What’s next for the stars of ‘Hamilton’?
There’s little doubt that the hip-hop musical “Hamilton†has been a game changer on Broadway. Last month it won 11 Tony Awards, including best musical. It’s a box-office phenomenon and something of an obsession among its legion of fans whether they go to the theater or listen to the soundtrack.
It’s been a game changer as well for its stars, including the show’s creator and its original Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda. Miranda, along with a number of other key cast members — and Tony winners — left the Broadway production on July 9.
So what’s next? Here’s a look at what seven cast members have coming up.
Lin-Manuel Miranda (Alexander Hamilton)
Miranda — who won Grammy Awards and a Pulitzer for Hamilton, besides multiple Tonys — doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. The 36-year-old writer-actor-singer is turning to film, working on his second and third Disney films after penning a song for the studio’s “Star Wars: The Force Awakens†last year.
Miranda will be composing music for “Moana,†an animated ocean voyage film, which hits theaters Nov. 23 and features the voices of Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson. Miranda will return to acting in “Mary Poppins Returns,†a sequel to the 1964 classic. He’ll play Jack, a street lamplighter, in the film co-starring with Emily Blunt, who takes on the role of Mary Poppins.
Although the sequel isn’t scheduled for release until Christmas of 2018, there’s no need to panic if you need your Miranda fix before that. He’ll be working on a few more projects — including reviving a movie version of his debut musical, “In the Heights,†acting in a cameo in the film adaptation of the Broadway comedy “Speech & Debate,†and narrating an episode about Hamilton in Comedy Central’s “Drunk History†— in the meantime.
Leslie Odom Jr. (Aaron Burr)
There’s less acting, more music in the future for Odom, who won the Tony for leading actor in a musical for his portrayal of Aaron Burr in “Hamilton.â€
In June, Odom released a self-titled jazz solo album, which features original songs as well as covers from musicals “Spring Awakening†and “Flower Drum Song.â€
“I am focused on empathy. I want to sing to the moment that you’re in,†Odom Jr. told NPR. “If it’s a loving moment, if it’s a regretful moment, if it’s a moment of despair, a moment of great joy, I want to make music that speaks to where you are.â€
Renée Elise Goldsberry (Angelica Schuyler Church)
Goldsberry, who won the Tony for featured actress in a musical, will star in two new Netflix series, one taking place in the past and the other in the distant future. She’ll star as rebellion leader Quellcrist Falconer in the 10-episode sci-fi drama “Altered Carbon†which comes out in 2017.
Before traveling to the 25th century, though, Goldsberry will bounce back in time as Misty Holloway in Baz Luhrman’s “The Get Down,†a musical drama series that follows the rise of hip-hop in 1970s’ New York. The six-episode season debuts Aug. 12.
Daveed Diggs (Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson)
Daveed Diggs, who won the Tony for featured actor in a musical for his portrayals of both Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson, has lined up acting roles in three upcoming film and television productions. The actor and rapper will join the “black-ish†family in a recurring role for the ABC series’ third season, which begins Sept. 21.
Next, the actor and rapper will join Julia Roberts, Jacob Tremblay and Owen Wilson in the upcoming Lionsgate drama “Wonder.†Diggs plays an English teacher in the film which is due to arrive in theaters next spring.
Diggs will also star alongside Andy Samberg, Will Forte and Julia Ormond in “Tour de Pharmacy,†a sports mockumentary created by Samberg and Murray Miller. The HBO film satirizes the blood-doping scandals in professional cycling.
On Tuesday, Diggs’ experimental hip-hop trio clipping. announced its third album, titled “Splendor & Misery,†which drops Sept. 9.
Phillipa Soo (Eliza Schuyler Hamilton)
Phillipa Soo, the actress who starred opposite Miranda as Hamilton’s wife, Eliza, will continue on her Broadway path. Soo, nominated for a Tony for lead actress in a musical will take on the starring role in Craig Lucas’ “Amélie, a New Musical.†The musical adaptation of Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s romantic comedy film, “Amélie,†is scheduled to premiere in Los Angeles this winter and is slated to come to Broadway in 2017.
Soo will keep close ties to her “Hamilton†co-star, though. The actress plays an island villager in “Moana†singing songs by Miranda.
Christopher Jackson (George Washington)
Tony-nominated Jackson, who originated the role of George Washington in “Hamilton,†is going back to TV. He’s in the upcoming CBS series “Bull†playing Chunk, a stylist who prepares defendants for court. He’s appeared in numerous other TV series including “The Good Wife,†“Nurse Jackie†and “Oz.â€
Jonathan Groff (King George III)
Groff left “Hamilton†earlier in the year. But the Tony nominee could be seen in the HBO series “Looking,†which follows the lives of three gay men in San Francisco. Groff played a video game designer on the show that ended its run on the network with “Looking: The Movie†earlier this month. Next Groff will star in a Netflix series “Mindhunter,†about an elite criminal profiling unit.
Follow me on Twitter @SusieSchmank
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