Hamilton in Chicago - Page 10

[chi-town_bwayfangirl]

Posted: 12/12/16 at 4:14pm

Had Row S and T left center aisle seats and hey we're fantastic, just below the overhang but well worth the savings. 

[chi-town_bwayfangirl]

Posted: 12/12/16 at 4:14pm

I believe thy were in the standard Ticketmaster envelope. 

[ggersten]

Posted: 1/5/17 at 4:49pm

Excited for the nation to see Joshua Henry's Burr -but sad for us that he's leaving the Chicago production so soon.  Our tix are March 24 - .  But we did get to see him in October - so happy face.   

So, now we wait for the evercommunicative Broadway in Chicago people to announce cast changes.  

[KDK3]

Posted: 1/5/17 at 4:54pm

Seeing the show on Hamilton's birthday! :)

Questions, hoping someone can help with, some which have been sort of answered:

1. Miguel or Joseph for Wednesday matinees? Any other understudy performances for this show?

2. What's the stage door like for matinees? Do they even come out? Worth it?

we have "obstructed view" on orchestra level, thinking it's from the overhang, and not too worried!

Updated On: 1/5/17 at 04:54 PM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/5/17 at 5:26pm

Won the digital lottery last Friday night and sat in the left boxes, which are obstructed, so you miss about 25% of the far stage right area, but for $10, I'm not bitching about it.  This was actually the closest to the stage I've seen the show and it was still thrilling, nonetheless.  Just two little nits:

- Saw Jin Ha as King George and after seeing both Groff and Gemignani, Ha just didn't have the comedic chops to deliver.  There wasn't much personality or nuance.  Just sort of a paint-by-numbers performance.

- Maybe it was because I was sitting closer to the stage, but the ensemble in general seemed a bit sloppy.  There were definitely a couple of them who were unfocused and listless, not even finishing out their movements.  I won't name names, but there was one who seemed completely out of their depth and actually pulled my focus with what appeared to be a complete lack of enthusiasm.  Both acts, they started strong, but then deteriorated to near ambivalence by the halfway point of each act.  It was actually distracting.  Maybe they were sick?  But even simple things, like forming a straight line, holding an expression when frozen, or not have a personal chat with a friend onstage between steps when someone else is singing, were often ignored.  I felt like certain members of the ensemble are starting to "settle in" and forget that most of the audience is seeing the show for the first time.  It wasn't all terrible, but there were too many unprofessional/sloppy moments going on that I was able to pick up on during the show.  That was disheartening, especially when watching so many highly focused riveting and heartfelt performances happening around them.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 1/5/17 at 5:33pm

That's a problem with these long runs. People start seeing it as an office job. Alex brightmans show people interview goes into how people at wicked would have conversations onstage.

they should start doing what they do in the west end where they replace everyone or half the cast every year.

[ggersten]

Posted: 1/5/17 at 5:37pm

KDK3 - check out View From My Seat  There are several different views from orchestra "limited" view seats either from being far to the side or with the overhang.   You didn't say where your seats were - so I can't point to a specific view.  

[Nycat63]

Posted: 1/5/17 at 7:23pm

Well ... I'm taking my shot.  Anyone have Chicago tickets for any Fri-Sun before mid-Feb?  Willing to trade my March 23 seats (2, row T in side Orch but not limited view) or pay above face but avoid the insane Ticketmaster fees.  I've never seen the Chicago cast so this would be our only chance to catch Josh Henry.  He was the main reason I bought the tickets along with Karen Olivo.  Let me know - thanks!!!

[gatorgirl2]

Posted: 1/6/17 at 1:18am

Is there still a cancellation line for the Chicago version? Just found out I could crash with my friend's family for free but now there aren't a lot of affordable tickets left. 

[sparepart973]

Posted: 1/6/17 at 4:23am

1. Miguel or Joseph for Wednesday matinees? Any other understudy performances for this show?

Joseph performers on Sundays. I saw the Chicago company four times in December, in all sorts of schedules (matinee, evening, weekend evenings) and Miguel was always on. Unless it's a scheduled holiday or illness, I think it's safe to say it'll be him if it's not a Sunday. 

[Nycat63]

Posted: 1/6/17 at 8:59am

Joshua Henry leaving Jan 15 according to his twitter so I will not get a chance to see him.  On another thread someone just posted that Daniel Breaker is rumored to be taking over.  If that's true that's good news.  He's currently Mafala in BOM on Broadway and extremely talented.  Takes a little bit of the sting out for me though I'm still extremely bummed given the rave reviews of Henry's Burr.  

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/6/17 at 9:03am

Here is the "another thread": 

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?page=2&thread=1098402&dt=37

 

Here is Joshua Henry's tweet: 

https://twitter.com/joshuahenry20/status/817244046360014848

Updated On: 1/6/17 at 09:03 AM

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 1/6/17 at 9:12am

Mister Matt, someone on ATC posted recently about the ensemble being sloppy as well.  Thankfully when I saw the show in November, I didn't notice anything of the sort.

I also noticed that Jin Ha was covering a number of the principal roles, and I wondered if he truly would be good at all of them.  

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 1/6/17 at 9:15am

Apparently Wayne Brady is going to Chicago: http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/hamilton/ct-joshua-henry-departs-hamilton-wayne-brady-20170105-story.html

[pc1145N]

Posted: 1/6/17 at 9:33am

Has Hamilton - Chicago become the stunt casting show? Joshua Henry is absolutely brilliant as Aaron Burr and can not possibly be replaced by Wayne Brady. It would take you right out of the show to see a "star" in that role.

As for the Tribune's speculation that since Wayne Brady was "spotted downtown in recent days," what does that mean? I've been downtown in recent days and I doubt I'm on the shortlist to replace Joshua Henry.

[Nycat63]

Posted: 1/6/17 at 9:56am

pc1145N said: "Has Hamilton - Chicago become the stunt casting show? Joshua Henry is absolutely brilliant as Aaron Burr and can not possibly be replaced by Wayne Brady. It would take you right out of the show to see a "star" in that role.

As for the Tribune's speculation that since Wayne Brady was "spotted downtown in recent days," what does that mean? I've been downtown in recent days and I doubt I'm on the shortlist to replace Joshua Henry.

 

LOL...and agree completely - I have nothing against Wayne Brady but not for Hamilton.  They haven't resorted to stunt casting yet and don't have to, so I'm a little skeptical about this report as well, but I guess we will see.  

 

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/6/17 at 10:10am

neonlightsxo said: "Apparently Wayne Brady is going to Chicago: http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/hamilton/ct-joshua-henry-departs-hamilton-wayne-brady-20170105-story.html"

The headline of that story is a question mark. It doesn't confirm anything.

[whatdoesntkillme]

Posted: 1/6/17 at 11:10am

I doubt Chris Jones would just throw that speculation out there unless he had credible sources that Brady is the new Burr. He's a smart person. 

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 1/6/17 at 11:30am

whatdoesntkillme said: "I doubt Chris Jones would just throw that speculation out there unless he had credible sources that Brady is the new Burr. He's a smart person. "

 

Yup. But Lizzie, feel free to bite my head off as per usual.

 

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/6/17 at 11:41am

You give me so much to chew!

[rjm516]

Posted: 1/6/17 at 12:09pm

I really like Wayne Brady but holy god, not for burr. Heck, not for any Hamilton role, really.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 1/6/17 at 12:22pm

pc1145N said: "Has Hamilton - Chicago become the stunt casting show? Joshua Henry is absolutely brilliant as Aaron Burr and can not possibly be replaced by Wayne Brady. It would take you right out of the show to see a "star" in that role.

As for the Tribune's speculation that since Wayne Brady was "spotted downtown in recent days," what does that mean? I've been downtown in recent days and I doubt I'm on the shortlist to replace Joshua Henry.

 

"

The Broadway production cast Taran Kilam as the king which I would qualify as stunt casting. They also have jordan fisher, who is pretty famous.

[pc1145N]

Posted: 1/6/17 at 12:29pm

The Broadway production cast Taran Kilam as the king which I would qualify as stunt casting. They also have jordan fisher, who is pretty famous.

*

Taran Kilam is in a very small role where only his face is visible. I think anyone who can sing AND have good comedic timing can do a good job in that role. HOWEVER, the Aaron Burr role is very, very different. It's essentially the lead role and at the very least, a co-lead role.

As for Jordan Fisher, I have no idea who that is. A quick google search told me he's a Disney kid. The dual role of John Laurens/Phillip Hamilton is hardly the critical role that Aaron Burr is. I hope he's fantastic!

 

"

 

[Nycat63]

Posted: 1/6/17 at 12:56pm

pc1145N said: "
The Broadway production cast Taran Kilam as the king which I would qualify as stunt casting. They also have jordan fisher, who is pretty famous.

*

Taran Kilam is in a very small role where only his face is visible. I think anyone who can sing AND have good comedic timing can do a good job in that role. HOWEVER, the Aaron Burr role is very, very different. It's essentially the lead role and at the very least, a co-lead role.

As for Jordan Fisher, I have no idea who that is. A quick google search told me he's a Disney kid. The dual role of John Laurens/Phillip Hamilton is hardly the critical role that Aaron Burr is. I hope he's fantastic!

 

Jorge makes a good point.  As soon as I hit send on my "Hamilton doesn't stunt cast" post I remembered Jordan Fisher.  That's probably as close to stunt casting as they have gotten - the tween/teen crowd knows him and loves him so he's a name in that sense (he was also in Grease Live).  For what it's worth I've heard rave reviews about his performance so at least he's living up to it.  Forgot about Taran - but agree if you are going to stunt cast, King George is more conducive to that than Burr, even if his presence takes you out of the performance a bit. But I am rethinking my initial skepticism that there's truth to the Wayne Brady thing.  It could happen and if so, at least he is a talented performer even if perhaps a bit much for Hamilton.  

 

 

"

 

[MyLife]

Posted: 1/6/17 at 1:43pm

This wouldn't be stunt casting, Stunt casting casting implies casting a celebrity in a role to fill seats. For the number of months Brady would sign on for (if he does at all), the show in Chicago is almost sold out (if not already). The same goes with Fisher and Killam on Broadway. Isn't it possible that the stars have interest in the show and the talent to back it up that the casting doesn't have to viewed as a gimmick?