Full (s)team ahead: Hamilton’s global tour to reach Abu Dhabi after Manila
- 26 Jul 2023
Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer
Hamilton, the musical that covers the life of American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton and his involvement in the American Revolution and the political history of the early United States, that has been transformed into a sung-and-rapped-through biographical musical with music, lyrics, and book by Lin-Manuel Miranda, based on the 2004 biography Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow, with an original Tony, Grammy, Olivier and Pulitzer Prize winning creative team, has confirmed the full company for its upcoming new international tour.
It commences in Manila (playing from September 17) before travelling to Abu Dhabi (playing from Jan. 17, 2024), ahead of other cities to be announced.
The company is led by Jason Arrow as Alexander Hamilton, Rachelle Ann Go as Eliza Hamilton, DeAundre’ Woods as Aaron Burr, Akina Edmonds as Angelica Schuyler, Darnell Abraham as George Washington, David Park as Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson, Shaka Bagadu Cook as Hercules Mulligan/James Madison, Jacob Guzman as John Laurens/Philip Hamilton, Elandrah Eramiha as Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds and Brent Hill as King George.
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The posse of 34 performers is completed by Claire Abaijah-Griffin, Kirrah Amosa, Curtis Angus, Kyla Bartholomeusz, Taylor Broadard, Trey Curtis, Aniya Danee, Lachlan Dearing, Winston Hillyer, Indigo Hunt, Marcus John, Julian Kuo, Iosefa Laga’aia, Ashton Lash, HaNy Lee, Terrance Martin, Trevor Miles, Eliza Ohman, Callan Purcell, Joshua Rivera, Wesley Ryan, Emmy Saheki, Terrance Spencer and Dayton Tavares – an indication of the rich bouquet of talent that awaits Abu Dhabi.
The cast is drawn from productions all over the world including Broadway, the North American Tours, London, Australia and Germany. Hamilton’s producer Jeffery Seller said that “the entire creative team and I are thrilled that Hamilton will be seen by new audiences all over the world, and for them to experience the talents of this inspiring company.” Michael Cassel, producer of the international tour of Hamilton said: “We have assembled an extraordinary cast of superstars from productions all over the world for Hamilton’s first ever international tour. We can’t wait to introduce them to you as we make our way to exciting new places for the very first time.”
The international tour of Hamilton commences at The Theatre at Solaire, Manila, on September 17 ahead of making its Middle Eastern premiere at Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, on January 17 next year. Further cities will be announced in coming months. Hamilton premiered on Broadway in 2015 to wide critical and audience acclaim and has gone on to play seasons in London’s West End, Australia, Germany, Canada and New Zealand. Featuring a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B and Broadway, the musical is acknowledged as having created a revolutionary moment in theatre – it is considered a presentation that has had a profound impact on culture, politics and education.
Marilyn Stasio, in her review of the Off-Broadway production of the show for Variety, wrote: “The music is exhilarating, but the lyrics are a big surprise. The sense, as well as the sound of the sung dialogue, has been purposely suited to each character ... In the end, Miranda’s impassioned narrative of one man’s story becomes the collective narrative of a nation, a nation built by immigrants who occasionally need to be reminded where they came from.”
Reviewing the Broadway production in The New York Times, Ben Brantley wrote: “I am loath to tell people to mortgage their houses and lease their children to acquire tickets to a hit Broadway show. But Hamilton … might just about be worth it ...” In Time Out New York, David Cote wrote: “I love Hamilton. I love it like I love New York, or Broadway when it gets it right. And this is so right. A sublime conjunction of radio-ready hip-hop (as well as R&B, Britpop and trad showstoppers), under-dramatised American history and Miranda’s uniquely personal focus as a first-generation Puerto Rican and inexhaustible wordsmith, Hamilton hits multilevel culture buttons, hard ... The work’s human drama and novelistic density remain astonishing.” Cote chose Hamilton as a Critics’ Pick, and gave the production five out of five stars.
With book, music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, direction by Thomas Kail, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler and musical supervision and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire, Hamilton is based on Ron Chernow’s acclaimed biography and is “the story of America then told by America now.” Lin-Manuel Miranda’s creation has also been captivating fans – no less than critics - across the world since it burst to life in 2015 and has received an array of accolades, including 11 Tony Awards, seven Olivier Awards, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the 2016 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theatre Album.
Michael Cassel Group is a leading live entertainment company formed to produce and present the world’s high-quality hit musicals and theatrical productions, live entertainment experiences, marquee events and concert attractions. In 2024, it will produce the West End premiere of Sydney Theatre Company’s production of The Picture of Dorian Gray, starring Sarah Snook. Productions include the first international tour of the world’s #1 musical, The Lion King, the Australian premieres of the award-winning productions Hamilton, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, & Juliet, and Mary Poppins. Current Broadway, US Touring and West End credits include co-producer of MJ: The Musical, Into The Woods and Pretty Woman. Michael Cassel Group is headquartered in Sydney, with offices in New York, Singapore and Melbourne.