March 3, 2017. That’s the day that mid-Michigan audiences gasped with excitement over the biggest theatrical announcement in years. “Hamilton” would be coming to the Wharton Center as part of the 2018-19 season. I can’t tell you how many people I know who purchased 2017-18 season packages that year just to guarantee their shot at “Hamilton” tickets.
Spring 2019 felt like it would take forever to get here, but when it comes to something as big as “Hamilton,” mid-Michigan audiences were willing to wait for it. And now, it’s here.
“Hamilton” is wowing Wharton Center audiences through June 2, 2019. For those who didn’t purchase tickets ahead of time, a handful of tickets are being released daily on the Wharton Center website. And, of course, there’s the famous “Hamilton” lottery, which awards 40 tickets for each performance at $10 a pop, maximum of two tickets per winner. The lottery is held through the “Hamilton” app.
Wednesday night’s performance was my second time seeing”Hamilton” on stage, which in itself feels like an embarrassment of riches for one person to experience. This second viewing, nearly three years after the first, created a rare and special opportunity to relive the magic. There were nuances I hadn’t caught the first time around, or even on the 100th listen of the soundtrack.
Theodore Roosevelt said that “comparison is the thief of joy,” but the chance to examine all of the layers uncovered between my two “Hamilton” experiences made for a beautiful encore.
I still remember the day “Hamilton” jumped onto my radar. I was already a fan of Lin-Manuel Miranda after the 2008 Tonys when he wowed me with his “In the Heights” performance and incredible acceptance speech for Best Original Score. Seriously, watch it here. Then Zack and I were watching CBS Sunday Morning in 2015 and saw their story about “Hamilton,” then showing off-Broadway:
Before we could even begin dreaming about rushing off to New York to see the show, it grew into the incredible global phenomenon it is today. Through a lot of luck and a theatre connection, we secured tickets to see the show on Broadway in September 2016. I was halfway through my pregnancy with Margot, and finally seeing a show we couldn’t stop thinking about paired with the emotions (and hormones) of my pregnancy added so much to the experience.
As Brandon Victor Dixon and Javier Muñoz performed “Dear Theodosia,” Margot squirmed and kicked in my belly. I still can’t listen to that song without crying.
I should also point out that about a year later, Margot was featured on the “Hamilton” app as “#Hamilkid of the Week”:
When “Hamilton” was set to arrive in East Lansing this spring, I was thrilled at the prospect of seeing the show again. I also wondered if I would be comparing performances.
But the truth is, “Hamilton” is a phenomenon for a reason: it’s phenomenal, and showcases a diverse range of talent in its casts around the country. The Angelica Tour cast currently at the Wharton Center is beyond worthy of the hype surrounding this juggernaut. Each performer brought something different to the characters I felt I already knew so much about.
Wednesday night’s performance at the Wharton Center left me in tears throughout the evening. While everyone was stellar, I must point out some of my favorite performances and highlights.
As Alexander Hamilton, Edred Utomi brings a young, scrappy, and hungry swagger to the titular role. In him, I truly saw Alexander’s transformation from a confident spitfire to a man carrying the unbearable weight of his personal tragedies. I loved the ways Utomi made Hamilton his own, from the Cabinet Battle scenes to his interactions with Aaron Burr (Josh Tower) and his friends Marquis de Lafayette, Hercules Mulligan, and John Laurens.
As Aaron Burr, the show’s narrator and Hamilton’s foil and foe, Josh Tower brings a fresh voice and presence to the character. In Tower’s soaring rendition of “Wait for It,” I caught and held onto each lyric he sang with such precision. His glance back at the audience during “Non-Stop,” as if to say, “get a load of this Hamilton guy,” was such a subtle and humorous way of breaking the fourth wall.
This video shows the fun and chemistry Utomi and Tower share with each other:
Paul Oakley Stovall, an actor and playwright, is a stately presence on stage as Founding Father and first U.S. President George Washington, and not just because of his height. His lush baritone, on beautiful display during “One Last Time,” shows the wisdom and experience of age.
As Hamilton’s wife Eliza, Hannah Cruz embodies both the bright-eyed and “Helpless” young woman in love and the heartbroken anger of a betrayed spouse. Her rendition of “Burn” is electric, raw, and devastating; honestly, it’s the best version I’ve heard. From the first act until the show’s final moments, Cruz had me absolutely captivated.
And finally, the MVPs of the Angelica Tour in my opinion are the actors doing double-duty: Bryson Bruce as Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson, Chaundre Hall-Broomfield as Hercules Mulligan/James Madison, and Jon Viktor Corpuz as John Laurens/Philip Hamilton. Their chemistry on stage is undeniable, from the post-wedding razing of Hamilton and Burr to the comedic interludes between Madison and Jefferson. “My Shot,” “Guns and Ships,” and “What’d I Miss?” are packed with energy thanks in large part to these dynamic performers.
For “Hamilton” fanatics and those who have managed to let it slip their radar, know that the show you’ve been dreaming and hearing about lives up to all of the hype and expectations.
The wait is over. “Hamilton” and its Angelica Tour cast will blow you all away.
Don’t throw away your shot. See “Hamilton” at Wharton Center now through June 2, 2019. Check the Wharton Center website for tickets released daily and the “Hamilton” app to enter the daily $10 ticket lottery.