After much anticipation, the Australian cast for the upcoming Hamilton production in Sydney has been announced and it’s diversity FTW.
We’re a few months away from the long-awaited opening night of the Australian production of Hamilton and today we just got the best announcement of all: the cast reveal.
And for those who were worried that the Aussie cast were not going to be as diverse as the OG Broadway cast, stress less because this is a big win for diversity.
Starring in the titular role of Alexander Hamilton is newcomer Jason Arrow, who is a rising star on the Australian musical scene and was most recently seen in the ensemble for Aladdin.
Playing opposite Arrow as Hamilton’s nemesis Aaron Burr is Lyndon Watts, who was also part of Aladdin and other big-name productions like Singin’ In The Rain and West Side Story.
Chloé Zuel will be playing Eliza Hamilton, Akina Edmonds will be playing Angelica Schuyler, Matu Ngaropo will be playing George Washington, and Victory Ndukwe will be playing the one and only Marquis de Lafayette (and Thomas Jefferson).
In fact, the only Caucasian actor in this entire cast is Brent Hill, who will be playing none other than King George III.
According to The Guardian, show creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and the original creative team for the Broadway show were “very involved” in handpicking the cast, and the result is a remarkably diverse range of actors comprised almost entirely of people of colour.
“I am incredibly excited by the cast we have assembled,” Miranda said in a press release. “While theatres around the world have been forced to temporarily shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have taken this time to bring together a truly incredible ensemble to tell this story.”
“Led by Jason Arrow as Alexander Hamilton, this cast has such incredible talent, warmth and power. I know they will thrill and move audiences in Sydney when it’s safe to return.”
In true musical theatre fashion, the Australian Hamilton cast was announced on Twitter with a montage video in which every cast member were revealed in a flurry of high energy dance moves.
Needless to say that the already-hyped Australian production of Hamilton just got even more exciting with this cast announcement but the big, COVID-shaped elephant in the room is still a big question mark.
The producers have previously said that social distancing is a “deal-breaker” for the show but with how well Australia has handled the pandemic and now this cast announcement, it seems like Hamilton Down Under is going ahead as planned.
Hamilton is scheduled to open at Sydney’s Lyric Theatre on March 17, 2021. As for tickets, due to “unprecedented demand,” additional performances will go on sale on Friday, November 13th, so best stay vigilant or you may end up throwing away your shot.
The cast of Hamilton Australia. #HamiltonAU pic.twitter.com/VbidaG7grk
— Michael Cassel Group (@michaelcassel) November 8, 2020