HAMILTON Principal Cast Replacements

[hes16]

Did Renée ever officially announce that she was leaving? How do we know she is?

[Dave13]

hes16 said: "Did Renée ever officially announce that she was leaving? How do we know she is?

 

"

I haven't seen anything official for Renee. The only thing I saw is she was looking forward to spending more time with her family.  Nothing more than that.  

[disneybroadwayfan22]

It's too bad that many of the principals are leaving. I get why everyone is leaving especially with LMM because he's finishing Moana. I just wish I could see them

[hes16]

Dave13 said: 
"I haven't seen anything official for Renee. The only thing I saw is she was looking forward to spending more time with her family. Nothing more than that. "

Ah, I see. Thank you.

 

 

[gypsy101]

disneybroadwayfan22 said: "I get why everyone is leaving"

You do? I don't really, you'd think it would be great being in the best musical of the last 40 years.

[sueb1863]

Doing a show day after day, week after week, month after month, is tiring, even if it's a great show and you love it. After a while you just really want to do something else.

[swanjewel]

sueb1863 said: "Doing a show day after day, week after week, month after month, is tiring, even if it's a great show and you love it. After a while you just really want to do something else"

This. You can't fault any of the cast for wanting to pursue other projects.  Eventually it's time to move on.  Hamilton has most likely opened many doors for the cast.  It will be exciting to see what the next moves are for them. 

I wouldn't be surprised if Phillipa left during the summer as well especially if her fiancé's pilot gets picked up. They've indicated they would be bi-coastal if that happened. 

[hes16]

gypsy101 said: "disneybroadwayfan22 said: "I get why everyone is leaving"

You do? I don't really, you'd think it would be great being in the best musical of the last 40 years.

"

It makes sense for them to leave because this is the biggest break for many of these performers, and because of Hamilton they have now been offered even bigger opportunities. They are leaving at what may be the peak of their careers to pursue new opportunities that being in Hamilton has given them. Also, being in Hamilton every day for the past 18 months must be exhausting.

 

[LizzieCurry]

Please remember that sometimes what the show means to a fan and what it means to an actor are very different things. Even if they are good things.

[Auggie27]

^Such an important post, Lizzy's.  The experience of performing a show, and being its fan, have little in common.  It's obviously a once-in-a-career moment to be part of this ensemble.  As has been true of countless other shows. But it's also eight times a week, and like every job, has myriad ups and downs.  I have a number of actor friends who say it's hard to leave a show, which is why one must push to do so.  To grow, to change, to just move on.  Though many will stay, some HAMILTON stars are demonstrating big picture pragmatism in seizing this moment, and welcoming the next thing.  I've begun to read quite a backlash against the July exits, as if staying was some artistic or even moral obligation to those holding tickets in the future.  That's part of the HAMILTON hysteria, but nothing to do with being a working actor. 

[Hellob]

I feel like most of the OBC will return after 6 or so months off, maybe not all and probably not at the same time but if they can get a lucrative 3 month contract after taking time off, it would be beneficial for them. While I'm not dismissing the talent Odom, Diggs, etc have in their music career, I don't see their albums climbing the charts so Hamilton so far hasn't favorably impacted their outside endeavors. While I agree that it will still be a hard ticket to get after their departure, I think the show will suffer from their absence. I wonder if they would be ready to go ASAP if the producers would have just given them raises without them asking. The production is so successful and for the producers to have to let it get in the press is greedy and disrespectful. There has probably been bitterness festering for the last year. 

On another note, iirc, didn't someone mention on an old thread about salaries that Tony noms/wins  result in salary bumps? If so, would it be retroactive, only for the 6-10 weeks until they leave or a lump sum bonus? 

[The Josh]

I still hope one day Donald Glover plays Hamilton

[aaaaaa15]

The Josh said: "I still hope one day Donald Glover plays Hamilton"

This is the only way I'd ever pay more than $200 to see the show. Absolute DREAM casting.

[Hellob]

Auggie27 said: "I've begun to read quite a backlash against the July exits, as if staying was some artistic or even moral obligation to those holding tickets in the future.  That's part of the HAMILTON hysteria, but nothing to do with being a working actor. 

 

"

To play devil's advocate, the average theater goer isn't going to know about contract dates and it's understandable to be upset about buying expensive tickets thinking that it's for the OBC. Before releasing the tickets for August and after, the website should have been upfront about the possibility of full cast replacements. It's a big difference between spending $500 per ticket to see the cast you've been hearing about vs not knowing who is there. 

[Sunshine31]

Javier Muñoz posted this on his Twitter:

"While I am grateful for the support and positive reactions, do not believe everything read. I have received no offer. Hamilton producer Jeffrey Seller states "We have nothing to report about our actors' contracts. When we have news, we will report it." 

1st tweet: https://twitter.com/JMunozActor/status/729344643167555584

2nd tweet: https://twitter.com/JMunozActor/status/729344867311226880

 

[pupscotch]

Hellob said: "Auggie27 said: "I've begun to read quite a backlash against the July exits, as if staying was some artistic or even moral obligation to those holding tickets in the future.  That's part of the HAMILTON hysteria, but nothing to do with being a working actor. 

 

"

To play devil's advocate, the average theater goer isn't going to know about contract dates and it's understandable to be upset about buying expensive tickets thinking that it's for the OBC. Before releasing the tickets for August and after, the website should have been upfront about the possibility of full cast replacements. It's a big difference between spending $500 per ticket to see the cast you've been hearing about vs not knowing who is there. 

 

"

I suppose that makes sense. Hamilton should put it up on their website that the cast may change. This is why I am confused about the whole possibility of $995 premium tickets. If people are already upset about paying the current prices to possibly not see the OBC, then who is going to buy even more expensive tickets for pretty much a guarantee that it won't be the OBC (I mean it's not even the OBC right now since Groff left)?

[dramamama611]

Honestly, that's silly.  No other show does that, nor will they.  This is always the risk you take with live theater.  People had their tix to BOM before the OBC left and before it was announced, as well as Wicked and any highly successful show.  And even some mediocre shows, too.

[aaaaaa15]

I guess they're thinking that the demand that will come after they win Best Musical will make up for that loss. Also a lot of people (middle aged especially who don't use the internet as much) do not even know of the cast and probably wouldn't realize they weren't seeing the original.

Also, there's no reason why they can't put together a cast that is equally as good. Thousands turned up to their open call in New York a week or so ago. 

[dramamama611]

Additionally, I'd say that 75 to 80% of the audience would only be aware of changes due to understudy slips. The buzz is about the show, not the stars.  (LMM notwithstanding. And even so.....)

[LizzieCurry]

Also, Hamilton doesn't even use slips. There's an entire insert with a handy cast list for that night's cast. So unless you knew the names off the top of your head, you may not realize anything was different.

[JossArden]

Is it safe to assume that regardless of whether Javier Muñoz takes over for LMM or not, there will continue to be an alternate for Hamilton?

[mariel9]

When I was a much more casual theatergoer, I had no idea who was in any show that I was seeing and didn't care. With few exceptions, I think people who only see one or two shows a year are going to see the shows, and wouldn't know most "big name" theater people if they tripped over them in the street. That may be a little different with Hamilton because of the fandom that's popped up around the cast album and social media, but those fans are mostly theater kids--a minority of the audience, like the people here.

[ChiTheaterFan]

LizzieCurry said: "Also, Hamilton doesn't even use slips. There's an entire insert with a handy cast list for that night's cast. So unless you knew the names off the top of your head, you may not realize anything was different.

 

"

This is true, but there is also a list permanently printed in the playbill. So you can compare the two. I always do this to see what swings are in, since I don't know the full time ensemble members by heart. 

 

When Alysha was in for Phillipa, I heard some ladies saying "oh it looks like there's an understud for Eliza. Well she understudies a couple parts so she must be good."  I don't think most other people around even noticed. I don't think most people care because Hamilton is not famous because there are famous people in it. People aren't seeing it for the cast. Just like very few people probably just saw BOM for Andrew Rannells and Josh Gad, and they had no issues selling tickets after they left. 

 

Just like I'm sure they'll have no issue selling tickets out right away in Chicago, even though ticket sales will probably begin before a cast announcement. 

[MyLife]

You must learn all the ensemble by heart!

[sparepart973]

This seems new:

Mr. Odom, whose contract with “Hamilton” expires in July, said he does not know whether he will stay with the show, or what will happen next. “I don’t have any control over the offers that are going to come to me, or not come to me,” he said. “But I can’t go backward, and so that’s what’s tricky. After Aaron Burr, it’s got to be a good part, it’s got to be an interesting part.”

Source: 

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/15/theater/a-hamilton-stars-story-how-leslie-odom-jr-became-aaron-burr-sir.html?smid=pl-share&_r=0

[neonlightsxo]

Like I said before, I can't imagine he wouldn't stay a little longer if he wins that Tony.