Leslie Odom Jr Leaving Hamilton

[Wick3]

MyLife said: "I saw Sydney and Austin, and while I was disappointed in Austin's performance I found Sydney's to be just as fantastic, moving, genuine, and effective as Leslie's. I understand people's initial reaction saying no one can do Burr other than Leslie. I'm sure people thought that about the Rent OBS too. People will believe what they want until they are shown otherwise. I would be thrilled if Sydney could take over full-time."

First time I saw the show it was with Sydney as well. I arrived literally 1-2 mins late so I didn't have time to check the playbill until intermission and I thought Sydney was Leslie! My bad.. but anyway, having seen it with Leslie, I think both are great! From a physical appearance point of view, though, I preferred Sydney since he was taller than Renee (I know lame excuse but in my head it looked better.) I thought both of them had their own X-Factor to the show. From following Sydney on twitter, I know he has a small fan base willing to wait it out on the cancellation line if they know beforehand he'll be performing as Burr.

[snl89]

"I'd actually love to see Cynthia as Burr!" 

SO MUCH THIS!!! I saw an article floating around where she mentioned she'd like to play one of the founding fathers, and ever since then I've been so obsessed with the idea of Cynthia!Burr :) That voice on songs like Wait for It and Dear Theodosia *____* 

[TerrenceIsTheMann]

 "since when is there a required specific ethnicity per character?"
I do wonder if Burr will ever be performed by a white or asian or hispanic actor. Eminem? 

 

Eminem is definitely more of a Hamilton. If a rapper were to play Burr it would have to be like Chance.

[ChiTheaterFan]

Cynthia as Burr is an amazing idea. 

 

And I would love to see Odom take on the role of Hamilton as well. But I hope he gets some new original roles coming his way soon. (Although that means he wouldn't be back to Broadway for years so I hope he does other stuff in the meantime. :))

[Showface]

Wick3 said: "gypsy101 said: "since when is there a required specific ethnicity per character?"

I do wonder if Burr will ever be performed by a white or asian or hispanic actor. Eminem? 

 

 

"

The role is open to all people of color, so Asian and Hispanic actors do qualify. However, Eminem, does not, as he is white.

Eminem could play King George, but that would awful.

[belrowley]

I'm sorry, Eminem as KGIII sounds AMAZING. I just died imagining it.

And curses to whoever suggested Cynthia as Burr - now I'll never be Satisfied if I don't get it :x

[LizzieCurry]

Michael K Lee just popped into my head. 

[oncemorewithfeeling2]

Michael K. Lee is as Burr has the gears in my head turning. He impressed the pants off of me in Allegiance. I could dig it.

 

[gypsy101]

I think for the king they'll probably stick to effeminate white men.

[Broadwayhunk]

The show has been quite open about only auditioning and hiring non-white actors.  This is not a new story.

[broadwayguy91]

Conrad Ricamora as Hamilton or Laurens / Philip Hamilton (how well can he rap?)

[elphaba.scares.me]

QueenAlice said: "There are indeed union mandated pay "bumps" for an after actor they have won a Tony award for that performance."

 

No there aren't. It's not an unusual thing for an agent to negotiate into a contract, but it's not standard Equity language. 

[AEA AGMA SM]

elphaba.scares.me said: "QueenAlice said: "There are indeed union mandated pay "bumps" for an after actor they have won a Tony award for that performance."

 

No there aren't. It's not an unusual thing for an agent to negotiate into a contract, but it's not standard Equity language."

 

elphaba is correct; any Tony Award bump in salary is negotiated individually. The only "bumps" above minimum that Equity will ever negotiate are work related (set moves, understudy/swing payments, etc). The union is smart enough to know that the League would never agree to an across the board bump negotiated into the contract without giving up something HUGE in return. As something that will benefit only a small percentage of actors in each season it's just not something worth it for Equity to pursue. 

[dramamama611]

Would I be right is assuming that most leads, however, DO get something in their contracts about it?  

 

I wonder if Erivo would have had the forsight to do so.....not knowing if this is common in London.

[Jallenc32]

SFFrontRow said: "Someone suggested Raul Esparza for a Burr replacement. He does not meet the casting requirements for the role. Check out the requirements -Esparza is not the correct ethnicity."

So Puerto Rican-Americans are sufficiently ethnic, but Cuban-Americans are not?

[Liza's Headband]

dramamama611 said: "Would I be right is assuming that most leads, however, DO get something in their contracts about it?  

 

I wonder if Erivo would have had the forsight to do so.....not knowing if this is common in London.

 

"

 

1. No. You being a "lead" means nothing. For all I know, Alice Ripley negotiated something into her AMERICAN PSYCHO contract as unlikely as it is. It's all about your agent and his/her approach to negotiations with the producers. Nothing else.

2. It wouldn't really be on Erivo to have the "foresight." That would be on her agent and assuming she has one who is competent, I'm sure it was included in negotiations. 

[Wick3]

Broadwayhunk said: "The show has been quite open about only auditioning and hiring non-white actors.  This is not a new story."

How do they audition folks for King George III? 

 

[ChiTheaterFan]

There was another thread on this when there was all the hullabaloo about the "non-whites" casting notice and they cannot refuse to audition people based on race. Equity rules prohibit it. (And honestly federal anti-discrimination statutes probably do too.) It was explained (don't remember by whom) that they can, however, include race in the specific character descriptions. 

[RippedMan]

I understand the concept for the show, but why not in inclusive instead of exclusive? Aren't they just doing what so many ethnic actors have complained about for so long: excluding people from auditioning/being cast in a show? Seems stupid to me that Burrs can't be white, etc. And they make the "bad guy" the white guy? Seems like they're just going about this the wrong way. 

[Liza's Headband]

Ugh. Not this whole thing again. We discussed this at length a few months ago. They aren't saying you cannot audition if you are white. They are saying you won't be cast if you're white, since they are only looking to cast people of color or ethnic diversity. That's not "exclusive." That's how the character breakdown is. Nothing more, nothing less. 

[ChiTheaterFan]

Right. I was discussed ad nauseum, it included a discussion of the artistic impact of the casting choices. Made me think of a lot of things that hadn't come to mind. It was a surprisingly intelligent and interesting discussion...  Until it wasn't.  

[Showface]

RippedMan said: "I understand the concept for the show, but why not in inclusive instead of exclusive? Aren't they just doing what so many ethnic actors have complained about for so long: excluding people from auditioning/being cast in a show? Seems stupid to me that Burrs can't be white, etc. And they make the "bad guy" the white guy? Seems like they're just going about this the wrong way. 

 

"

Every role (except for King George and Samuel Seabury) was written for people or color. That's how it was written. They might have changed the wording on it, but they still 100% intend on casting it a specific way, and that's how it is. It's not racist and it's not discrimination. 

 

Besides, white people can still be in the ensemble and play King George.

 

[Showface]

But, anyway...

I do hope he will be able to do the recording, and I think his comments at THR roundtable about diversity and inclusion were refreshingly honest and needed.

[quizking101]

broadwayguy91 said: "Conrad Ricamora as Hamilton or Laurens / Philip Hamilton (how well can he rap?)

 

"

 

Me thinks his "regular" status on HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER might throw a wrench in that

 

[Broadwayhunk]

 "They aren't saying you cannot audition if you are white. They are saying you won't be cast if you're white."  OK

[CurtainPullDowner]

Talking about money and salary in an interview is a bad policy. Actors come off egocentric and self-serving (whether they are or not).  And if anyone thinks Odom will not be in the filming is fooling themselves.  I wonder why Lin announced the full cast would participate before Odom agreed.