‘Hamilton’ Announces Chicago Casting, Daveed Diggs’ Broadway Departure
The upcoming Chicago production of “Hamilton” has cast its major roles, with Karen Olivo — a Tony Award winner whose breakout came in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “In the Heights” — signed on to play Angelica Schuyler opposite Miguel Cervantes in the title role and Broadway regular Alexander Gemignani (“Les Miserables,” “Sweeney Todd”) as King George III.
Meanwhile, Daveed Diggs, who won a Tony Award last month for his turn in the roles of the Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson, will exit the Broadway production of “Hamilton” July 15. Diggs follows creator-star Miranda, Tony winner Leslie Odom, Jr. and Tony nominee Phillipa Soo, who all departed the production July 9 in a performance that cause a spike in hype and brought crowds to the Richard Rodgers Theater.
Until Diggs’ roles are recast, his parts will be played by a trio of understudies, Andrew Chappelle, Austin Smith and Seth Stewart.
Cervantes, whose Broadway credits include “If/Then” and “American Idiot,” will prep for his Chicago run by playing Hamilton in the Broadway production in the July 13 matinee, as well as at performances on July 18 and July 25. He’ll lead a cast that will also include Ari Afsar (a former American Idol contestant) as Eliza, Chris Lee as Lafayette/Jefferson, Jose Ramos as John Laurens/Philip Hamilton, Wallace Smith as Hercules Mulligan/James Madison and Samantha Marie Ware as Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds.
Olivo reunites with Miranda on “Hamilton” after working with him in “In the Heights.” She won a Tony playing Anita in the 2009 revival of “West Side Story,” and has appeared in Off Broadway productions including “Murder Ballad” and “By the Way, Meet Vera Stark.”
“Hamilton” begins its run in Chicago on Sept. 27. Casting for the national tour, which kicks off with long stops in San Francisco and L.A., remains to be announced.
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