Rosie O’Donnell more than forty) and his interaction with them. I was rather fascinated about how the Secret Service got then-President Obama and then-Vice President Pence in and out without that night’s audience even knowing they were there.

From what I understand, Anthony gave up his dream behind the footlights and settled into a swell job. I’m happy for him. He found satisfaction and joy in what he did, and really, that’s all we can hope for in a job.

Life at Hamilton: Sometimes You Throw Away Your Shot, Only to Find Your Story receives 2 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really I'd probably give it a 3-4 stars but I'll add an extra for all the people who are in their feelings about it being "too political" read: I don't want to be reminded i voted for a racist moron.

BUT ANYWAY...

I wonder if Mike reads these, in which case I will add my own first Hamil-memory. Prior to covid, I had seen the show 5x: once a year for 2015(nyc), 16(chi), 17(nyc), 18(dc), and 19(nyc). 3x tickets, 2x lottery. In fact, in 2019, I had said my summer project was to apply for the lottery every day until I won. I won on the 2nd try.

First time seeing the show was September 5, 2015, which I now call my Hamilversary and will watch Hamilton on Disney+ on this date every year. Funny thing about seeing this show back then... there were no youtube clips. There was not even a sound track out yet. No one really stage doored either. Lin would take your phone and snap selfies with it himself. I was staying with my friend who lived in an apartment 2 blocks from the theater (I know, I hate him too) and after the show I was trying to explain to him what I saw. The best I could do was "omg it was so good... and they had this line 'immigrants we get the job done' and they high five and omg i loved it" That was the best I could do to describe the show lol.

Now when I watch the show on my tv, I can still close my eyes and be transported to the theater the first time I heard Dear Theodosia back in 2015, but as if it were yesterday. I enjoyed reading the collection of stories Mike has lived through by working at the Richard Rogers.

[Diane Newton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listen. I’ve been blessed enough to have seen Hamilton twice (Chicago and Memphis) and I’m blessed to have tickets to a show in Little Rock in February 2022. This musical is genius. It transcends all things. To see it and feel it means you’ve witnessed greatness.

So imagine my surprise when this book crossed my Facebook ads. I figured it was another gimmick but since it’s free on Kindle Unlimited, I gave it a go.

This book is amazing. It may be my most favorite non-fiction book I’ve ever read. Not only does Mike Anthony capture the raw emotion of Hamilton from his unique contribution to the show, he also captures the things that connect each of us traveling this ball spinning in the universe. He goes deep to reveal the emotions we all have and sometimes forget - or take for granted. I teared up throughout this book, not from sadness, but from pure joy.

I cannot recommend this book enough. So much so, I’m posting it on Facebook as well as Goodreads.

I only pray you love it as much as I do. ♥️

[Sophia Grandinetti · Rating 5 out of 5]

I may be a bit biased in rating this 5 stars as a huge theater kid and the daughter of a close friend of Mike Anthony's. In fact, I have my own story within these pages. The July 5th, 2019 entry on pages 220 and 221 are about me. I was the little girl who said she wanted to be an astronaut. Five years later and turning 16, I have become an actress, and one day, I would love to be in Hamilton, but I am still chasing down my dream of becoming an astronaut. So yes, Mike, I have managed to pin down both my passion for science and that of acting. Do what you will with my story, but I think it's so important for young girls to see that they can do anything they want, whether that be acting on Broadway or becoming an astronaut. Personally, I want both.

[Carianne Carleo-Evangelist · Rating 3 out of 5]

The recollections of a bartender at the Richard Rodgers theatre during the runs of In the Heights, Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo and of course Hamilton. Anthony shares writing he'd previously posted to social media, sometimes with additional context as well a new material. Interwoven is the story of his relationship with his father, his celebrity crushes (some of whom came to see the shows) and insight on the phenomenon that is Hamilton.
Fun collection of stories, might have preferred more thematic than purely chronological, although the backdrop of 45 was a good layer too.

[Stephani Kilby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every once in awhile the right book comes along at just the right time and this was one of those rare, magical moments. I don’t think I even realized how much I needed some positive, heartwarming, honest reminders of the goodness around us until I was knee-deep in Kleenex and unable to put this book down. As if I didn’t already love Hamilton enough, I now have a new-found appreciation for all of the people that brought it to life, as well as all of the people that contribute every day to the idea that is America. So much goodness in the world, if we just look around…look around.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book - stayed up way too late to finish it. Hearing about “Hamilton” from Mike’s perspective was a real treat (who knew they had a softball team?). Reading about Mike’s meetups with the folks who passed through the theatre - both the famous and the everyday folks - was just wonderful. I’m sure many of them will remember the kind, cheerful bartender they happened to meet that day. Mike’s comments and philosophical musings were definitely inspiring. He wrote a book that illustrates “can’t we all get along?” as seen from his view at the bar. Really excellent.

[Elizabeth Merck · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must read for any "Hamilton" fan, but other people would enjoy it as well. The author, who is actually the bar manager at "Hamilton" in New York City, expertly captures how theatre connects us all. It's not only a book about who he's met and how the show has transformed lives, it's a novel that celebrates life and everything positive about being human, despite how difficult it may be. Anthony is an excellent writer. The chapters are short and fun, and it's a quick and easy read. Be ready to be inspired and perhaps even shed a few tears.

[Steven Taliaferro]

An uplifting read.

If you're a theatre geek like me, you will enjoy this book. If you're not a theatre geek, you'll enjoy this book. If you're a "Hamilton" fan like me, you'll enjoy this book. If you're not a "Hamilton" fan, you'll enjoy this book. If you're an avid reader, you'll enjoy this book. If you're not an avid reader, you'll enjoy this book. Anyway you slice it, you will enjoy this book. So get this book, read, and enjoy.

[Andrea Criscione · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed his stories and positive take on life immensely. Very enjoyable. Although it is mostly his social media posts strung together, I didn't worry so much about writing structure, word choice, etc. while reading, and in doing so I loved the ride he took us on, the personal experiences he shared both from Hamilton and his past, to weave together an overall picture of how to find beauty and love in the world.

[McKinley · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who loves theatre and Broadway, I enjoyed this book! It gave a lot of behind the scenes stories and audience interactions from the perspective of the Bar Manager at Hamilton.

There were parts that got a little long, and strayed away from the behind the scenes of Hamilton. There were two small errors in the book that I noticed (pretty obvious if you are a fan of Hamilton). Overall a quick enjoyable read!

I recommend it for anyone that enjoys theatre or Hamilton!