Original Hamilton Cast Member Returning To Show For First Time In 9 Years
One of the original Hamilton cast members is officially rejoining the show for a limited time. Written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the sung-through rap musical made its way onto the Broadway stage in 2015. Its plot focuses on the story of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, chronicling his personal and political life. The show features hits like "Burn," "Satisfied," and "My Shot," which were originally sung by cast members including Miranda, Leslie Odom Jr., Phillipa Soo, and Renée Elise Goldsberry. A pro-shot version of Hamilton was released to Disney+ in July 2020.
As per the official Hamilton X/Twitter account, Odom Jr. will be returning to the show. He will reprise his role as Aaron Burr, returning to the role after nine years away. Odom Jr. will be in the role on Broadway for a limited time, with performances running from September 9 to November 23. The announcement of Odom Jr.'s return referred to him as "the inimitable, original, Aaron Burr."
What This Means For Hamilton
Leslie Odom Jr. Will Make A Grand Stage Return
Since leaving Hamilton in 2016, Odom Jr. has maintained an active career that transitioned him from the stage to the screen. In 2020, he played music legend Sam Cooke in One Night in Miami. He also played a supporting role in Glass Onion and appeared in two episodes of the popular sitcom Abbott Elementary. He also performed on Broadway in the lead role in Purlie Victorious. As the star waits for his next major film or TV project, his renewed role in Hamilton will be a victory lap for him.
Odom Jr. won the Tony for Best Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of Aaron Burr.
As for Broadway itself, Odom Jr.'s return to Hamilton could not have come at a better time. Two Hollywood-associated plays have been doing great at the Broadway box office lately. These are the Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal-led version of Othello and the stage play adaptation of Good Night, and Good Luck featuring George Clooney. Both shows have so far enjoyed record-setting runs for ticket sales, the latter breaking the former's record. Returning Odom Jr. to the Hamilton stage is nearly sure to up ticket sales, allowing Broadway theaters to continue on this positive trend.
Our Take On Leslie Odom Jr.'s Return To Hamilton
Hamilton's Popularity Will Surge
This show's long-tenured Broadway run remains strong, with the Hamilton lottery still a hot commodity in New York City. Odom Jr., and the character of Aaron Burr himself, are beloved parts of the show's original soundtrack, and thus will inevitably create further excitement. While there are no immediate plans to adapt Hamilton into a live-action movie (in fact, Miranda has said that "it would take a really good vision from a director" to convince him of an adaptation's value), renewed interest in the stage show could also put pressure on a Hollywood adaptation.
Source: @HamiltonMusical/X/Twitter
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