With Hamilton’s Puerto Rico premiere on the horizon, the cast—led by creator Lin-Manuel Miranda in the title role—and the orchestra—under the proverbial baton of music director and orchestrator Alex Lacamoire—joined forces for their sitzprobe rehearsal.
Miranda took to Twitter to share his favorite tradition from Hamilton sitzprobes: Lacamoire breaking down the orchestrations in the “Yorktown” dance break instrument by instrument. Check out the videos below.
Sitzprobe!
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) January 4, 2019
This is my favorite thing we do at every Hamilton sitz: watch @LacketyLac& the band break down the Yorktown dance break!
Pt. 1: pic.twitter.com/5AXPjsZ50I
Sitzprobe Yorktown Breakdown pt.2! (With the Keyboard 2 section, the only part I could credibly play in the pit) pic.twitter.com/UJZhxUqfah
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) January 4, 2019
Sitzprobe Yorktown Breakdown Pt 3: @scottwasserman1 aka DJ Buttonz, cue that scratch track! pic.twitter.com/weJhNzfa52
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) January 4, 2019
Sitzprobe Yorktown Breakdown pt. 4: all together now! pic.twitter.com/4hBjRlskfs
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) January 4, 2019
The music director starts by showcasing the piano part, followed by the guitar, bass, drums, percussion, keyboard 2, and string sections, as well as the “secret ingredient”: the scratch track. Finally, all parts come together to play the orchestrations that earned Lacamoire his second of three Tony Awards.
The musical will play Puerto Rico’s Centro de Bellas Artes Luis A. Ferrè Theatre January 11–27 before the company (sans Miranda) embarks on a third national tour.
Read: EVERYTHING WE KNOW ABOUT HAMILTON IN PUERTO RICO
Miranda and Lacamoire—as well as director Thomas Kail and choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler—were recently celebrated with Special Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, D.C. The quartet is currently at work on the upcoming theatre-centric FX miniseries Fosse/Verdon.
