News Roundup: West End’s Hamilton, Ingrid Michaelson on Broadway, Frozen Casting, and More!
The world’s gonna know his name!
British actor Jamael Westman is set to play the title role in the West End production of ‘Hamilton’. Westman graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art just last year. He was recently seen on stage in ‘The White Devil’ and also appeared in Nathaniel Martello-White’s ‘Torn’.
Young scrappy & hungry ,that's what @Lin_Manuel said of @JamWestman who will play#AlexanderHamilton @HamiltonWestEnd pic.twitter.com/UVGz8b9sco
— Baz Bamigboye (@BazBam) June 15, 2017
Ash Hunter will play the ten dollar founding father in certain performances. His stage credits include ‘Light Shining’, ‘Pitcairn’, and ‘Antony and Cleopatra.’
The London cast will also include Olivier-nominated actor Michael Jibson, who will play King George III. Westman, Hunter, and Jibson join Filipino stage actress Rachelle Ann Go as Eliza, Christine Allado as Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds, Giles Terera as Aaron Burr, and Rachel John as Angelica Schuyler. Previews begin on November 21 at the Victoria Palace Theatre, and the official opening is on December 7.
Ingrid Michaelson Joins ‘Great Comet’
In other casting news, ‘Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812’ is also set to welcome a new member to its ranks. Playbill.com shared the news that singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson will make her Broadway debut as she steps into the role of Sonya starting on July 3. She will perform until August 16, while the original Sonya, Brittain Ashford, takes a break from the show.
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Michaelson is a multi-platinum selling singer-songwriter who has collaborated with Taylor Swift, Joshua Radin, and Tony nominee Sara Bareilles, among others. She was also featured in the hugely successful “Hamilton Mixtape’ album. Hamilton alum, Okieriete Onaodowan (who played Mulligan/Madison) will also join the cast, taking over for Josh Groban as Pierre also on July 3.
‘Frozen’ Musical Well Under Way
Another much-awaited Broadway production has announced its full cast. ‘Frozen’, which will open at the St. James Theater in 2018, has added Kevin Del Aguila as Oaken, Timothy Hughes as Pabbie, and Andrew Pirozzi as Sven to its roster. They will join Caissie Levy as Elsa and Patti Murin as Anna. Audrey Bennett and Mattea Conforti will alternate as Young Anna while Brooklyn Nelson and Ayla Schwartz will alternate as Young Elsa.
Other cast members are Jelani Alladin as Kristoff and Greg Hildreth as Olaf. The musical will be directed by Michael Grandage, with the book written by the film’s screenwriter, Jennifer Lee. Choreography will be handled by Rob Ashford, with a score by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and her husband, EGOT winner Robert Lopez.
