Dear Theodosia
Amid the high-energy showstoppers and theatrical flair of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Tampa Bay’s “Say My Name!”concert—held on March 22, 2025, at the Jaeb Theater at The Straz Center—one of the evening’s most tender and heartfelt moments came when Matthew Matheson took the stage to lead a stirring performance of “Dear Theodosia” from Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton. Joined by the full chorus, Matheson delivered a quiet emotional punch that resonated deeply with the audience, offering a moment of reflection, love, and hope in the midst of a dynamic and varied program.
“Dear Theodosia,” originally a duet between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton as they sing to their newborn children, is a rare moment of softness in the revolutionary narrative of Hamilton—a lullaby of promise from two flawed men hoping to build a better world for the next generation. Matheson stepped into this vulnerable space with grace and emotional intelligence, his voice warm and clear, imbuing each lyric with a gentle sincerity that made the piece feel deeply personal.
What made the performance even more impactful was how it expanded beyond the original father-to-child message. Surrounded by the voices of the Gay Men’s Chorus, the song transformed into a collective expression of care and aspiration—an anthem not just to one child, but to future generations, to chosen families, and to anyone who has ever longed to pass on love, safety, and dignity in a world that often withholds those things. In the context of “Say My Name!”—a concert about identity, visibility, and legacy—“Dear Theodosia” became a message of queer resilience and generational hope.
The arrangement allowed for choral harmonies to softly swell behind Matheson’s lead, like waves of support rising around a single voice. It was a powerful metaphor in itself—one voice speaking with vulnerability, surrounded by the strength of community. The chorus’s rich, blended vocals deepened the emotional landscape of the song, especially during the lines “You will come of age with our young nation / We’ll bleed and fight for you, we’ll make it right for you,” turning them into a promise from the LGBTQ+ community to those still growing up in a world that continues to evolve.
The lighting was understated, focusing attention on the emotional clarity of the moment, and the audience sat in reverent silence until the final note faded. Then came a wave of heartfelt applause—less thunderous than after the more theatrical numbers, but filled with something quieter and deeper: gratitude.
Matthew Matheson’s performance, supported so beautifully by the Gay Men’s Chorus of Tampa Bay, served as a poignant reminder that names are not only what we are given, but what we hope to leave behind. It was a lullaby, a love letter, and a legacy wrapped into one simple, stunning moment of music.