[title]
As we reported last week, Lin-Manuel Miranda will be leaving his megasmash Hamilton, which recently dominated the Tony Awards with 11 wins. Miranda’s contract will be up July 9 (his final performance) and we don’t doubt he’s ready to start other projects. (Which other original cast members are moving on after July 9? We're looking at you, Philippa Soo…) Pundits wondered if producers would opt for stunt casting, giving Miranda’s role to a hip-hop celebrity or even a gender-nonconforming actor. That’s entirely possibly sometime in the future, but for now, Hamilton goes to a guy who’s been with the project since it began last year at the Public Theater. Miranda’s alternate, Javier Muñoz, will go from playing one show a week to seven. Fun fact: Muñoz also took over Miranda’s lead role, Usnavi, in his Broadway debut, In the Heights. We can’t wait to see Hamilton again with its new leading man…if we can score tickets!
In Hamilton national news, a Chicago production will open in October 2016. A touring production begins a 21-week run in San Francisco in March 2017 followed by a 21-week engagement in Los Angeles. Earlier this week, a London production for 2017 was also announced.