At a time when our elected leaders don’t seem to talk to each other but rather at each other and the country is more polarized more than in any recent time in history, could there be a better time for the musical Hamilton to return to Los Angeles? Indeed, Hamilton has returned. The show opens at the Pantages Theatre on August 17th where it will run through January 2nd.
If you’ve been living under a rock and aren’t familiar with this musical, Lin-Manuel Miranda took Ron Chernow’s nearly 1,000 page biography of Alex Hamilton and turned it into a multi-ethnic mix of hip-hop, rock, rap, blues, R&B and traditional Broadway music. It went from the Public Theatre in New York and quickly became a worldwide sensation.
Hamilton was nearing its 2,000th performance on Broadway just prior to the pandemic. The show received 16 Tony Award nominations and won 11 including Best Musical, Best Book, Best Score, Best Direction and Best Choreography. If that wasn’t enough, it also won the Pulitzer Prize.
Heading the Los Angeles cast in the return of Hamilton is Jamael Westman as the title character. He received an Olivier Award nomination for his performance in the London production.
Nicholas Christopher plays Hamilton’s rival, Aaron Burr. Rubén J. Carbajal portrays John Laurens and Hamilton’s son, Philip. Joanna A. Jones (known to local audiences for her many performances as part of For the Record) plays Eliza Hamilton with Taylor Iman Jones as her sister Peggy Schuyler (she also plays Maria Reynolds) and Sabrina Sloan as sister Angelica Schuyler. Carvens Lissaint plays first President George Washington; Simon Longnight is in the dual roles of Marquis De Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson with Wallace Smith as Hercules Mulligan/James Madison. Returning to play King George is Rory O’Malley who performed the role when Hamilton first played Los Angeles.
As it was when Hamilton first played the Pantages, there is a digital lottery for tickets for every performance with a limited number of $10 seats. That lottery is in place for this engagement.
If you want to be in the room where Hamilton happens go here. Note: You must be vaccinated and be able to show proof of vaccination to attend this show at the Pantages. Masks are required to be worn at all times (except when eating or drinking.)
Photo of Jamael Westman and the Eliza National Tour cast of Hamilton by Joan Marcus (Courtesy of Broadway in Hollywood)