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“Eminem meets Sweeney Todd. Alicia Keys meets Elphaba. John Legend meets Mufasa.” These are character descriptions cited in the casting call for “Hamilton,” the new Broadway musical that has sparked a revolution in the world of theatre.
“Hamilton,” which is written by and stars Lin-Manuel Miranda, is a hip-hop opera about Alexander Hamilton and his fellow Founding Fathers. Though the musical tells the story of America’s earliest days, its cast and creative team has worked to keep the story relevant. The chief way that “Hamilton” has done this is by assembling a cast that visually represents America today.
While the Founding Fathers were wealthy white men, the country that they created has flourished into a melting pot for immigrants of different cultures, ethnicities, and social backgrounds, creating a multi-faceted, multicultural community. Therefore, when casting Hamilton, Telsey & Company casting director Bethany Knox strove for diversity to be a priority. Though the characters in the show are based on real people, she wanted to keep an open mind when searching for actors.