Laura Wheatman Hill

Laura Wheatman Hill (she/her) lives in Portland, Oregon, with her two children. She has a masters of arts in teaching and has taught English, writing and drama to students in preschool through adulthood. She writes plays, essays, reported pieces and is attempting her first novel. She has been published by CNN, Real Simple, Parents, and others. You can find her at laurawheatmanhill.com.

Laura's Articles

How “Hamilton” Forever Changed Broadway: From Mainstreaming The Hip-Hop Musical To Creating A Ticket Frenzy

When the historical musical "Hamilton" premiered on Broadway on Aug. 6, 2015, it almost immediately revolutionized Broadway. "Hamilton" chronicles founding father Alexander Hamilton’s involvement in the Revolutionary War, the writing of the Constitution, the development of Wall Street, and several early American presidencies. It also tells the story of his personal life and death — he was famously shot in…

Aug 6, 2025 - 01:15 pm

2025 Tony Awards Recap: Musical Theater Wins & Exciting Performances

Broadway had one of its biggest years this year, between A-list stars gracing the stage, exciting new musicals, and highly anticipated revivals. Held June 8, the 78th Tony Awards proved to be a fitting celebration. The awards ceremony featured performances from all Best Musical nominees, as well as tributes to beloved shows from the past and bright new stars. Host,…

Jun 9, 2025 - 05:43 pm

Songbook: The Many Hats Of Barbra Streisand

Watch highlights from the 2025 GRAMMYs on live.GRAMMY.com. The 2025 GRAMMYs telecast was reimagined to raise funds to support those impacted by the wildfires in the greater Los Angeles area. The Recording Academy and MusiCares launched a dedicated campaign to support affected music professionals, and we need your help. Donate now. Barbra Streisand cannot be considered "mostly" one thing. She…

Apr 24, 2025 - 02:22 pm

2024 Tony Awards Recap: Musical Theater Wins And Exciting Performances

Broadway had a jam-packed slate of musicals this year, with everything from originals to adaptations and highly anticipated revivals. It would only follow, then, that it would be a busy race toward the 77th Tony Awards. Fifteen musicals were eligible for nomination this year, up from nine in 2023. Fittingly, the June 16 telecast from Lincoln Center's David H. Koch…

Jun 17, 2024 - 05:36 pm

50 Years In, “The Wiz” Remains An Inspiration: How A New Recording Repaves The Yellow Brick Road

Of the many reviews of "The Wiz" over the years, one of the most famous comes from none other than Broadway legend Stephen Sondheim. When asked what his favorite Broadway show is (besides his own), Sondheim named "The Wiz" and said it’s because, "it's the one show which makes you feel better when you come out of it than you…

Jun 12, 2024 - 01:18 pm

“Bridgerton” Composer Kris Bowers & Vitamin String Quartet Continue To Make Classical Music Pop For Season 3

No one is arguing that “Bridgerton” is realistic or even particularly historically accurate — in fact, leaning into anachronisms is the point. Entering its third season, which premieres on May 16, the pulpy Netflix show based on a series of romance novels by Julia Quinn — often classified as “bodice rippers” — mixes modern life ideas with Regency-era social rules.…

May 16, 2024 - 02:31 pm

From TikTok Trend to GRAMMY Nominee: How The ‘Bridgerton’ Musical Is Changing Theater Culture

Like sourdough and "Tiger King," the “TikTok musical” was a trend of the early pandemic — starting with "Ratatouille" and peaking with "Bridgerton." When Broadway (and therefore all regional and local theaters) shuttered for nearly a year and a half, creators collaborated across cyberspace to develop full-fledged, handheld musicals. These social media musicals often begin small, converting a piece of…

Mar 24, 2022 - 01:31 pm

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