Whether in literature, film, or theater, sequels are constantly criticized for how well they compare to the original.
Consider Gladiator II, the most recent box office success, which is currently the focus of intense internet criticism on whether Paul Mascal is comparable to Russell Crowe, who played Maximus in the original Gladiator movie.
When it comes to Hamilton, the main topic of discussion among Ham fans is how the most recent cast stacks up against the original or how a touring company performs in comparison to the Broadway production.
As part of its two-week run in North America, Hamilton opened to a sold-out audience Tuesday at the Hershey Theatre. The Broadway hit is now being seen by audiences from Montreal to Costa Mesa, California.
Critiques of the cast members portraying George Washington, Eliza Schuyler Hamilton, and of course, Alexander Hamilton, were all over the theater after the performance on Wednesday.
As a newcomer, I was only familiar with the soundtrack and not the production, so I was able to enjoy it without the burden of witnessing previous actors.
As Alexander Hamilton, Tyler Fauntleroy commanded the stage, effortlessly switching between amorous moments with his wife Eliza and the escalating conflict with Aaron Burr, his friend-turned-enemy. If comparisons are necessary, Fauntleroy’s voice is better than Lin-Manuel Miranda’s, who created the role and the musical.
A.D. Weaver as George Washington, laying out the theme of his Farewell Address, and Lauren Mariasoosay as Eliza Schuyler Hamilton, who sings a heartbreaking solo, Burn, after learning of her husband’s adultery, are two other noteworthy performances.
Everybody will take a seat beneath their own fig and vine tree.
And nobody will frighten them.
They will be secure. In this country, we have
The show’s court jester, King George III (played by Justin Matthew Sargent), makes sporadic appearances to defuse the tension in this Shakespearean drama. Sargent personified the extravagant bluster and sarcasm of a defeated and derided ruler.
Hamilton will soon reach a significant milestone. Ten years have passed since Miranda’s epic story of Alexander Hamilton’s life debuted in an off-Broadway theater in New York City in January. It moved uptown to the Richard Rodgers theater on Broadway in less than six months, and it has remained there ever since.
In order to tell a crucial part of the American founding narrative, Miranda wrote a book, lyrics, and score based on rap and hip hop, upending musical theater conventions. The drama Hamilton, which highlights Alexander Hamilton’s remarkable journey from island orphan to Founding Father, has received both critical and popular acclaim.
The production has won 11 Tony Awards, 11 Grammys, and a Pulitzer Prize, and it has sold out theaters all over the world. Sell-out plays in central Pennsylvania are a clue that the musical is still going strong, and Miranda himself was awarded a MacArthur genius grant.
Hamilton is more important than ever. America is about to install a president who threatens to undermine the fundamental foundations of democracy that Hamilton helped create, and we are operating with a severe lack of understanding of our own history and civics. By offering a variety of online materials and developing a curriculum for schools that centers on the nation’s founding, Hamilton is contributing to public education.
Perhaps it’s time to put cast comparisons aside as Hamilton enters its second decade and give a new generation of Hamilton actors a chance to shine.
The Hershey Theatre will host 15 performances by the national touring company of “Hamilton” between November 26 and December 8, 2024. Lily Soto, Marja Harmon, and Lauren Mariasoosay are pictured from the left. Joan Marcus in 2024Hershey Theatre provided
Local star power: As part of the group’s North America tour, Alex Dorf, a native of Lancaster County, is making a comeback to the region.
Being able to return to my roots and the place where it all began feels like a full circle moment, Dorf, a Manheim Township High School alumnus, told LNP.
Dorf is not the first performer from the area to appear in Hamilton. The character of King George III was created by Lancaster County native Jonathan Groff, who was a member of the original Broadway cast of the musical. Dorf served as an understudy for this part.
And yet another noteworthy link between Hamilton and Pennsylvania. Philadelphia’s Jarrod Spector was proclaimed the most recent King George on Broadway in September.
Alex Dorf, who was born in Lancaster, is a part of the group performing “Hamilton” at the Hershey Theatre on tour.
A member of the original Hamilton cast will appear in Hershey’sRegarding the legendary original Broadway ensemble, another Philadelphian, Tony and Grammy winner Leslie Odom Jr., who portrayed Aaron Burr, will play Aaron Burr in The Christmas Tour on December 17 at the Hershey Theatre.
Advice for the knowledgeableBefore the show, ladies, get your restroom break-in. There were crazy lines during intermission. The concession booth is no different.
TicketsNaturally, Hamilton is the most popular show in town, and sales are booming. The theater advises aiming for a performance in the middle of the week. The price of the tickets is around $160.You can find them here.
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