HAMILTON National Tour- Page 10

[dmwnc1959]

Posted: 5/30/19 at 7:53pm

This was my experience posted back on 11/07/2018...

 

dmwnc1959 said: "Tickets for Pittsburgh’s January 2019 run of “Hamilton” went on sale this past Monday. The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust used the Virtual Waiting Room concept (similar to what Cleveland had done earlier this year) instead of Verified Fans through Ticketmaster. I was trying to help my neighbor get tickets for her and her 12 year old daughter. She couldn’t go online,so I voluntarily took the day off to give it my best effort.

No matter when you logged in, at the magic hour everyone received a random number.Once the clock struck 9am and the random numbers were handed out to those of us in the “waiting room”, I received position 84,799. Yes, there were nearly 85k people ahead of me. Wow. And that doesn’t include those who were most likely “in line” behind me, and in line at the box office in Pittsburgh. So, roughly 100k people? For 86,000 seats? Nope, there’s more...

Now, keep in mind lots of tickets had already been “sold” to those who had season tickets last year and then renewed, plus those who had Waitlisted for season tickets and were lucky, like myself. However, each household was allowed up to 4 tickets, hence my effort to help my neighbor.

This wait for tickets went on for hours and hours,and at the rate of about 1300 people per 15 minutes - I watched the rate at which my number decreased - I finally quit after three hours when my number was still at 69,547. The odds were not in my favor here.

I logged in much later in the day and the wait line was still supercrazy, and by the next morning at 6am only scattered singles and premium seats were available.

Of the 31 performances scheduled in January, 18 are completely sold out, and those that are not list less than 1% availability remaining (all are premium seats @ $490 each)save one show at less than 2%.

So, now she is going to try the lottery when it starts later in December.

This show is crazy popular, and even with the tour it’s difficult to get tickets unless you’rea season subscriber or very lucky."

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 5/30/19 at 8:00pm

Thanks, ArtMan and dmwnc1959. You’ve motivated me to get my lazy ass outta bed in the morning and get to the box office around 8:00 a.m.

Updated On: 5/30/19 at 08:00 PM

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 5/30/19 at 10:03pm

I recall reading that the box office will have limited tickets compared to what’s available online and my friend was told the same thing when she called the box office today. Still I think my chances are better if I go to the box office in the morning. I could be wrong but I can’t imagine more than 100 people trying at the box office tomorrow and surely they will have more than 400 tickets available. I’ll report back on my results tomorrow

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 5/31/19 at 9:28am

I’m at OKC Civic Center Box Office.

So box office process is this:

Waiting in line til 9:00 CST
At 9, they let us inside apparently
If at 9 (or 10 - not sure. I Missed instructions) there are no less than 150 people in line, it’s first come first served at 10.
If more than 150, then we get the bracelets and go to a holding area to wait til our “color” is called.

At least, that’s how I understand it.
So far, there’s far less than 150 people.
Of course, my parking meter expires at 10:00.
They also have apparently held back 2,500 tickets just for box office purchases today.
Fingers crossed.

Update: I’m 32nd in line 

Updated On: 5/31/19 at 09:28 AM

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 5/31/19 at 9:37am

Okay. They’re wristbanding even though there are not 150 people in line.

[ArtMan]

Posted: 5/31/19 at 9:45am

That would stink if you are #32 in line and get a wristband that puts you at #100... 

[ArtMan]

Posted: 5/31/19 at 9:48am

Also, I know you want to go to opening night, but you may have an opportunity for a better seat for a performance, later in the run.  (Also picking a Wednesday)

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 5/31/19 at 10:15am

Okay...update.

They have 2500 tickets available that are strictly for box office sales today which means that if everybody got 4 tickets, they could accommodate 625 people today. So I think I’m safe. One of my friends is going to go with me so I just need two tickets and we can do any of the dates

I have a blue wristband so let’s hope they call that group 1st.

So glad I came to the box office. People were supposed to be able to enter the virtual waiting room 13 minutes ago for when tickets go on sale at the top of the hour and the website is not working. I think it’s already crashed.

Now I need to figure out what I do about my parking meter expiring in 45 minutes.

Update:  They’re going to let us run at about 10 minutes before they start calling colors to let us go pay the parking meters.

 And apparently the online website is now working.

 On a sidenote, we’re apparently going to get a PowerPoint about commonly asked questions about the show as well as refreshments.    Overall, not a bad way to spend a Friday morning. Much rather be here then freaking out at home like my friends are. 

 

Updated On: 5/31/19 at 10:15 AM

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 5/31/19 at 11:32am

People seem to be getting thru the virtual waiting room online pretty quickly so I’m doing that while I’m waiting for them to announce the next colors.

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 5/31/19 at 1:18pm

Update; OK, I got tickets for me and my friend for August 14. Front right orchestra, row F, seats five and six which is the middle of the row.

The online ordering process is much smoother here. So I ended up purchasing tickets on-line while standing in line (my color wristband had been called). I hesitated a couple times and then when I hit purchase I was told I waited too long and then some seats I wasn’t that excited about so removed them from my shopping cart but finally these tix were offered to me again and I grabbed them this time.

Kinda regret getting up at 6 AM so I can get to the box office by eight. But now i have two great tix and I’m celebrating with an extra dirty martini and some smoked salmon so all is OK in the world. And this will be my friend’s first time seeing the show so I’m excited about exposing her to it for the first time.

[dmwnc1959]

Posted: 5/31/19 at 4:56pm

^ ^ ^ Hindsight is always 20/20. If it had been the other way around - the line being quicker with better tickets and online being a mess - you’d have been glad for the early wake up. Either way, congrats on the tickets! I’ll be seeing Hamilton again, my third time, when it comes around in the 2020/2021 Pittsburgh season. Very much looking forward to it. Hope your friend truly enjoys the show!!!

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 6/1/19 at 1:38pm

So, confession time. I’m going to be in Chicago for one night (June 14) and since Six isn’t playing that night, I’ve been toying with the idea of seeing Hamilton again while I’m there. It would be my third time seeing it in Chicago & my fourth time overall since my first time was with the original Broadway cast in 2015. The first time I saw it in Chicago it had been two years since the first time I saw it in New York and I had such an emotional reaction to it after being away from it for two years. And I’ve been lucky to see It again in Chicago last year. I’ve been able to see some of the cast twice there with some new additions but with Miquel Cervantes as Hamilton each time. As it is closing in January and me not knowing if I’ll be in Chicago again before then I went ahead and took the plunge and got a ticket for row E right orchestra. I just want to be able to say goodbye to this production before it departs.

So the rest of my year so far:

June 14 (Chicago) - Hamilton
June 29 (OKC) - Singin’ in the Rain (local production)
July 13 (OKC) - Newsies (local production)
July 27 (OKC) - Titantic (local production)
August 14 (OKC) - Hamilton
September 27 (NYC) - Hadestown
September 28 (NYC) - TKAM
September 28 (NYC) - Moulin Rouge!
September 29 (NYC) - Oklahoma!
September 29 (NYC) - Ben Platt
September 30 (NYC) - Tootsie
October 1 (NYC) - Madonna

I’ll probably also end up seeing the touring productions of Hello, Dolly! and Spongebob Squarepants when they tour through Oklahoma City in October and November, respectively as well as a local production of Frost/Nixon in September.

I am a bit surprised that there appear to be quite a bit of unsold seats for Hamilton on some dates here in OKC, but I’m sure that’ll change by time the production hits town.

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 6/16/19 at 12:25pm

Saw Hamilton in Chicago Friday night. It was my third time seeing it in Chicago in addition to seeing it my first time on Broadway (I saw OBC with exception of Groff who was filming the Looking finale movie so I got Andrew Rannells - not exactly chopped liver) in November 2015.

I had a great time as expected. This was my first time seeing Akron Watson and he makes a compelling Burr and you can feel his Burr coming more upset as he feels locked out of power as the show unfolds. I always love Cervantes as Hamilton and he did not disappoint. Nikki Renée Daniels was awesome as always as Angelica. Today was the first time I’ve had time to look through my playbill and so I was able to compare the insert to the cast in the playbill. So I’m just realizing I had the Sandra Okuboyejo as Eliza. In the Playbill, she is listed as ensemble but not listed as a standby or understudy for Eliza. She did perhaps seem a little tentative in some of her choices at the beginning but by the end during Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story, I was a sobbing mess again. I also loved Paris Nix (Lafayette/Jefferson) and Jamaal Fields-Green (Laurens/Phillip). Everyone was in good voice although some have more range than others.

I see it again (my fifth time) in August when the Phillip Tour tours through OKC. I’m excited to share it with my friend. It’ll be her inaugural experience. I may also try to win the lottery while it’s here, but after that, I may give it awhile before see it again. After all, no matter how much I love steak or sushi or pizza, if I ate it everyday I’d get sick of it and I don’t want that to happen here. This will probably be my last work trip to Chicago before the Hamilton production closes so I’m glad I got to experience it “one last time.”

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 6/16/19 at 12:39pm

Oh and I went crazy at the merchandise booth. I bought the scarf, the Broadway program, the Chicago flag t-shirt and I’m currently drinking coffee out of my Wait For It mug. I also finally bought the window card. I’ve been holding off because I wanted to wait until I saw it again on Broadway. But then I figured I’ve seen it the most I’ll probably ever see it in one location in Chicago and would like to get it signed at stage door. However, I should’ve checked the weather because when the show that out it was raining and I was afraid to take it out and get it all wet. I did go to stage door anyway and only two of the cast understandably came out including Akron Watson who was very kind.

Updated On: 6/16/19 at 12:39 PM

[dmwnc1959]

Posted: 6/17/19 at 5:35am

Sounds like you had a superb time! Chicago was going to be my big birthday trip this year until the new shows on Broadway beckoned. Again. I really wanted to see Miguel Cervantes as Alexander Hamilton because I had read and seen such good things about his performance. If I had known it was going to close before I had the NYC trip all booked.

I spent yesterday in Pittsburgh with a co-worker showing her the sights and caught the matinee performance of PITTSBURGH CLO’s “GREASE” with Jackie Burns, Zach Adkins, and Clay Aiken. Had a wonderful time.

I won’t get to see HAMILTON again until the tour comes through in the 2020/2021 season, and by then there’s no telling who will be playing the leads. I’m also seeing HELLO, DOLLY! when the National Tour comes through mid-August, and my dance card only has 15 shows between now and next May including two trips to NYC and my season tickets up in Steel City. Always need something to look forward to, right?!?! LOL






 

Updated On: 6/17/19 at 05:35 AM

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 7/9/19 at 9:29am

I saw the Angelica tour in Baltimore Saturday afternoon. I picked up a balcony ticket earlier in the week.

The only understudy on was for Josh Tower (Aaron Burr).  I was very disappointed as Josh was also out the night I saw the Motown tour in DC a few years ago.  Alexander Ferguson was the Burr understudy that day, and all I can say is that I don't think he is vocally right for the role.  He also covers Alexander Hamilton which seems like it would be a better fit for him.  Otherwise I was very pleased with everyone else and the overall production.  The cast is about 75% different since I last saw it last summer in DC.

Edred Utomi has been my favorite Hamilton since last summer, and his performance has grown in such depth over the last year.  He is a very compelling actor.  His Quite Uptown was heartbreaking.  My tears would not stop.

I enjoyed Stephanie Umoh as Angelica.  Karen Olivo remains my favorite in the role.

I really liked Hannah Cruz as Eliza.  Her performance was definitely a lot more raw emotionally than any of the other Eliza's I've seen.  

Bryson Bruce (Lafayette/Jefferson) - love, love, LOVE him (as did the audience)!!!  He is quite the dynamic actor.

I noticed that the Chaundre Hall-Broomfield (James Madison) no longer coughs in Act 2 (at least he didn't at this performance).  I liked him a lot.

Paul Oakley Stovall (George Washington) definitely has the height and voice for the role.  He definitely commanded attention whenever he was onstage.  His One Last Time was very effective and moving.  Toward the end, the song has always given me chills, but my emotions caught me by surprise during this particular rendition.

Besides being disappointed with the Aaron Burr understudy, my only other critique was with an audience member at the end.  The audience overall was very attentive throughout.  At the end of Who Live, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story there was a very brief moment where the audience was absolutely quiet.  Then one woman in my section just had to let out a "WHOOP" which completely destroyed that moment before letting it settle for a few more seconds.  I understand one's enthusiasm, but it seemed like it was all about her!

The tour remains one of my favorite touring productions, and the members of the ensemble were as sharp as ever.  I noticed that a couple of the male principal covers were on the rather young side.  Where are the established actors in the business to cover these roles?

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 8/2/19 at 9:16am

I bought a ticket to see the Angelica company in Philadelphia for my birthday next month.  Anyone know if there will be any upcoming cast changes to this company?

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 8/10/19 at 12:08pm

Won the lottery for tomorrow night here in Oklahoma City. I hardly ever win lotteries. I have gotten rush/standing room tickets, but I think the last time I won a lottery was via TodayTix for On The Town. I also have a paid ticket to see it Wednesday night. This will my 5th and 6th times to see it (previously Broadway and Chicago). Excited!!! Curious about where our lottery tickets will be seated.

Updated On: 8/10/19 at 12:08 PM

[Mike Barrett]

Posted: 8/11/19 at 8:20am

Have a great time, Miles!

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 8/12/19 at 1:37am

Okay just got home from seeing it tonight. You would not think so but even after seeing it five times now, I feel like I have so much to unpack from tonight so I’m gonna apologize ahead of time for what’s likely to become a lengthy post. 

Our lottery seats were located in Grand Tier, Center Row E, Seats 109 and 110. The first time I saw Hamilton was from  the rear mezzanine of Richard Rodgers Theatre. While it was the beginning of my love of the show, it was far from an ideal seat. That’s why when I saw it in Chicago now three times I’ve made sure to have a seat towards the front of the orchestra. But I appreciated my Grand Tier seat. I was able to take in the whole production and caught subtle things I actually missed before although perhaps some of those things might be specific to this production. I do wish that I had remembered my binoculars. I am glad I have one more chance to see it Wednesday from Right Orchestra, Row F. My friend who went with me tonight had never seen it and she absolutely loved. It exceeded her expectations. Inexplicably, the people seated to her right did not return after intermission. Neither Act seemed to drag. Neither felt rushed either. Everything just flowed well.

Okay, I’m still trying to sort my thoughts about the performances and production. I was a little worried about familiarity leading to a lessened emotional impact for me as this was my fifth trip to Hamilton, including seeing it in Chicago just two months ago. In fact, with the possible exception of the first time I saw it in Chicago, this was the most emotional impact it has ever had on me. I full-on cried in places that I usually don’t, most especially It’s Quiet Uptown as it hit me that this is so close to what parents of victims of gun violence go through in El Paso and Dayton and Chicago and all over this country every day. I was able to tell Nakisha Williams (understudy for Eliza) this at stage door and she agreed and said it was an honor to bring that moment to life on stage.

Okay...now the performances themselves. Our other replacements for this performance were Tommar Wilson (Standby for Washington), Kyle Weiler (Universal Swing for George Eaker), and Phil Colgan (Swing for Samuel Seabury) as well as Lili Froehlich and Taeko McCarroll (Swings). I loved Warren Egypt Franklin as Layfette, but especially as Jefferson. I was able to tell him I had seen Daveed and that there was definitely not any shade growing on him and he seemed to really like that. I also loved Neil Haskell as King George The last two actors I’ve seen play King George in Chicago have hammed it up a little bit much to my liking particularly the last one I saw that made him unnecessarily a bit too effeminate. Not the case here. He nailed the humor, but didn’t pander. Joseph Morales (Hamilton) and Nik Walker (Burr) has new takes on their characters. It threw me at first especially in the case of Morales, but I ended up appreciating their performances. Walker’s Burr had more of an undercurrent of fear that I hadn’t experienced before and I feel like it worked. Morales was not as energetic especially during the first of Act 1 as my previous Hamiltons (LMM, Cervantes), but his quieter moments were lovely and I felt like his performance was more of a slow burn. Nakisha Williams was devastating as Eliza. I do hope however that the regular Eliza (Oklahoma native Erin Clemons) is on Wednesday night so I can experience her take on it. Tommar is younger and less imposing physically than my previous Washingtons, but I admired his performance.

It was thrilling for me to experience this production in my home state which doesn’t always have the best track record on how it treats minorities and liberal ideals. I was especially proud that the line “Immigrants We Get The Job Done” got a rousing round of applause and hoots and hollers. The crowd was with the cast every inch of the way.

For those that care about these things, stage door was easy. My friend and I were the first ones at the barricades. By the way, this is the first touring production I’ve been to where they had barricades. I didn’t count but there were not a huge number of people at stage door although the barricade was full. Very manageable. Twelve people from the cast came out and signed. All were lovely.

Okay. That’s it folks. I’m exhausted. Goodnight.

Update: merchandise report - I showed relative restraint (partially because I know I’m returning Wednesday night).  I only bought the socks. I do still have my eye on the snow globe (I collect them) and the coasters. I also thought about buying the Chernow book and asking the cast to sign it at stage door Wednesday night although there’s a 95% chance I’ll never get around to reading it.  How much I buy Wednesday night will partially depend on whether my friend that is going with me finally reimburses me for her $211 ticket.   

Updated On: 8/12/19 at 01:37 AM

[dmwnc1959]

Posted: 8/12/19 at 5:29am

^ ^ ^ Great review! I saw Joseph Morales in Cleveland last year and loved his performance. I’ll get to see HAMILTON once more when the tour comes through Pittsburgh in the 2020/2021 season, so there’s no telling which company it will be and who will be playing Hamilton at that point. I’d still love to see Miguel Cervantes since I didn’t make it to Chicago. Enjoy the show (again) Wednesday night too. Sounds like your having a LOT of fun this year. Wish I had the line-up you do! :)

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 8/15/19 at 2:21am

Okay...I’m going to try to keep this shorter than my post from Sunday night as it’s late and I already wrote a pretty detailed review then. 

So tonight we had the full cast with exception of Tommar Wilson (Standby for Washington). That meant especially that we had Erin Clemons (Oklahoma native!) as Eliza. She was great. I’m so glad I got to see her!

We were right orchestra Row F which afforded a more intimate experience than the Sunday’s lottery Grand Tier ticket (although Grand Tier offered a better view of the overall spectacle and stage craft). I was also surprised that my perception of some performances were transformed by being closer and probably from seeing this cast for the second time. I had felt Morales’s Hamilton was a little under-energized Sunday night. Not so tonight. What I had experienced as low key, I realized was a simply more intimate deeply moving performance. I adored it. In fact, at times it reminded me of Cervantes’s performance although his Hamilton is more cocky, I’d say. Both are valid interpretations and they both totally work. I had also thought Walker’s Burr seemed to have some undercurrent of fear Sunday Night. Tonight, my perception of his performance deepened. Burr comes across as cocky but you can also see there is this fear of being locked out of power that his cockiness (over)compensates for. Of course, all this culminates in his absolutely thrilling The Room Where It Happens (It was sexy and sinister AF) and ultimately- spoiler alert - his murder of Hamilton. Yet he never loses Burr’s humanity. Also, I just want to shout out again Warren Egypt Franklin. His Lafayette was great, but his Jefferson was absolutely sexy and captivating. And also, Ta’rae Campbell as Angelica. Her voice is just phenomenal. And Neil Haskell as King George is perfection. When we were driving around trying to find free parking he was walking towards the theater and I pointed him out to my friend & I said that I thought that was King George and then as we were walking towards the theater he was sitting on the steps in street clothes talking to someone about their next stop being Tulsa. I told him at stage door that it amazes me that he could be having this casual conversation outside less than an hour before showtime (although I know he doesn’t come in until 6 songs deep into Act 1) and then just come on and just rock it so perfectly.
 
Speaking of stage door, as we were leaving the theater I told my friend I had a surprise for her and she instantly said something about Aaron Burr. She let me know at intermission that she thought he was really sexy. And I said yes we’re going to meet him assuming he comes to stage door. At first she thought I had messaged him on Instagram and arranged something and I said no. But anyway it was funny, she almost started having heart palpitations she’s so excited. She’s at least 65 years old and it was funny and endearing to see her get so school girl excited. He did come out and she did get a picture with him so that was really sweet. It was her first stage door experience. Most of the principals came out!

I also let myself go crazy at the merchandise booth. My friend paid me in cash for her ticket tonight and I used every bit of it to buy merchandise. LOL. I finally broke down and bought the snow globe, the coaster set, the pint glass that says “Raise a Glass to Freedom”, and the 2 CD OBCR. You would think I would’ve already had that last one, but I just have it from iTunes, but I really got into listening to music on my surround sound stereo system again now that I have a record player again so I’m looking forward to blasting it on my surround sound speakers.

And yeah, this wasn’t short at all. Lol

Oh and I wasn’t as tearful tonight. I do wonder if part of it is because I just saw it Sunday and then also because I’ve started listening to the audiobook of Chernow’s biography of Hamilton and perhaps I was approaching it a little bit more intellectually. I don’t know. I still started crying during “Who Dies, Who Lives, Who Tells Your Story” though and got a little misty during “It’s Quiet Uptown.” 

Updated On: 8/15/19 at 02:21 AM

[dmwnc1959]

Posted: 8/15/19 at 7:28am

Similar to your experience, with my first and second time seeing HAMILTON the seating was much closer for the latter (and in a slightly smaller venue), and being close enough to see expressions and make out detail made all the difference in the world. And being as I’ve seen it far fewer times than you, and it was five months apart between shows, I had time to recover and be emotionally invested again. Still, this is a GREAT show and I hope to catch it every few years when it comes around on tour. 

I’m not sure that I’ll go all out at the souvenir stand when it comes through in the 202/2021 season, as I’ve pretty much purchased everything I wanted in Cleveland and Pittsburgh. I’ve treated the kids that used to live across the street from me (before I moved) with all sorts of postcards, buttons, and window cards. They really loved them. But I’m sure the impulse buy syndrome will strike and I’ll walk away with something. Even if it’s the HAMILTON socks. 

[popsDGE]

Posted: 8/29/19 at 3:43pm

Show report Angelica Tour in Albany NY on Sat Aug 24th (matinee)

The show is truly a masterpiece, the performance though, not so much. Drove about 10 hours from Quebec City and back to see the show with the wife and kids. I left satisfied but not overwhelmed.

My big issue is that both Alexander's AND Eliza's actors were understudies. I was super looking forward to seeing Edred Utomi and Hannah Cruz. I didnt get to see either of them, tough to swallow. Still i kept an open mind. Stephanie Jae Park did an honest Eliza. Tre Frazier was our Alexander. Apart from a few shining moments (Dear Theodosia and The Election of 1800 were pretty nice) he was eclipsed by pretty much any of the other cast members. I spent most of the show trying to connect, but it didnt click.

My wife adored Josh Tower as Aaron Burr.

Bryson Bruce (Lafayette/Jefferson)was unreal as Jefferson, absolutely superb. This guy singlehandedly redeemed the performance and the price i paid for the tickets. I still get a smile thinking about his "What did i miss". He is the star of this show.

Dont remember who played Laurens/Philip but he was the regular actor, i think, and he was also superb. His Philip really connected with me

Chaundre Hall Broomfield plays a very mean Mulligan and a very good Madison. His Mulligan is very convincing. Loved him.

Everyone else did a very good job and i liked my show. But i was disappointed first by the fact that both leads were out and also because the understudies didnt deliver convincing performances.

Updated On: 8/29/19 at 03:43 PM

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 8/29/19 at 5:48pm

Sorry you missed Edred Utomi. He was actually on vacation. I totally understand you being disappointed. That's exactly how I felt when I saw this company in Baltimore in July. Josh Tower (Burr) was out, and the understudy just didn't cut it for me one bit. Jon Victor Corpuz is Laurens/Phillip Hamilton. I thought he was wonderful.

I'm seeing it again in Philadelphia in September. Hoping everyone is in!