Hamilton, the transformative hip-hop musical about Alexander Hamilton and his fellow founding fathers, will open in Chicago on September 27, 2016, producer Jeffrey Seller and Broadway in Chicago announced this morning.
The Broadway phenomenon, currently among the most sought-after tickets in New York, will play Broadway in Chicago's The PrivateBank Theatre—the new name of the current Bank of America Theatre at 18 W. Monroe Street, beginning with the February run of Cabaret.
Hamilton will initially go on sale for 16 weeks, Seller said at a press conference in front of the theater, but added that "we will serve at the pleasure of the Chicago theatergoing audience," and that his intention is to "install" a company in Chicago.
Hamilton producer Jeffrey Seller announces the Chicago production in front of the newly renamed PrivateBank TheatrePhotograph: Kris Vire
Hamilton, with book, music and lyrics by Tony Award winner and MacArthur "genius" grantee Lin-Manuel Miranda (who currently stars as Alexander Hamilton in the Broadway production), is directed by Thomas Kail, with choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler and musical direction by Alex Lacamoire; the same team previously collaborated on In the Heights, the winner of the 2008 Tony Award for best musical. Hamilton is the clear frontrunner for the 2016 Tony. The casting process for a Chicago company, Seller said, will begin tomorrow. For more on Hamilton, read Time Out New York's five-star review.