Renée Elise Goldsberry’s ‘Satisfied’: Mom, Wife, Angelica Schuyler! Can You Fight to Have it All? This is a story for every woman who has fought to have it all, for the mothers who redefine ‘balance,’ and for the supportive men whose strength is their partnership. In the journey of Renée Elise Goldsberry, you will find your own struggle, your own grace, and your own triumph.
Satisfied is in theaters September 30th through October 2nd. Tickets are now available through Fathom Entertainment or your local movie theater.
Go back in a time machine to early 2014, before the world knew who Alexander Hamilton was. Sure, he was in our American history books, but always as a footnote. Hamilton was mostly associated with a “Got Milk” commercial that played endlessly on TV in the early ’90s. The only people who knew Angelica Schuyler were book-reading historians of the Revolutionary War, which ended in 2015 when Renée Elise Goldsberry took the role of a lifetime and brought this fascinating woman to life on stage and to the masses.
In ‘Satisfied’, the audience gets a never-before-seen behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Hamilton at the crucial stages of a Broadway show’s development. Hamilton is just the backdrop to the true story of Renée Elise Goldsberry, where we get to see her live the triumphs, the tragedies, and the struggles of becoming an overnight sensation and mother. This took years to accomplish!
Most of the ‘Satisfied’ footage comes thanks to Renée, who had the foresight to record her comings and goings on her iPhone during this period. Through these self-recordings, we learn about the challenges of balancing the roles of mother, wife, and career woman. For some mothers and women who want to be mothers, Renée’s story hits all the highs and lows a woman can go through. Fighting to remain healthy during pregnancy, the loss of a child in the womb, not once, but multiple times, the adoption process, and finally, the satisfaction of a viable pregnancy.
While the adage may be originally “Behind every great man is a woman,” this doesn’t work for either Renée or the signature character she portrays in ‘Hamilton‘, Angelica Schuyler, so I think it needs to be changed to Behind Every Great Person is a Great Partner, silent, strong, willing to step in and hold it together. Renée Elise Goldsberry is blessed with the support of her husband, New York attorney Alexis Johnson. His raw emotion is touching, and the viewers will feel the love and admiration he has for his wife come off the screen.
Her support system goes deeper than just Alexis. In ‘Satisfied’, we meet her parents, each sharing a special moment on the big screen that furthers Renée’s story. We are also introduced to her High School teacher and director, Dr. Charles Geroux, casting her in the non-traditional role as Nurse Nelly Forbush. This is the role that defined her early childhood, according to Renée and her mother.
She is known for more than just Hamilton, for which she won the Tony (Best Featured Actress in a Musical) and a Grammy (Best Theater Musical Album). Other Broadway shows she has starred in include Disney’s The Lion King, Rent, and The Color Purple. Renée has also been seen and heard in many TV roles, which I would be remiss if I didn’t mention her voice acting as Waterbaby the Hippotaur Shaman in Centaurworld. (The writer had to get that show into an article at some point!)
Fans of Hamilton, mothers who have struggled balancing life, kids, and career, men who need a role model on how to become a successful father, and a support system for their wives or significant others, need to see ‘Satisfied’. Renée Elise Goldsberry is engaging; her story is widely known, yet rarely talked about. Can you have it all? The answer is a resounding YES, but not without sacrifice, struggles, hard work, and people behind you every step of the way.
Hamilton Original Cast Musical can be watched on Disney+. Renée Elise Goldsberry’s new album, Who I Really Am, is streaming now on all major platforms
‘Satisfied’
Amid the whirlwind of Hamilton’s historic rise, Tony winner Renée Elise Goldsberry battles exhaustion, expectations, and the everyday chaos of motherhood. This revealing documentary pulls back the curtain on her pivotal role in the Broadway revolution – and the personal cost of making history.
Plus, Lin-Manuel Miranda sits down with Renée Elise Goldsberry to share untold stories, candid reflections, and behind-the-scenes insights into Hamilton and the making of the documentary. It’s a heartfelt, unfiltered conversation between two Broadway powerhouses.
Directed by Chris Bolan and Melissa Haizlip. Producers: Chris Bolan, Steven Cantor, Melissa Haizlip, Jamie Schutz. Aura Entertainment, in association with Fathom Entertainment, is releasing the film to theaters on September 30th through October 2nd for a limited engagement.
‘Satisfied’ is produced by Stick Figure in association with Amblin Documentaries and Aperture Media Partners.
