This is not a drill. Lin Manuel Miranda's Tony, Grammy, Olivier and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical Hamilton has announced it is returning Down Under next year, and the news has left us quaking with excitement. From its motifs of revolution and fighting for one's rights to its fusion of hip-hop, jazz and Broadway scores, the tale of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton has met a tsunami of rave reviews since it first hit the stage in 2015.
After its season in Brisbane, we thought it might be the last we'd see of Hamilton for a while, but we can now confirm that Miranda's theatrical masterpiece is returning to Australia. OK, so there may be a slight catch: only an appearance in Sydney has been announced so far. But surely that means a Melbourne announcement is just around the corner? We can only cross our fingers – watch this space for more.
Alternatively, for anyone looking for a reason to visit the bright lights of Sydney Harbour, Hamilton will return with an encore season opening at the Sydney Lyric Theatre on July 30, 2024 (where Wicked is currently defying gravity).
Hamilton made its Australian premiere at the Lyric in March 2021, and was met with overwhelming audience and critical acclaim. The original Australian production went on to play in Melbourne, Brisbane and New Zealand, concluding in June. The Australian premiere season was the first production of Hamilton worldwide to open following the Covid-19 pandemic. While the season was a success, some 133 performances of the initial Sydney season had to be cancelled due to the pandemic, which means that a lot of fans missed out on seeing it. The 2024 return opens it up for a whole new audience to see the sensational show.
Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda (who also originated the title role on Broadway) visited the Australian production in Brisbane in March, and said he was delighted the show would have a return engagement in Australia. He said: “The return of Hamilton to Sydney is a testament to Australia’s deep appreciation and enthusiasm for the art of musical theatre. It’s palpable and alive, and we are so thrilled to be coming back!”
For the ill-informed, Hamilton is one of the world’s biggest musicals since Andrew Lloyd Webber was churning out shows about singing phantoms and dancing cats, and maybe even bigger than those blockbusters. It tracks the life and loves (and enemies) of one of the United States’ lesser-known (but more interesting) founding fathers. And just like in Les Misérables, there’s universal themes that lure in everyone who doesn’t care so much about the history.
Casting has commenced for the return season, with the full cast to be revealed at a later date. We’re yet to find out which original Australian cast members, if any, are set to return, but we do know this show is a star-maker. Jason Arrow originated the role of Alexander Hamilton in Sydney and Melbourne with an “electrifying” performance (according to our five-star review). The South African-born and Perth-raised actor has gone on to lead the international touring production of Hamilton.
Fans are urged to join the waitlist to be the first to access tickets when a pre-sale for the 2024 season begins on Monday, November 27, 2023, before the general public can access tickets on Monday, December 4. The waitlist is open now at hamiltonmusical.com.au.