Join The Room Where it Happens for Hamilton At Proctors

Every so often, a play is written and produced that changes the landscape of the musical theatre world. Showboat, Oklahoma, Hair, Les Miz, and in 2015, Lin Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton. Hamilton brought rap and hip-hop to mainstream Broadway and reintroduced American history to an audience that may never have paid too much attention. Notably, this production, as with all productions of Hamilton, is done with total color-blind casting. Theatergoers have been given a new lexicon of terms thanks to Miranda’s creative genius: “the room where it happens,” “I’m not throwin’ away my shot,” and “they’ll be back,” to name a few.

All of this and more have set up housekeeping at Proctors Theatre through March 26^th. For those who saw the show during its last stop here several years ago or on Broadway, you will be equally mesmerized by the current production. The talent blows over the footlights like a gunshot being fired; the set is stunning, and the choreography, the lighting, and the costumes are perfection. 

At this point, it seems somewhat superfluous to repeat the plot. Still, for those hiding under a bushel, Hamilton is the story of Alexander Hamilton’s rise as an orphaned teenage immigrant from Nevis in the British West Indies to become one of the Founding Fathers of this country to ultimately being killed in a duel with Aaron Burr. It is also, to a great extent, the story of Aaron Burr and Eliza Hamilton. Their stories may be found in any good history book. The production brings them and the myriad of Founding Fathers around them brilliantly to life, making them human and relatable, revealing their foibles and flaws the history books may tend to obliterate and gloss over.

Pierre Jean Gonzalez brings a dynamic interpretation to Hamilton. His strong vocals offer the opportunity to feel his ego, his tender side, and his ever-ongoing sense his time is limited. Blaine Alden Krauss matches Gonzalez’s note for note playing Burr, Hamilton’s best friend, nemesis, and eventual killer. Nikisha Williams is a joy as Eliza Hamilton and Lenica Kebede, as her sister Angelica Schuyler plays a wonderful counterpoint to both Alexander and Eliza. Marcus Choi’s George Washington truly comes into his own with his final farewell, One Last Time. 

Jared Howelton splits the bill taking on the roles of the Marquis de LaFayette and Thomas Jefferson. His flamboyant foppish over-the-top LaFayette is fun, spot-on, and a wonderful comic relief. On the other hand, he misses the mark as Jefferson, continuing the same performance but losing the French accent. Neil Haskell slips into the crown of King George with great alacrity. His camp delivery, eye rolls, and wonderful buffoonish antics make him the perfect clown.

Andy Blankenbuehler’s choreography is spellbinding. The creation of tableaus, the athleticism of the performers, and the timing of the movements will take your breath away.

In all, it was certainly a tragedy that Hamilton was killed in a senseless duel, making one wonder what else the father of the American financial system may have created had his time not been cut short. He was clearly a genius, perhaps at times a bit misguided and flawed, but then, all of the Founding Fathers did what they did out of fervent love for what they were creating, an uncharted world with no guidelines to follow except their own guts. These were a group of flawed men attempting to create a new world. They did not always agree, but the intentions of all of them were sterling. 

The flip side is that were it not for Hamilton’s life and death, then Miranda would not have been compelled to create what will go down in history as a touchstone in the American theater world.

Hamilton is at Proctors Theatre through Sunday, March 26. Surprisingly, there are still tickets available, though Wednesday evening’s performance might have belied that fact. The energy in the room where it happens is palpable throughout the audience. Make it a point to feel that energy for yourself.

 For ticket information: www.proctors.org or call the box office: at 518-346-6204.