The filmed version of Broadway’s “Hamilton” dropped on Disney+ on July 3, and fans everywhere are now getting the chance to experience the hit musical.
One little viewer was particularly excited to see Phillipa Soo, who plays Eliza Schuyler Hamilton in the show, on her television screen.
Soo, who is Chinese American, took to Twitter to share an adorable video of a young Asian girl named Jenna excitedly shouting, “It’s me!” upon seeing the actor.
“Little Jenna here is exactly why #representation matters,” Soo wrote in her tweet. “I am so grateful for this show, that so many young people can watch this show and say ‘It’s me.’ Thank you @britbrit1432 for sharing this video. @HamiltonMusical #hamilfilm.”
Little Jenna here is exactly why #representationmatters . I am so grateful for this show, that so many young people can watch this show and say “It’s me” . Thank you @britbrit1432 for sharing this video â¤ï¸ðâ¤ï¸ð @HamiltonMusical #hamilfilm pic.twitter.com/iDbb4orVIs
— Phillipa Soo (@Phillipasoo) July 6, 2020
Although her mom corrects Jenna and tells her the woman she points out is Eliza, the little girl is undeterred. “This is you?” her mom asks. “Yeah,” Jenna says. Naturally, her mom rolls with her daughter’s heartwarming moment of identification, telling her, “Wow, you’re so pretty!”
Soo’s tweet now has more than 2.4 million views and more than 16,000 retweets. In the replies, people expressed their support for diversity and representation in entertainment and the arts.
@TammyD93312374 said we need even more examples of representation in movies and more to show kids what’s possible:
Absolutely! We need to make shows movies etc showing everyone especially our children that can be you see, right there! â¤ï¸â¤ï¸â¤ï¸
— Tammy D (@TammyD93312374) July 6, 2020
“Thank you for sharing,” wrote @Teresa722. “As a kindergarten teacher, we keep track of diversity in our picture books we share with our students because studies show representation is so important. It absolutely matters when you can have a child relate to a character who looks like them in a book or a show”:
Thank you for sharing. As a Kindergarten teacher, we keep track of diversity in our picture books we share w/ our students bc studies show representation is so important. It absolutely matters when you can have a child relate to a character that looks like them in a book or show. pic.twitter.com/V8EOwm4mhE
— Teresa (@Teresa7277) July 6, 2020
“Hamilton” playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda also shared the touching video on Twitter, captioning it with Jenna’s sweet proclamation of “It’s me,” alongside a breaking heart emoji:
“It’s me.” ð https://t.co/yllBZ3AKUQ
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) July 6, 2020
“It’s a huge deal that we’re seeing a show that is retelling American history using actors of color,” Soo told Deadline of “Hamilton’s” diverse cast. “We’re channeling these characters and historical figures through our voices and our bodies. The writing is so genius and what Lin has given us is such a gift.”
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