‘This is not a moment, it’s the movement.’
Hamilton in Manila’s gala night saw the country’s biggest stars in attendance.
Among the said prominent figures were foreign dignitaries including US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson; Palme d’Or winner Dolly de Leon; Rico Blanco and Maris Racal; Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan and husband Anthony Pangilinan with their children Benj, Hannah, Solana and Ella; Kim Molina and Jerald Napoles; Rica Peralejo; Mark Bautista; Christian Bautista; Yael Yuzon; Reb Atadero; Markki Stroem; Rafa Siguion-Reyna; Janella Salvador and Janine Desiderio; Pia Guanio; Karen Davila; AC Bonifacio; Samantha Lee; and Nica del Rosario.
The acclaimed Tony, Grammy, Olivier and Pulitzer Prize winning musical went on its first-ever international tour, premiering in Manila at The Theatre at Solaire on 17 September ahead of making its Middle East premiere at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi in January 2024. It made its southern hemisphere premiere in Sydney in March 2021 before touring Melbourne and Brisbane.
The company of Hamilton in Manila is led by Jason Arrow as Alexander Hamilton, DeAundre’ Woods as Aaron Burr, Akina Edmonds as Angelica Schuyler, Darnell Abraham as George Washington, David Park as Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson, Shaka Bagadu Cook as Hercules Mulligan/James Madison, Jacob Guzman as John Laurens/Philip Hamilton, Elandrah Eramiha as Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds and Brent Hill as King George.
But the most highly anticipated performance of the show is the homegrown talent Rachelle Ann Go who reprises her role as Elizabeth Hamilton. She first played the character in London’s West End in 2017.
The international tour company of 34 performers is completed by Claire Abaijah-Griffin, Kirrah Amosa, Curtis Angus, Kyla Bartholomeusz, Taylor Broadard, Trey Curtis, Aniya Danée, Lachlan Dearing, Winston Hillyer, Indigo Hunt, Marcus John, Julian Kuo, Iosefa Laga’aia, Ashton Lash, HaNy Lee, Terrance Martin, Trevor Miles, Eliza Ohman, Callan Purcell, Joshua Rivera, Wesley Ryan, Emmy Saheki, Terrance Spencer and Dayton Tavares.
Hamilton, with book, music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, premiered on Broadway in August 2015 to wide critical and audience acclaim. It is based on Ron Chernow’s biography on the American founding father Alexander Hamilton. Its score blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B and Broadway. Direction is by Thomas Kail, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler and musical supervision and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire.
Since its premiere in 2015, Hamilton has received an array of accolades including 11 Tony Awards, seven Olivier Awards, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the 2016 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theatre Album.
The international tour of Hamilton is produced by Jeffrey Seller, Sander Jacobs, Jill Furman, The Public Theater and Michael Cassel. The Manila season is presented by GMG Productions. New seats released will be added for every show and will be made available exclusively through TicketWorld.
Hamilton in Manila will run until 26 November at The Theatre at Solaire.