Sedro-Woolley High School students had the opportunity to witness history come to life on Feb. 27 when they attended a performance of Hamilton at the Paramount Theatre. The field trip, made possible by funding from the Seattle Theatre Group (STG), provided students with an unforgettable educational experience.
AP U.S. History teacher Aimee Gustafson spearheaded the trip, applying for the opportunity in October.
Her application secured discounted tickets at just $10 each, along with an $800 transportation scholarship. The support allowed 67 students—mostly AP U.S. History students, as well as juniors, seniors, and drama students—to attend the acclaimed musical, which chronicles the life of Alexander Hamilton through a dynamic blend of hip-hop, R&B, and traditional show tunes.
“We had an amazing time,” Gustafson said. “The show was absolutely phenomenal, and the students were an absolute joy.”
The day was not without its challenges. Navigating downtown Seattle with a large group proved stressful, as students had to move swiftly through security and bag check, find a designated area for lunch, and make it to their seats before the performance began. Fortunately, the group had expert guidance from bus drivers Lance Ford and Shelby Murdock, who skillfully maneuvered the city’s streets, and dedicated chaperones who kept everything on track.
Brandy Jutte and the SWHS kitchen crew also played a key role in the trip’s success, preparing sack lunches for students to enjoy before the show.
The experience was made even more special by the prime seating. Students sat in the 12th, 13th, and 14th rows in the center of the main floor—an incredible vantage point for the production’s elaborate staging and powerful performances.
“Most people think of Hamilton as a musical, but it’s actually more like an opera since it’s entirely sung,” Gustafson explained. “It covers Hamilton’s journey from his arrival in the American colonies through the Revolutionary War, the writing of the Federalist Papers, his role in shaping the financial system, and his infamous duel with Aaron Burr.”
The trip was part of STG’s mission to make the performing arts accessible to students. The nonprofit organization, which operates the Paramount, Moore, and Neptune theaters, offers discounted student tickets and scholarships to ensure young audiences can experience live theater.
For the SWHS students, Hamilton was more than just a performance—it was an immersive history lesson that reinforced their classroom learning in a way that textbooks never could.