Broadway musical Hamilton issues cease-and-desist to Texas church after altered and illegal shows
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Producers of the original Broadway musical ‘Hamilton’ issued a cease-and-desist letter to a church in Texas for illegally performing a version of the hit play which contains homophobic rhetoric.
The Door McAllen church in McAllen, Texas, hosted two showings of the adapted production on Friday and Saturday night, ‘Hamilton’ writer Howard Sherman shared on social media.
‘Last night, The Door McAllen Church in McAllen TX committed a blatant copyright violation by performing and live-streaming their own production of ‘Hamilton: The Musical’ which is not licensed for any productions,’ Sherman shared on a Twitter thread.
The Texas church’s adaptation of the popular musical altered several passages with many references from the Bible that were never included in ‘Hamilton’ creator Lin-Manuel Miranda’s original production.
The church’s pastor, Victor Lopez, also held a sermon after Friday’s show, in which he portrayed homosexuality as a ‘sin’.
‘He knows exactly what you’ve gone through,’ Lopez tells churchgoers, referring to God. ‘You’ve maybe gone through broken marriages. Maybe you have struggled with alcohol, with drugs, with homosexuality. Maybe you struggle with other things in life, your finances, whatever, relationships. God can help you tonight. He wants to forgive you for your sins.’
Victor Lopez, a pastor at Door McAllen in McAllen, Texas, gave a sermon with homophobic rhetoric at the end of an illegal production of ‘Hamilton: The Musical’ on Friday
Several passages of the Texas church’s adaption of play were altered with biblical references, as mentioned by ‘Hamilton’ playwright Howard Sherman on Twitter
Door McAllen claims that producers of ‘Hamilton: The Musical’ gave them permission to run Saturday’s production after receiving a cease-and-decease letter
In response, Sherman pointed out that ‘addictions’ and ‘LGBTQ lives are not sinful.’ He further said that the church cannot ‘spread messages that are contrary to the messages that are contrary to the messages of Hamilton, of musical, of theatre and they cannot be allowed to take artists’ works for their own ends.’
The playwright contacted the Texas church to prevent Saturday’s show and thought he had successfully done so by noticing the church’s Facebook event for the show being canceled.
However, Sherman received an email from Door McAllen. It read: ‘Great News! We are continuing with our showing of Hamilton the Musical tonight! You will still see the Everbrite listing as ”Canceled” however, we are able to proceed with tonight’s showing! No ticket is needed to enter.’
‘We apologize for any inconvenience or misunderstanding. We look forward to seeing you & your family tonight at 6 p.m.!,’ the email further revealed.
Sherman contacted Door McAllen to prevent Saturday’s show. The church cancelled the event on Facebook but told Sherman in a separate email that the second showing would go on
Door McAllen (pictured) claimed the musical’s original producers allowed Saturday’s show to go on if no live-streaming, recording, or sharing of any footage or photos appeared on social media. Producers of ‘Hamilton’ are now ‘in the process of reviewing the unauthorized changes made to the script to determine further action.’
Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator of ‘Hamilton: The Musical,’ has not responded to findings of the unauthorized production
The Door McAllen later said in a statement that it was allowed to host the second show, with certain conditions being upheld, including no live-streaming, recording, or sharing of any footage or photos on social media.
Shane Marshall Brown, a ‘Hamilton’ spokesperson told DailyMail.com that it ‘this limited permission was without prejudice and we reserved all rights and remedies; and we would be discussing this matter with the parties behind this unauthorized production within the coming days once all facts are properly vetted.’
‘The Hamilton family stands for tolerance, compassion, inclusivity and certainly LGBTQ+ rights. We are in the process of reviewing the unauthorized changes made to the script to determine further action.’
DailyMail.com has reached out to The Door McAllen for further comment.
Video from Friday’s performance was deleted from the church’s social media accounts after the cease-and-desist letter was received. Some footage was, however, resurfaced and shared by author and atheist activist Hemant Mehta.
In one recording, Hamilton is comforted by another character reading the Bible to him while appearing to be going through a difficult time. He is being persuaded that ‘God is the only one that can help you right now.’
In a separate video, Hamilton’s wife Eliza Schuyler sings ‘My hope is in Jesus. If you could just give him a chance today, that would be enough.’
‘Hamilton’ creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, who has yet to comment on the unauthorized production, is an advocate of LGBTQ+ rights. He once read a sonnet as his 2016 Tony Awards acceptance speech evoking the power of love over hatred in honor of the 49 people who died at a gay nightclub in Orlando that year.
The 11-time award-winning ‘Hamilton’ first came to Broadway in 2015. Miranda said he was inspired to write a musical about one of America’s founding fathers after reading his 2004 biography by Ron Chernow.
The musical is also streaming on Disney+.
In response to light being shed on the Texas church, a ‘Hamilton’ spokesperson said through a statement: ‘We would like to thank our devoted fans for bringing this to our attention.’