HAMILTON Set for Chicago Sit-Down; Likely Eventual National Tour

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 12/8/15 at 11:50am

Starting in Chicago in September 2016 and will stay for "at least a year" before picking up and touring. Really interesting. So excited!

 

http://www.theatermania.com/chicago-theater/news/hamilton-national-tour-launch-chicago_75229.html

 

Edit: Hamilton Facebook page is calling their new Chicago production "open-ended." Wow.

Updated On: 12/9/15 at 11:50 AM

[asmith0307]

Posted: 12/8/15 at 11:59am

I was thinking that was a quick turnaround for a tour, but thinking about it longer, its really more of a second production which is an interesting choice.

[gypsy101]

Posted: 12/8/15 at 12:01pm

wow, no tour til September of 2017? that seems like much longer than it should be. disappointing to us people in the provinces (although Chicago isn't too far away from me I suppose). I thought the tour would be happening much sooner than that though.

[asmith0307]

Posted: 12/8/15 at 12:04pm

gypsy101 said: "wow, no tour til September of 2017? that seems like much longer than it should be. disappointing to us people in the provinces (although Chicago isn't too far away from me I suppose). I thought the tour would be happening much sooner than that though."

A lot of shows have been taking a season between their Broadway premiere and their tour launch recently. AGGLAM opened 13-14, tour launch 15-16. Fun Home opened 14-15, tour launching 16-17, etc.

[JoseLee_]

Posted: 12/8/15 at 12:05pm

I read somewhere that Hamilton will launch two tours at the same time. Can't wait for it to come to LA.

[haterobics]

Posted: 12/8/15 at 12:05pm

Hard to call Chicago a start of a tour if it may sit in its first stop for two years, or more.

[Jonwo]

Posted: 12/8/15 at 12:07pm

I wouldn't be surprised if they have a National tour announced at a later date and have it run along the Chicago production. The West End production is rumoured for 2017 as well

[gypsy101]

Posted: 12/8/15 at 12:08pm

haterobics said: "Hard to call Chicago a start of a tour if it may sit in its first stop for two years, or more."

 

Right, just call it a Chicago production. Don't lie about it. And asmith, I understand that for many shows but Hamilton isn't one of those other shows.  It seems kind of cruel to announce a tour that won't happen for 2 more years when all of America wants to see the show.

[aaaaaa15]

Posted: 12/8/15 at 12:10pm

.

Updated On: 12/8/15 at 12:10 PM

[Hamilton22]

Posted: 12/8/15 at 12:11pm

New Yorkers will be coming to the Chicago Hamilton cause they still won't be able to get a ticket to the New York one! 

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 12/8/15 at 12:11pm

This is sort of the MO Jeffrey Seller likes to use, right?  If you call it a tour, and ticket sales eventually slow down, that's not the reason it's closing in Chicago, it's closing because it's a tour and time to move on to the second city, I mean, next city.

[Theater_Nerd]

Posted: 12/8/15 at 12:12pm

A national tour? That stays put in one city for more than a year, and is an open ended run in that city? That doesn't sound like a tour to me. That sounds like another production that is opening in another city.

 

 

[asmith0307]

Posted: 12/8/15 at 12:14pm

haterobics said: "Hard to call Chicago a start of a tour if it may sit in its first stop for two years, or more."

For a first company, definitely. I found it interesting that they aren't sure when they will leave Chicago (it's an open-ended run). For the second BoM company which started with a Chicago sit-down, they knew fairly early that they weren't going to be there for longer than a year (though they did extend at one point if I remember correctly).

 

I wonder though how this will affect the out-of-town situation with Chicago. One of the reasons it seems to be so popular is because they have three large theaters at their disposal so they can have long tour stops and out-of-towns running concurrently while still having movement amongst their houses. (like starting Sunday for about 4 weeks they will have Beautiful until 2/21, Lion King until 1/17 and Gotta Dance until 1/17 I think). There is a fourth theater, but rarely do musicals go in there, usually just plays. 

Updated On: 12/8/15 at 12:14 PM

[gypsy101]

Posted: 12/8/15 at 12:14pm

aaaaaa15, It's opening in Chicago in September of 2016 but allegedly won't be leaving until the following September. Lame.

Updated On: 12/8/15 at 12:14 PM

[haterobics]

Posted: 12/8/15 at 12:17pm

OK, it sounds like everyone else is calling it a tour. But the Hamilton social media team just posted on Facebook: "JUST ANNOUNCED: Hamilton the Musical will play an open ended run in Chicago beginning September 27th next year! ?#‎RiseUp? ?#‎HamiltonChicago?"

 

Lin posted: "Chicago--
We're making you something. 
?#‎Hamiltour? ?#‎HamilChitown?"

 

Sounds like they are a bit more on point than all of the people reporting it as a tour.

Updated On: 12/8/15 at 12:17 PM

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 12/8/15 at 12:19pm

Yay Chicago!!!!  

[macnyc]

Posted: 12/8/15 at 12:19pm

It probably would be cheaper for New Yorkers to fy to Chicago to see Hamilton if regularly priced seats are available. Fly in, see the show, fly home!

[Hamilton22]

Posted: 12/8/15 at 12:20pm

it makes sense it would start in Chicago. Chicago is home to the best theater in the country.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 12/8/15 at 12:22pm

Yes yes yes yes!!! My life is set! I'm actually so happy!

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 12/8/15 at 12:28pm

asmith0307 said: "haterobics said: "Hard to call Chicago a start of a tour if it may sit in its first stop for two years, or more."

 

For a first company, definitely. I found it interesting that they aren't sure when they will leave Chicago (it's an open-ended run). For the second BoM company which started with a Chicago sit-down, they knew fairly early that they weren't going to be there for longer than a year (though they did extend at one point if I remember correctly).

 

 

 

I wonder though how this will affect the out-of-town situation with Chicago. One of the reasons it seems to be so popular is because they have three large theaters at their disposal so they can have long tour stops and out-of-towns running concurrently while still having movement amongst their houses. (like starting Sunday for about 4 weeks they will have Beautiful until 2/21, Lion King until 1/17 and Gotta Dance until 1/17 I think). There is a fourth theater, but rarely do musicals go in there, usually just plays. "

Chicago had wicked for 2+ years here and it didn't really stop the flow of shows coming in. Also Broadway in Chicago runs the auditorium theatre as well and I maybe they'll move some musicals going into that theatre.

Updated On: 12/8/15 at 12:28 PM

[haterobics]

Posted: 12/8/15 at 12:36pm

Not sure who ran crazy with the tour stuff, it isn't in the press release, either?!

 

"JEFFREY SELLER
SANDER JACOBS
JILL FURMAN

AND

THE PUBLIC THEATER

PRESENT

HAMILTON  

IS COMING TO CHICAGO!

Performances Begin at The PrivateBank Theatre September 27, 2016

CHICAGO (December 8, 2015) – Producer Jeffrey Seller today announced the blockbuster Broadway musical HAMILTON – with book, music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda – will play its first engagement outside New York this fall in Chicago. Performances begin September 27, 2016, at Broadway In Chicago's newly named The PrivateBank Theatre (18 W. Monroe).

HAMILTON will anchor the Broadway In Chicago subscription season that will be sold in the Spring of 2016. Group tickets for 20 or more for HAMILTON at The PrivateBank Theatre will go on sale on Tuesday, January 5, 2016, by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at [phone]. Single ticket on-sale for HAMILTON will be announced at a later date. For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

With book, music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, directed by Thomas Kail, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler and musical direction and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire, HAMILTON is based on Ron Chernow’s biography of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton. A thoroughly inventive, wildly entertaining musical about the birth of our nation – with a score that blends hip-hop, pop, blues, jazz and Broadway –HAMILTON opened on Broadway earlier this year to enthusiastic reception from critics and audiences of all ages. 

HAMILTON’s creative team previously collaborated on the 2008 Tony Award-winning Best Musical IN THE HEIGHTS. 

HAMILTON features scenic design by David Korins, costume design by Paul Tazewell, lighting design by Howell Binkley, sound design by Nevin Steinberg, hair and wig design by Charles G. LaPointe and casting by Telsey + Company, Bethany Knox, CSA.

The new musical is produced by Jeffrey Seller, Sander Jacobs, Jill Furman and The Public Theater.

HAMILTON (ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST RECORDING) is available everywhere nationwide. The HAMILTON Original Broadway Cast Recording received a 2016 GRAMMY® nomination for Best Musical Theatre Album. The album made a stunning arrival on the charts upon its digital release in August, coming in at #1 on the “Top Broadway Albums” chart, #3 on the “Top Rap Albums” chart, #5 on “Top Digital Albums” chart and #9 on the “Top Current Albums” chart. The cast recording was recently selected as #8 on Rolling Stone’s TOP 50 ALBUMS OF 2015. The album’s debut stands as the second biggest first week sales ever for a cast recording, behind only RENT in the Nielsen SoundScan era.

For more information on HAMILTON, visit www.hamiltononbroadway.com, www.facebook.com/HamiltonMusical, www.instagram.com/HamiltonMusical and www.twitter.com/HamiltonMusical."

[ChiTheaterFan]

Posted: 12/8/15 at 12:48pm

I am soooooooo excited and happy about this. As Call Me Jorge said this shouldn't affect tours coming through. We had wicked for 2 years, Book of Mormon for a year (I believe it did extend once), and Jersey Boys for an extended run (also in the Bank of America theater). Although it does happen, rarely are all 3 theaters in use so I'm sure this is a great coup for BIC and the city. Plus they do regularly use the auditorium for tours although the Joffrey sometimes uses it for ballet as well. 

 

For those of you hoping this will be an easier ticket I wouldn't hold your breath. BOM tickets sold out virtually immediately as soon as blocks were released. People regularly drive in from surrounding states to go to theater here. 

 

I used to be a BIC subscriber but haven't been the last few years. Might be time to return!!

[Kad]

Posted: 12/8/15 at 12:48pm

Considering the TheaterMania article linked in the original post cites absolutely no sources for its information...

[ChiTheaterFan]

Posted: 12/8/15 at 12:55pm

The headline for the Chicago tribune article (which was what Miranda tweeted) says "Broadway Hit Hamilton Will Launch Tour in Chicago"

 

I agree it's not an accurate headline but that's where it's coming from I guess. 

[haterobics]

Posted: 12/8/15 at 1:16pm

It was fun seeing people go from zero to pissed in 30 seconds after a tour they never heard of before would not be coming to their town...