Ryan John Lee | Film Release
“Hamilton the Town” Film Premieres at Arts at the Palace
On May 3rd, 2025, Arts at the Palace welcomed a full house of over 100 guests for the premiere of Hamilton the Town, a film by Ryan John Lee in collaboration with Ben Coleman and Martha Brown. With a 21-page script filmed over just three days, the production was a creative sprint—one that, according to the crew, was made possible by the “let’s do this” spirit of the Hamilton community. This film captures the character of our town through hilarious storytelling and exceptional cinematography, and the premiere night reflected that energy. The evening featured live music by Henry & The Tides whose music was heard in the film (watch music video here), followed by a Q&A with Ryan, cast, and crew—offering the audience a behind-the-scenes look into the making of this project. Hear more about the backstory and making of the film and watch the full film here:
In 2023, Ryan moved to Hamilton with his wife, art professor Rachael Boate, but didn’t fully connect with a creative community until participating in the Fall 2024 Creative Endeavors program. Creative Endeavors is an interactive and project-based workshop led by creative professionals and designed to help artists take the next step in their creative work, develop their process, and launch a project — it was through this experience that the idea for Hamilton the Town really began to take shape.
Now serving as our 2025 Arts Coordinator and Digital Storytelling Fellow, Ryan will premier part 2 of his CNY Arts Grace Grant project in the Fall and is continuing to contribute vision and energy to our broader programming.
This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by CNY Arts.
Hamilton the Town reflects his signature style—cinematic storytelling that’s both humorous and human. Showcasing the quirks, personalities, and small-town charm that make Hamilton one of a kind.
Website: ryanjohnlee.com
Videos and shorts: Ryan’s YouTube Channel
Instagram: @ryanjohnlee
