I absolutely love the current cast of Hamilton, and I'd hate to see them leave. However, when the time comes and the original Broadway cast is no longer, which current R&B/Hip Hop stars do you think would do well in the show (assuming they'd want to)?
I've been thinking of --
Alicia Keys - Angelica/Eliza.
John Legend - Aaron Burr.
Leona Lewis - Angelica.
Jordan Sparks - Angelica/Eliza.
I think Aaliyah also would have been a great Peggy/Maria in her heyday.
I second Alicia and Jordan for the show, also what about Ciara Renee reprising her Peggy from the workshops, she isn't a celeb but she is definitely a name on the boards now!
Brandy. She was excellent in Chicago and seemed to really enjoy the Broadway experience but discussed not being able to go "full Brandy" in a part like Roxie. I think she'd be a perfect Angelica.
Donald Glover for Hamilton is brilliant. The biggest cult figure in alternative hip hop starring in the first genuinely hot hip-hop musical by his fellow cult TV regular?
^ Dang, I was just about to say Common for Washington. I believe Lin wrote the role with him as inspiration.
I have zero expectations this man could do 8 shows a week, but Hercules/Madison was inspired by Busta Rhymes' delivery and I would kill to hear his take.
Donald Glover, André 3000 and Saul Williams are the top three hip-hop artists I could most believably see being cast.
You're reminding me of people you hear at the movies asking questions every ten seconds, "Who is that? Why is that guy walking down the street? Who's that lady coming up to him? Uh-oh, why did that car go by? Why is it so dark in this theater?" - FindingNamo on strummergirl
"If artists were machines, then I'm just a different kind of machine...I'd probably be a toaster. Actually, I'd be a toaster oven because they're more versatile. And I like making grilled cheese" -Regina Spektor
"That's, like, twelve shows! ...Or seven." -Crazy SA Fangirl
"They say that just being relaxed is the most important thing [in acting]. I take that to another level, I think kinda like yawning and...like being partially asleep onstage is also good, but whatever." - Sherie Rene Scott
By the time HAMILTON a will need celebrities to keep the show open, the year will be 2110 and all those artists will be in their graves.
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
You need someone who will be both solid with singing and rapping and who better than one of the greatest singer/rapper of our time? It's almost too perfect.
I would also accept Mary J Blige or Eryakah Badu
Andre 3000 - Lafayette/Jefferson
I think Lin has mention he molded Jefferson style a bit after Andre (?) and from the first moment I saw Daveed perform "What Did I Miss" I immediately thought of him. His swagger is a perfect fit for Jefferson.
Frank Ocean - Aaron Burr
Cause his new album is never coming out so he has some free time on his hands
I also second Common for Washington and Brandy who I think would make a good Eliza. Monica or Toni Braxton would also be a good fit as well.
These are ridiculous/never ever will happen choices but for my casting for Hamilton, I went with rappers who can kinda sing - Drake (With Meek Mill as Jefferson ), J Cole, Donald Glover, Chamillionaire
CapnHook said: "By the time HAMILTON a will need celebrities to keep the show open, the year will be 2110 and all those artists will be in their graves.
This will have to wait a few years until we know if he can sing or not, but id like to see Prince George step into the role of King George.
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Could you get big names for if/when Hamilton becomes a movie musical?
Imagine the box office numbers if you had a cast including Alicia Keys, Beyoncé, Common, Donald Glover, Frank Ocean all under one movie. You could even get JAY-Z and Kanye as two of the smaller revolutionaries. It'd be hip hop history.
But WHY? The stars of the show are the words and the story. It doesn't NEED huge names, and I daresay, it would likely detract from the very story it celebrates! When it becomes about the performer(s) you lose something special.
Also, most of the names you suggest likely wouldn't be willing to commit the amount of time, or to reasonable salaries that would be necessary.
And then, of course, can those people act? Dance? Once again, it's not just about singing.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
Mos Def for Aaron Burr, and not just because Lin wrote that in the casting description. I'm all about Donald Glover as either Jefferson/Lafayette or even Mulligan/Madison. An older Chance the Rapper could also make a good Aaron Burr or Jefferson/Lafayette. Mibbs for Mulligan/Madison or Aaron Burr.
Nicki Minaj is an excellent fit for the bars she'd have to spit in Satisfied, but I'm not sure she entirely fits the role of Anjelica. Either way, hearing her singing Satisfied on its own would be great.
I don't really like the idea of Celebrity replacements for this show. I think it's important that actual working music theatre actors are finding work in this show. But if I had to pick a "celebrity" I'd wanted Anika Noni Rose as Angelica. I believe she played her in a workshop. I bet her Statisfied is thrilling. I do love Renee though in the role now.
We still don't have a Heights movie and this is a harder sell, but can they please just go ahead and make the movie now? I don't know who could play Alex and Aaron, they have to be able to rap, sing, and act circles around each other. The other roles would be kinda easy.
Angelica Schuyler – Janelle Monáe, Anika Noni Rose
Eliza Schuyler – Ariana Grande
George Washington – John Legend
Marquis de Lafayette – Danny Brown, Donald Glover/Childish Gambino
John Laurens – Bruno Mars
Thomas Jefferson – André 3000
Hercules Mulligan – Kendrick Lamar
James Madison – Common
King George III – Zac Efron, Justin Beiber
Maria Reynolds – Rihanna
James Reynolds – Kanye West
Philip Hamilton – idk, Kimye's new son or some sht
You're reminding me of people you hear at the movies asking questions every ten seconds, "Who is that? Why is that guy walking down the street? Who's that lady coming up to him? Uh-oh, why did that car go by? Why is it so dark in this theater?" - FindingNamo on strummergirl
"If artists were machines, then I'm just a different kind of machine...I'd probably be a toaster. Actually, I'd be a toaster oven because they're more versatile. And I like making grilled cheese" -Regina Spektor
"That's, like, twelve shows! ...Or seven." -Crazy SA Fangirl
"They say that just being relaxed is the most important thing [in acting]. I take that to another level, I think kinda like yawning and...like being partially asleep onstage is also good, but whatever." - Sherie Rene Scott
Friendly reminder that casting for the show specifically calls for non-white actors in most of the roles, so even if they were to go for celebrities, we wouldn't be seeing Eminem or Iggy Azalea joining the cast.
"Was uns befreit, das muss stärker sein als wir es sind." -Tanz der Vampire