The highly anticipated Broadway musical Hamilton is coming to our shores and we are beyond thrilled. Scheduled to premiere in Singapore at the Sands Theatre on April 19 2024, this musical initially debuted on Broadway and has graced stages in numerous international destinations, including London's West End, Australia, Germany, and New Zealand.
For those who may not be familiar with the musical's premise, Hamilton is a biographical production inspired by the life of American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton. It chronicles his early years as an orphan and his remarkable ascent to becoming a prominent figure in American history. Through the exploration of ambition, human relationships, and political power, the musical offers a timeless perspective on the world, bridging historical events with contemporary audiences.
We had the privilege of meeting with the cast: Jason Arrows (Alexander Hamilton), David Park (Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson), and Akina Edmonds (Angelica Schuyler). Read on to find out what they have to say about the musical.
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Favourite song from the musical?
David: Satisfied. I think what the character is going through in that moment (when the song comes on) is so profoundly painful. And the space she is making for her younger sister is so beautiful. The staging really tells the story so well and the song is just so beautiful. And Akina kills it!
Jason: Wait For It. It is sung beautifully and the melody of it – there's just something about the song that grabs the audience at the right time. And it sort of goes: alright, now we’re getting into the thick of the story, things get hectic from here on.
Akina: Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story. It sums up the whole show, it’s Elijah’s moment to share with you the entire journey that he went on. And, it is the last bit where this huge show of three hours with harmony and orchestration, all just ends in unison. It is incredible.
What do you guys love the most about playing your respective characters?
Akina: There’s a gorgeous balance between strength and vulnerability. And doing that with grace – there’s something painfully beautiful about that.
Jason: I would say the challenge is that there are a lot of words and themes to get through. A lot of peaks and valleys for Hamilton. A bit of an emotional rollercoaster if you let it be.
David: I love that I get to play two characters. It’s double the fun. But playing Thomas Jefferson is the most fun part ever, I just get to do whatever I want within reason.
Who inspires you the most?
Akina: 16 year-old Akina would be so surprised by this answer but, [it is] my mom. Seeing what she went through and how she went through it with so many children is pretty inspiring.
Jason: This has always been an odd question for me, because there’re artists and actors that I like, and I love my family. But I struggle to find what the word ‘inspire’ means sometimes. I guess for me the best answer to this question is the people that I act with – the cast.
David: I was going to say that! The cast. At the end of the week, we are human beings and we feel fatigue, but to see everyone come together and put on an amazing show on Sunday at 1pm, that is inspiring. The cast inspires me.
Most challenging aspect of performing in this musical?
Akina: Doing it 8 times a week. It’s beautiful – the sacrifice you make to be of service to a gorgeous show, it’s always going to be worth it. But the biggest challenge is it being eight shows and finding your groove.
Jason: The schedule of it – we only work at night. We do give up our night life, our weekends, and you don’t realise how often you can miss that.
David: I think something about the show itself is that we as a company are all doing the same show, it doesn't matter what your role is. That's why we all bow in the straight line. But because of that, emotionally, whether I'm in the happy scene or the sad scene, we are feeling everything. So the show uses every human emotion we are able to convey. It’s a gift to be able to do that. I am wrung dry everyday with these people, it’s hard but it’s rewarding.
Top reason to catch Hamilton?
David: Akina Edmonds.
Akina: Jason, David, Akina. (laughs) It’s a movement that everyone can relate to. Everyone is represented on that stage. It’s a feast for the ears and the heart and the spirit.
Jason: It’s the only show, in my experience, that has become more relevant as time has gone on.
David: And my number one reason is, you may never be able to see it in person ever again.
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