Hamilton cast size
Hamilton cast size
LindaSmyth
Chorus Member Joined: 7/24/14
#1Hamilton cast size
Posted: 8/8/17 at 4:36pm
I was looking at Hamilton's IBDB page and I was shocked at the size of the current cast.
The show has 21 tracks (so 21 performers on stage), plus 12 swings and 5 standbys (19 performers offstage). A total of 40.
I was wondering why so many swings? Do the principals call out that often? It seems a bit disproportionate...
#2Hamilton cast size
Posted: 8/8/17 at 4:39pm
Don't they use the Broadway version to sort of get a lot of people up to speed and then shoot them off to Chicago or on tour?
#3Hamilton cast size
Posted: 8/8/17 at 4:45pm
A couple of the swings are Universal swings, so they swing in and out of all three productions. The only person I know for certain who has this job, is Eliza Ohman.
#4Hamilton cast size
Posted: 8/8/17 at 4:47pm
Add Antuan Raimone to that list. Someone posted a story about Hamilton's universal swings on ATC recently.
#5Hamilton cast size
Posted: 8/8/17 at 4:49pm
Your math is off by 2, but your point stands. That is a lot! I also find it interesting that the Hamilton alternate is in the ensemble, rather than just making the standby also serve as the alternate, and have the 2nd cover be in the ensemble.
LindaSmyth
Chorus Member Joined: 7/24/14
#6Hamilton cast size
Posted: 8/8/17 at 6:51pm
JBroadway said: "Your math is off by 2, but your point stands. That is a lot! I also find it interesting that the Hamilton alternate is in the ensemble, rather than just making the standby also serve as the alternate, and have the 2nd cover be in the ensemble. "
Whoops! Thank you for the correction. 38 people total.
There are 3 universal swings: Antuan Rimone, Eliza Ohman and Willie Smith. That still leaves you with 9 swings and 5 standbys, which is still a lot. But, hey, If the producers deem it necessary...more jobs for Boadway performers after all!
asmith0307
Broadway Star Joined: 8/5/14
#7Hamilton cast size
Posted: 8/8/17 at 7:36pm
LindaSmyth said: "JBroadway said: "Your math is off by 2, but your point stands. That is a lot! I also find it interesting that the Hamilton alternate is in the ensemble, rather than just making the standby also serve as the alternate, and have the 2nd cover be in the ensemble. "
Whoops! Thank you for the correction. 38 people total.
There are 3 universal swings: Antuan Rimone, Eliza Ohman and Willie Smith. That still leaves you with 9 swings and 5 standbys, which is still a lot. But, hey, If the producers deem it necessary...more jobs for Boadway performers after all!"
Jennie Harney is a universal standby for the Schuyler Sisters, so she jumps from company to company a lot as well.
I know they had to bump up their number of swings post-opening because the show is hard on the dancer's bodies - they seem to be steadily increasing the number of swings for the last two years. Some may also be vacation swings as well, so the cast could be a little (for lack of a better word) bloated right now, but I don't know their situation to know for sure.
Curious if anyone knows when they took Chappelle's male ensemble track off his plate - it was the only thing keeping him in the "swing" group.
ahhrealmonsters
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/11/10
#9Hamilton cast size
Posted: 8/8/17 at 9:42pm
LindaSmyth said: " Do the principals call out that often?"
I don't know how often, but when I saw the show on Broadway about a month ago, there were understudies on for Burr, Eliza, and Washington, plus a few ensemble tracks.
Rainah
Broadway Star Joined: 11/24/16
#10Hamilton cast size
Posted: 8/8/17 at 9:56pm
The impression I got from a backstage friend is they call out a decent amount, particularly on sundays (She claims they are hoping no one will remember come tuesday) though it really depends on the actor. Some (like Medina) try really hard not to miss a show
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