I had the privilege of going back to the show tonight (man, is it anything less than incredible?) and Alysha Deslorieux was on for Eliza. She was quite good, though she played the role with less tragic effect and more growing incense than did Phillipa Soo (who I saw earlier in the show's run). I wasn't as profoundly heartbroken by Deslorieux's Eliza at the end of the show as I was by Soo's, but I certainly understood where her character choices stemmed from, and she committed to it all very well. Great voice, too.
HSky said: "Funny you mention that - prior to Act 2, there was a message from the King that Andrew Chappelle would be on for Reynolds and the Doctor.
I saw him as Reynolds when I saw the show (I think he was performing Sydney James Harcourt's track as Reynolds, the Doctor, and Philip Schuyler because Sydney was on as Washigton). I enjoyed him.
The Man Who First Brought Us Hamilton — Ron Chernow on Serving as Lin-Manuel Miranda's "Right Hand Man"
I thought this was a fine interview because it goes into specifics about how the process worked. I personally would like to read about the parts of the show that Chernow told Miranda were "ridiculous" and he would just stare at him in reply!
Also interesting to me is Chernow's depiction of his candid reaction to peeking in the door to an early run through and being shocked to see a room full of black and Latino actors. I find it a bit hard to believe that despite all his facetime with Lin, he never mentioned his casting ideas, but there you have it.
Tell me if this is just my computer being weird, but it looks to me that the main performance calendar on the Hamilton front page automatically starts with May 2016 now!
just wanted to share my experience being lucky enough to see Hamilton last Sunday.
having been in New York City last September and after having waited two hours in the cancellation line with only one ticket becoming available I returned home to Montreal quite discouraged.
this time out I decided to go to the box office quite early in the morning realizing the chance of winning the lottery were very slim.
knowing that there are never any regularly priced tickets available I quickly asked for two premium seats and to my shock I was told 8th row was available. I have never been so excited in my life to spend $477 for ticket knowing that the resale prices were at least double for such good seats.
having listened to the CD numerous times prior to seeing the show I was so blown away with what I saw even considering the hype. I was so lucky that all the principles were in except for the role of Eliza Who I felt did an amazing job.
I was so thrilled that I had a perfect line of sight with no tall people sitting in front of me which is often the case in Broadway theaters in my experience. Bought the window card which I had signed outside and will now be framed in my office to be looked at for years to come..... As a bonus Sylvester Stallone and Cheyenne Jackson were sitting very close to us!
two questions I have from the show that I noticed that I was wondering if anybody else knows was on script that or not. When King George comes out for the final time and he is sitting in a chair on the right side of the stage I noticed he was hopping in his chair whileLeslie Odom Jr was singing on stage. When Leslie glanced at Jonathan he started laughing while singing. I don't know if this is happened ever before or if Jonathan was trying to make him laugh. Anybody's feedback who saw the show would be appreciated.
Loving the role of King George and his great tunes I noticed that Jonathan Groff had some excess saliva all over his lips which I do not know was intentional or not. after all he was going mad!!
I can answer your second question: Groff is a notorious spitter....speaking, singer....it doesn't matter. It's not anything to o with the character....its just Groff.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
Not sure if this link has been posted before, but C-Span broadcast Lin receiving the George Washington Book Award - the first time it's been awarded to a playwright. It's available to view on their site. Kinda great to hear all the George Washington scholars heaping praise on the kid from Washington Heights! There are several speakers, including Ron Chernow, a couple of short video clips from the show, and finally Lin accepting the award. Bonus at the very end: Lin and Chris Jackson performing One Last Time! You can scroll to the end of the hour-plus video if you just want to see Lin - but honestly, I enjoyed all the speeches!
I've seen the show 4 times and every time Leslie has laughed at Groff during that part. I think it is intentional because I cannot imagine Leslie breaking character at the exact same spot 4 times.
Going back to a question on the thread from a few days back, I saw Chappelle as Mulligan/Madison awhile back. He was very good as Madison but just OK as Mulligan. I don't know that I would've known I was missing anything had I not seen Oak in the role already. It made me realize what a tremendous performance he brings to that part. I think he's often overlooked in discussions because of all the other amazing performances going on but I was oddly glad to see him out because it made me appreciate his performance more. (Listening to he cast recording I also have been appreciating how talented he is.)
chappelle missed the beginning of the line "no matter what she tells you" after Hamilton gets married. I felt bad for him. I guess that can be the hazard of covering so many tracks.
Leslie was.out sick for a performance or two...I think someone said the first professional sick day he'd ever used.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
I heard from a friend who went in early December that Leslie was out (it was a Wednesday matinee, I believe), and it was previously reported that he'll be out all next week on vacation. Not sure about Daveed.
Leslie was out when I saw the show Christmas week. Sydney James Harcourt was great in most spots, but poor in others (for example, Dear Theodosia. Something about how he & Lin sounded together was really off). I haven't seen Leslie though, so my impressions were based entirely off the cast recording and the way he sounded. I was disappointed but it certainly didn't affect my enjoyment of the show.
Apparently Carleigh Bettiol is on as Eliza today! That's so exciting! Is that because Alysha is on for Angelica (asking, don't know if Renee is out?)? I hope we hear some reports; I am so curious about her.
Eta: oops, someone told me she's gone on before. Got overexcited about a debut I guess.
rjm516 said: "Apparently Carleigh Bettiol is on as Eliza today! That's so exciting! Is that because Alysha is on for Angelica (asking, don't know if Renee is out?)? I hope we hear some reports; I am so curious about her
Eta: oops, someone told me she's gone on before. Got overexcited about a debut I guess.
According to her instagram it was her Eliza debut. Maybe that person was confused?
I thought it was interesting that they said there was one swing who covers all the girls and one for all the guys since I've read about multiple people going on.
Super random question that popped into my head as I go about my day (and it's kind of spoiler-y, so fair warning):
When I saw Soo as Eliza last summer, at the very end of the very end of the show, she let out that much talked-about, haunting final breath of air just before blackout. However, when I saw Deslorieux in the role earlier this month, there was no exhale—just her smiling giddily into the abyss as the lights went out. Is the exhale a Soo performance choice and not part of the script? I had been thinking it was the latter all this time, but now I'm not so sure. Can anyone drop some knowledge?
I thought it was interesting that they said there was one swing who covers all the girls and one for all the guys since I've read about multiple people going on.
I'm guessing they're talking more of the two trios (Eliza/Angelica/Peggy+Maria and Laurens/Mulligan/Lafayette) which Alysha and Andrew as their first covers. I'm not sure anyone other than Carleigh has been on for the sisters but I don't know about the guys.
Aside from the standbys and Superman Andrew Chapelle, most of the understudies haven't gone on. Sydney James Harcourt has gone on for Washington and Burr, Rua for Hamilton, and now Carleigh for Eliza. As it's been said, the bench is so deep. The ensemble has been plagued by injury, but the swings are stepping up grandly.