65 Down

NYT Daily ? September 17, 2025

When Hamilton arrives in New York City, in "Hamilton"

Answer:

ACTI

Hint:

Think of the musical's structure—this short term marks the start of the story where Aaron Burr becomes the narrator.

Explanation:

This clue refers to the musical Hamilton, where the opening number "Alexander Hamilton" begins with the line "How does a bastard, orphan, son of a whore..."—the first word sung is "How." But the answer isn’t "how"; it’s a play on the word "act," since this moment starts Act I of the show. The answer "ACTI" (Act One in Roman numerals) cleverly ties the musical’s structure to the lyric’s opening.

More Clues from This Puzzle

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General solving tip

When a clue says 'informally,' 'slangily,' or 'casually,' think slang, clipped forms, or texting abbreviations. Try the short casual word you'd use in speech or a message.

More tips → General Hints