HAMILTON Principal Cast Replacements

[Auggie27]

Friends in Chicago are commenting to me on their surprise at how relatively little stage time Angelica has (notice I did not say "how small the role is."  People who've listened to the album extensively -- even knowing it's sung-through -- have this idea there are longer Angelica-Alexander scene in the show's performance.  It's a shock to them that Angelica has relative little to do after "Satisfied."  It's one reason why Rene's performance of that song defined the character, and for many, was a cornerstone of the piece itself.  If either of the current Angelicas (Chicago or B'way) don't land the number with the same force, the role itself feels diminished.

I've often wondered why Miranda didn't give Angelica more narrative material to sing.  She's a good person to comment on Hamilton.  The place I notice it: the opening number (and I saw the show in October 2015).  Angelia has no solo verses in "Alexander Hamilton," to my surprise in the theater, even after spending a week with the downloaded music (just out, back then).  It's not a criticism, but he could've employed her more fully and given her slightly more to do, considering how extensive their correspondence was.  

[BroadwayConcierge]

So many inconsistencies, so little the amount I care to take the time to point them out. Have a good day!

[aaaaaa15]

Eh, I think Miranda already gave Angelica way more importance in the show than she actually had in Hamilton's life. Which I'm not complaining about, having more than one significant female character is necessary but I'd rather hear more from Eliza if anything.

I was never as impressed by Renee as everyone else seems to be so I'm interested to see another take on the role. I think I will have to wait for the London Angelica to do so though.

[KingOPancakes]

A conversation about who gave the better performance in a specific role quickly devolves into "It's Mandy Gonzalez because she has a proven track record of being the better singer in other shows and if you disagree with me you're wrong and therefore must be a tween".

 

As a broadway outsider who just checks the board for Hamilton updates, the amount of melodrama here is amusing.

[BroadwayConcierge]

KingOPancakes said: "A conversation about who gave the better performance in a specific role quickly devolves into "It's Mandy Gonzalez because she has a proven track record of being the better singer in other shows and if you disagree with me you're wrong and therefore must be a tween".


As a broadway outsider who just checks the board for Hamilton updates, the amount of melodrama here is amusing."



 

[adamgreer]

I thought you were leaving?

[RussT2]

neonlightsxo said: "I don't think he's been on for Hamilton yet, so you'll be the first."

 

Oy. I've had these tickets for 9 months and I'm seeing the lead's FIRST performance in the show?

I'm hoping he's good.

 

[KingOPancakes]

RussT2 said: "Oy. I've had these tickets for 9 months and I'm seeing the lead's FIRST performance in the show?

I'm hoping he's good."

I enjoyed him when I saw him play Mulligan/Madison, for what it's worth.  Check back after the show, I'd love to hear your opinion.

[DivaProf]

neonlightsxo said: "ljay889 said: "Mandy is an experienced and qualified singer and actress. If you have issues with certain aspects of her performance, take it up with the director. She wasn't just thrown on the stage and left to do whatever. I am sure you were too young to have seen her LIVE in Heights and Wicked, but she was perfectly cast and well directed in each show, and didn't receive the criticism that the Hamilton fanatics keep throwing at her. At the end of the day, Angelica isn't a very large role, one major song basically defines the part, and I think fans have trouble letting go of Renee's winning performance, but this always happens with early replacements in mega popular shows with a strong fan following, i.e: Rent, Wicked, etc. "

 

I'm with you on this. But this is what happens when shows get a young fandom...
"

But many people who saw Renee were impressed with Karen Olivo's interpretation of Angelica (including me), so the opposition to Mandy can't solely be due to an unwillingness to accept anyone else in the role.

[thirtythirtyninety]

Now that Michael Luwoye is leaving to do the tour, should we assume that Jevon McFerrin will be the Ham Alternate?

[Rainah]

ChairinMain said: "The criticisms leveled at Seth and Mandy on this form are not quite, perhaps, indicative of their performances but of just how hard the score is and just how good Renee and Daveed were in these roles. "

 

Honestly with all the reports of all of the understudies I am calling Laf/Jeff the hardest role in the show to pull off. The only people who seem to be really successful is Daveed and Chris Lee in chicago

[BroadwayConcierge]

Luwoye is leaving Broadway on February 14 for the tour.

[Valyitz]

Wow, so grateful I got to see him as Hamilton last night then! His performance is truly phenomenal, looks like the tour is getting an amazing cast.

[neonlightsxo]

thirtythirtyninety said: "Now that Michael Luwoye is leaving to do the tour, should we assume that Jevon McFerrin will be the Ham Alternate?"

 

I wouldn't assume that. Jevon hasn't even gone on for Hamilton once yet, I don't think. 

[ljay889]

DivaProf said: "neonlightsxo said: "ljay889 said: "Mandy is an experienced and qualified singer and actress. If you have issues with certain aspects of her performance, take it up with the director. She wasn't just thrown on the stage and left to do whatever. I am sure you were too young to have seen her LIVE in Heights and Wicked, but she was perfectly cast and well directed in each show, and didn't receive the criticism that the Hamilton fanatics keep throwing at her. At the end of the day, Angelica isn't a very large role, one major song basically defines the part, and I think fans have trouble letting go of Renee's winning performance, but this always happens with early replacements in mega popular shows with a strong fan following, i.e: Rent, Wicked, etc. "

 

I'm with you on this. But this is what happens when shows get a young fandom...
"

But many people who saw Renee were impressed with Karen Olivo's interpretation of Angelica (including me), so the opposition to Mandy can't solely be due to an unwillingness to accept anyone else in the role.

"

I understand your point, but I think the criticism of Mandy is harsher because she directly replaced Renee. Karen originated the role in the Chicago production, she's not a direct replacement of Renee's. 

[Ahmy]

neonlightsxo said: "thirtythirtyninety said: "Now that Michael Luwoye is leaving to do the tour, should we assume that Jevon McFerrin will be the Ham Alternate?"

 

I wouldn't assume that. Jevon hasn't even gone on for Hamilton once yet, I don't think. 

 

"
He's going on on the 7th, I believe. (You're right, though. That will be his first time as Hamilton.)

 

[LesWickedly]

https://twitter.com/joshuahenry20/status/817244046360014848 Joshua Henry will be leaving January 15th.

[sparepart973]

Do we know who will replace Joshua in Chicago? I saw him and his understudy in it, both two completely different take. While understudy was very good, he's not the typical Burr prototype we are used to. 

[wish i were here2]

sparepart973 said: "Do we know who will replace Joshua in Chicago? I saw him and his understudy in it, both two completely different take. While understudy was very good, he's not the typical Burr prototype we are used to. 

 

Who was the understudy you saw?

 

[neonlightsxo]

Wayne Brady, apparently.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/hamilton/ct-joshua-henry-departs-hamilton-wayne-brady-20170105-story.html

[Auggie27]

Actually, no, Miranda doesn't elevate Angelica. If you read Chernow's book, which I have: Angelica had a very powerful role in Hamilton's life, in no way minimized because her input and advice were mostly epistolary in nature.  It's critical to contextualize both Angelica and Eliza in terms of the reduced societal position women held. They had zero rights, so their influence was necessarily covert. With that in mind, Angelica's role as impromptu/informal consigliere and confidant cannot be overestimated. 

[aaaaaa15]

I have read the bio and I whilst I appreciate Angelica's role as an advisor, I still don't think she should be considered one of the key say 5 people in Hamilton's life. Miranda elevated her by making her into more of a romantic interest to Hamilton than she actually was. He still shows her advising him, for instance at the beginning of Take a Break but I think any more of that would be OTT and unnecessary for a 2.5 hour musical.

[RussT2]

Ahmy said: "neonlightsxo said: "thirtythirtyninety said: "Now that Michael Luwoye is leaving to do the tour, should we assume that Jevon McFerrin will be the Ham Alternate?"

 I wouldn't assume that. Jevon hasn't even gone on for Hamilton once yet, I don't think. "
 

He's going on on the 7th, I believe. (You're right, though. That will be his first time as Hamilton.)

Actually Jevon McFerrin played Alexander Hamilton for the first time tonight January 6th and he was fantastic!T his was my first time seeing the show, but I've known the cast album since it came out. I've never seen anything like this show before. My boyfriend and I were totally absorbed and blown away by it. I knew I was going to cry during the last song and I did. I especially liked Rory O'Malley as King George, Brandon Victor Dixon as Burr and Seth Stewart as Lafayette/Jefferson. EVERYONE was great!  This is one of the best shows I've ever seen.

 

 

"

 

[ACL2006]

I can't imagine Brady's joining the show. He starts tapping the next season of "Whose Line" in April, then tapes the next season of "Let's Make a Deal" from June - September. Doesn't give him much time for HAMILTON.

[Auggie27]

aaaaaa15: We're likely splitting a hair here. My point somewhere above: Miranda might've used her in the opening number, when an infinite number of characters join Burr to help tell Hamilton's story, but Angelica isn't given any narrative beyond appearing with the other women during the "me, I--" section.  Perhaps he's saving her entrance (theatrically savvy), but he gives someone with an even larger role, Eliza, quite a bit in the opening, the verses about his mother's death.  It seems as if the woman with whom he corresponded frequently over the years on myriad subjects might've helped introduce him. It's really an observation.  A curiosity. 

[mariel9]

I saw Syndee Winters as Angelica last night and thought she was vastly better than Mandy. It's possible that Mandy is a powerhouse who is just not right for the role. I don't think criticism of Mandy can just be attributed to tweens or attachment to the OBC. I love BVD and Jordan Fisher and Rory, all replacements. The replacements in the women's roles just haven't been as strong. (Although Lexi has improved a lot. Last time I saw it, I thought she and Mandy were both just . . . flat, little stage presence, no there there. Lexi's acting was leaps and bounds better last night.)