“And I am not throwing' away my, Not throwin' away my shot!” Unless you have been living under a rock, those words instantly gave you an image of a triumphant Alexander Hamilton with his hand-raised, finger pointing to the sky. Hamilton is a worldwide phenomenon, a hip-hop musical about one of the founding fathers, and now the Hamilton Tour has come to Hershey Theatre and this incredible cast is set to blow us all away.
Hamilton Tour Review
The 11-time Tony Award-winning musical Hamilton is the brainchild of Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote the book, lyrics, and music after reading Ron Chernow’s biography of Alexander Hamilton. He and some friends got together to perform an early version of the opening number for President Obama at the White House in 2009. Fast forward through rewrites, puzzling out lyrics, casting, and intense rehearsals to 2015. Hamilton debuted on Broadway, the world turned upside down, and the rest was history.
With the original Broadway cast recording available to stream and the actual show itself on Disney+, it's hard not to have a preconceived notion about what to expect when seeing Hamilton on stage. Any cast, whether they are on tour or taking the stage in New York City, face an uphill trek to wow audiences and carve out their own career-defining performances. Fortunately, this cast is more than up for the job. Led by Tyler Fauntleroy’s Alexander Hamilton and Jimmie “JJ” Jeter's Aaron Burr, the current touring cast of Hamilton has taken over The Hershey Theatre and trust me when I say they blew me away with their incredible interpretation of the Hamilton I know and love.
For the uninitiated (and yes I heard a few people wondering what happens next during the opening night intermission), Hamilton begins in 1776 when Hamilton touched down in New York from the Caribbean, determined to make a name for himself during the Revolutionary War. It goes on to present his triumphs and failures to a score that fuses R&B, hip-hop, and traditional Broadway flare. It ends with his death at the hands of Aaron Burr in 1804.
Fauntleroy, with his smooth and soulful voice, imbues his Hamilton with all the charisma and charm of Miranda's while also adding in his own modulations and cadence, for an outstanding, perfect performance. He reacts to Burr in ways that show how his feelings towards him shift throughout their lives. From admiration to mirth to annoyance to resentment. The same holds true for Jeter on all counts. He knows just when to be subtle and when to throw his whole chest into, pouring out emotions that convey just how conflicted Burr is about his life and his frenemy. “Wait For It” (my favorite number in the original show) left me with goosebumps as he commanded the stage, proving he is an original. Hamilton of course gets several big moment songs and Fauntleroy leads us steadfastly through them all. “My Shot” is as iconic as ever, but it was heartbreakingly beautiful to witness these actors perform “The World Was Wide Enough.” All the tears in the audience's eyes are a testament to their chemistry on stage.
Hamilton's friends are Marquis de Lafayette (Hosea Mundi), Hercules Mulligan (Colby Lewis), and John Laurens (Nathan Haydel). Three energetic and demanding roles that also require the actors to pull double duty. That isn't an easy feat on a good day but when it requires you to step into the boots of the hilarious, verbose, stoic, and playful roles of Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Phillip Hamilton respectively, well it can become a herculean task. Once again though, these three won us over immediately with their charisma and spirited stage presence. Mundi naturally becomes the spotlight's darling as he moonwalks across the stage as Thomas Jefferson in “What Did I Miss?” He and Lewis make for quite the pair whether they are joking around in Act I or plotting Hamilton's defeat in Act II. Haydel is not to be outdone though. He harasses the same magnetism Anthony Ramos brought to the role originally while equally leaning into the silliness of playing Phillip Hamilton after saying a tearful goodbye to everyone as Laurens.
I can't talk Hamilton without mentioning the Schulyer Sisters–Eliza Schuyler-Hamilton (Lauren Mariasoosay), Angelica Schuyler (Marja Harmon), “and Peggy” (Lily Soto). All three ladies showed the boys a thing or two about determination, class, and of course girl power. (“Work!) Mariasoosay is the emotional core of the show as Eliza, a woman who feels “Helpless” at the sight of Alexander and continues to stand by him through his less than savory moments. She pours her heart, soul, and tears into Eliza, in a truly inspired performance.
A.D. Weaver as George Washington gives his booming bass voice to the first president. It was a great choice in my opinion, as it gave Washington more command over those around him while also becoming more soft (a general teddy bear) in the quieter moments. Justin Matthew Sargent saunters around the stage as King George III, ever the crowd-pleasing, scene-stealer. His facial expressions and mannerisms had everyone cracking up during opening night. Whether he is singing one of his interludes or prancing to the beat of “The Reynold's Pamphlet,” I dare you not to laugh.
Hamilton is also a visually stunning musical, with its rotating stage, moving stairways, and balconies where any member of the ensemble cast may make an appearance. Directed by Thomas Kail with choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler, maintains the spirit and dizzying speed of the Broadway spectacle. If you thought “touring” meant the cast would be allowed to operate at less than 100% you are grossly mistaken. Watching “Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down)” and “In The Eye of a Hurricane” were especially riveting as the stage lights shine on and off simulating battle in the former and the cast moves with preternatural grace in the latter, bringing the visual of a hurricane to life.
Ultimately, Hamilton remains a must-see show, one that has to be witnessed in person for you to grasp just how jaw-droppingly amazing it truly is. This cast put on a truly remarkable and memorable performance, making each role their own to the point that I forgot all about my preconceived notions of what each song should sound like or how someone should move across the stage. One thing about musicals is that no matter how many times you see it, it feels like a new experience. Each performance is unique and what affects you the first time will likely not be what moves you the next time. It's funny, maybe a bit bittersweet, that this musical was not only timely during its debut but remains so as history still has its eyes on us. So what will you do with your shot?
Hamilton is playing at The Hershey Theatre from now until December 8, 2024. Tickets are on sale and selling fast. The show is 2 hours and 45 minutes with an intermission.
I saw the show yesterday at the Hershey Theater and it was incredible! I’ve seen it 5 times on Broadway, and didn’t know what to expect from a touring company. They blew us all away! Absolutely fantastic! Go if you can!