One of the original Broadway stars of ‘Hamilton’ is joining the London version this summer

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton is the last – or at least the most recent – of the great musical theatre smashes, the hip-hop hybrid stage biography of US Founding Father Alexander Hamilton still going strong at the Victoria Palace Theatre after almost a decade.

When Hamilton’s West End transfer was first announced there was some hope that the wildly praised OG Broadway cast would come with it. Wisely, perhaps, they didn’t: the show hardly needed Miranda (who himself played Hamilton) and co to sell tickets, and it was probably important that a Brit cast show they were able to cut it if the show was going to have any legs over here.

But now, for the first time, one of the Broadway cast will reprise their role in the West End production of Hamilton. It’s not Miranda, whose presence would undoubtedly be thrill on account of how famous he is now. But arguably it’s somebody even better. While Miranda was hailed as a genius for creating the show, the actual breakout star was Leslie Odom Jr, who played Hamilton’s nemesis Aaron Burr. Hugely praised for his magnetic, devilish performance, he pipped Miranda to the best actor in a musical gong at the 2016 Tony Awards.

Although the original cast dispersed that year, Odom Jr reprised the role of Burr on Broadway for a limited stint last autumn. And this summer he’ll do the same here. Which is exciting! Whether you’re a musical theatre nerd who has long dreamed of ticking this performance off your bucket list, or somebody who has idly thought of seeing Hamilton at long last, the presence of the man who originated the role of Burr is the best possible reason to go and see it.

Leslie Odom Jr will play Aaron Burr in Hamilton from Jul 3-Sep 5. Book tickets here. 

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