Special FeaturesWhere Is the Original Cast of Broadway’s Hamilton Now?Lin-Manuel Miranda constantly makes headlines, but what about Leslie Odom, Jr., Renée Elise Goldsberry, and the rest of Broadway’s founding company?
This article was updated June 24, 2020, from an earlier version.
When Hamilton burst onto the Broadway scene, the cast was unknown to the pop culture zeitgeist at large—and only a few faces were familiar to theatre fans. But the hip-hop musical proved a launchpad for the careers of many of its stars. Here, ahead of the Disney+ July 3 release of the film, we take a look at the work the original stars (from A. Ham to ensemblists) have done since exiting the Broadway production and where you can find them in movies, on television, and onstage:
Lin-Manuel Miranda and cast of HamiltonJoan Marcus
Lin-Manuel Miranda, writer, composer-lyricist, original Alexander Hamilton Rarely a day goes by that Miranda doesn’t make news, but in case you’ve been living like our forefathers in 1776 here’s an update. Since departing Broadway’s Hamilton July 9, 2016, Miranda hosted the October 8, 2016, episode of Saturday Night Live—featuring the epic “Crucible Cast Party” and earning an Emmy nomination—and earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song for Moana. He’s been announced as a contributing composer to the Disney’s live action The Little Mermaid; he played the leading man in Mary Poppins Returns; and he composed and recorded the new theme song to Netflix’s cartoon reboot Magic School Bus Rides Again. As a producer, he is creating a television series of the best-selling Kingkiller Chronicle books for Showtime. A verified public figure, Miranda has helped raise millions of dollars and awareness for Puerto Rico after it was ravaged by Hurricane Maria; his single “Almost Like Praying” gathered Grammy-winning Latin pop stars to record the original song in support of the U.S. commonwealth. And those are just the highlights. Miranda reprised the role of A. Ham in the 2019 Puerto Rican production of his Tony- and Pulitzer-winning Hamilton. He executive produced and appeared in the 17-time Emmy-nominated FX series Fosse/Verdon. He guested on Broadway in Freestyle Love Supreme, and a documentary about the hip-hop improv group recently screened at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival and coming to Hulu July 17. He appears in the series His Dark Materials. The In The Heights movie, of Miranda’s first Tony-winning musical, will debut in the summer of 2021. Miranda is also directing the movie musical adaptation of Jonathan Larson’s tick, tick...BOOM!. Just announced, he’s writing the music to a new Disney animated movie set in Colombia
Leslie Odom, Jr., Aaron Burr After winning the Tony for his performance as Hamilton’s rival, Leslie Odom, Jr. moved into the recording space. His self-titled debut album was released in June 2016; Simply Christmas was released just in time for the holidays in 2018; and Mr. came out in November 2019. But between recording sessions, Odom made his feature film debut in Kenneth Branaugh’s Murder on the Orient Express as Dr. Arbuthnot thn went on to star alongside Cynthia Erivo in the Harriet Tubman biopic. He also became a dad with his wife, actor Nicolette Robinson. Next, he plays soul singer Sam Cooke in the upcoming feature film One Night in Miami.
Daveed Diggs and the company of HamiltonJoan Marcus
Daveed Diggs, Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson The fast-rapping, charismatic Tony winner has catapulted to one of the most in-demand and active talents in Hollywood. A recurring guest star on ABC’s black-ish, Diggs plays Rainbow’s brother Johan Johnson in the hit comedy series; then he popped up on Netflix in Season 3 of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt as the titular character’s new love interest. He voices animated character Dos in the upcoming Ferdinand based on the children’s book (in theatres December 15). He wrote and starred in his own movie, Blindspotting, and has lent his voice to series like Bob’s Burgers, Netflix’s Green Eggs and Ham, and Star Wars Resistance. His television career has skyrocketed as he was a regular on Undone and will portray Frederick Douglass on the upcoming series The Good Lord Bird and as Andre Layton in Snowpiercer, which premiered May 17. He’s also been working on new music with his group Clipping.
Phillipa Soo, Renée Elise Goldsberry and Jasmine Cephas Jones in Hamilton Joan Marcus
Renée Elise Goldsberry, Angelica Schuyler Just like her Hamilton character, Goldsberry has been championing the untold stories of strong women. After winning the Tony for her work as the eldest Schuyler, she starred as the title character in HBO’s The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, about an African-American woman who became the unwitting pioneer to produce the first immortal human cell line. She appeared in The House with a Clock in its Walls, starring Cate Blanchett and Jack Black, and was a part of the cast of Documentary Now!’s Sondheim-spoof episode “Original Cast Album: Co-op” and is a regular on Altered Carbon. She is also the voice of Ms. Nowhere on Fast & Furious Spy Racers. She guest starred as Eva Price on NBC ’s first season of new musical series Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist.
Phillipa Soo and Lin-Manuel Miranda in Hamilton Joan Marcus
Phillipa Soo, Eliza Schuyler Hamilton Hamilton’s leading lady departed the show at the same time as Miranda and Odom to play the title role in Amélie, the musical adaptation of the Oscar-nominated movie. Another Hamilton alum who provided vocals for Moana, Soo most recently appeared on Broadway in The Parisian Woman, by House of Cards creator Beau Willimon. She was a series regular on the network series The Code, and recently returned to the stage in Leigh Silverman’s production of Tumacho Off-Broadway. She will give voice to one of the characters in the upcoming animated movie Over the Moon, which also features Ruthie Ann Miles and Conrad Ricamora.
Phillipa Soo, Renée Elise Goldsberry and Jasmine Cephas Jones in HamiltonJoan Marcus
Jasmine Cephas Jones, Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds The youngest Schuyler sister was the last of the original cast members to leave the Broadway production. Since exiting, she joined her Schuyler sisters in the Star-Spangled Banner for the 2017 Super Bowl and guested on HBO’s Girls. She starred in Diggs’ film Blindspotting and has also appeared on screen in Monsters and Men and Dog Days as well as the series Mrs. Fletcher. Most recently, she stared as Roxanne in the Off-Broadway musical Cyrano opposite Peter Dinklage’s Cyrano de Bergerac, which earned her a nomination at the inaugural Antonyo Awards this year.
Jonathan Groff, King George The two-time Tony nominee whose iconic King George even got Beyoncé talking continues to take risks that pay off. After leaving the show April 9, 2016, Groff filmed the HBO Looking movie. Since then, Groff caused a stir as the lead in the first podcast musical 36 Questions and has captivated audiences on Netflix’s series Mindhunter. Groff again voiced Frozen’s Kristoff in the spinoff short Olaf’s Frozen Adventure and Frozen 2—this time with a full boy-band solo tune. Groff returned to the stage with Off-Broadway run of Little Shop of Horrors as Seymour. He’ll be featured in the Disney+ doc Into the Unknown: Making Frozen 2.
Chris Jackson, George Washington A Tony nominee for his portrayal of our first president, Jackson was actually pulling double duty—filming CBS’ Bull while performing on Broadway. He exited the Broadway show November 13, 2016, but Bull continues to air on CBS. Following a trial science firm who helps clients select favorable juries, Jackson plays the firm’s stylist, Chunk Palmer. Jackson also provided the singing voice for Chief Tui in Disney’s Moana, showcased in the opening number “Where You Are.” Jackson returned to Broadway as a spontaneous special guest in Freestyle Love Supreme, and will be seen in the upcoming documentary We Are Freestyle Love Supreme on Hulu. He recently joined Playbill for a Q&A with his vocal coach, Liz Caplan.
Daveed Diggs, Okieriete Onaodowan, Anthony Ramos and Lin-Manuel Miranda in Hamilton Joan Marcus
Okieriete Onaodowan, Hercules Mulligan/James Madison Previously an unknown, Hamilton put Onaodowan on the map. He took over the title role of Pierre in the Tony-nominated musical Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 after Grammy nominee Josh Groban departed. Occupants of Shondaland watch “Oak” weekly on the Grey’s Anatomy spinoff about Seattle firefighters that also stars Groundhog Day’s Barrett Doss, which wrapped Season 3 earlier this year.
Carleigh Bettiol, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Leslie Odom Jr. and Anthony Ramos in HamiltonJoan Marcus
Anthony Ramos, John Laurens/Philip Hamilton Ramos’ star is another one that is fast-rising—particularly in Hollywood. Ramos was a series regular on Spike Lee’s nNetflix series She’s Gotta Have It, came to the big screen alongside Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga in A Star Is Born, and in 2019, played the role of Corporal Martinez in Godzilla: King of Monsters. His solo album dropped October 2019. He has voiced a character on Disney’s Elena of Avalor and the upcoming Trolls World Tour. He will play Usnavi de la Vega in the upcoming In The Heights movie, and was recently cast in the new sci-fi comedy feature Distance.
Javier Muñoz as Alexander Hamilton
Javier Muñoz, alternate Alexander Hamilton Miranda’s original alternate in the leading role, Muñoz took over full time in the Broadway production of the hit, before he left the production himself. He's appeared in guest spots on Quantico, Shadowhunters, and Blindspot and lent his talents to The Children’s Monologues at Carnegie Hall. After co-starring in the Off-Broadway world premiere of The New Englanders at MTC, he recently starred in the North American premiere of Stephen Lloyd Helper’s solo play A Sign of the Times at Theater 511. He was part of the organizing team that turned Open Jar Studios into a PPE production/assembly site and will sing in Playbill’s Pride Spectacular Concert June 28.
Carleigh Bettiol, Ensemble After departing Hamilton, Bettiol joined the ensemble of Broadway’s Bandstand (directed and choreographed by Hamilton choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler) where she also covered the lead role of Julia Trojan.
Ariana Debose, Ensemble The actor left Hamilton to take on her first leading role on Broadway, as Jane in Broadway’s A Bronx TaleThe Musical, where she performed until August 30, 2017. She starred in Summer: The Donna Summer Musical at La Jolla Playhouse and on Broadway, earning a Tony nomination. She plays Anita in Steven Spielberg’s upcoming West Side Story remake and Alyssa Greene in Ryan Murphy’s Netflix adaptation of The Prom.
Sydney James Harcourt, Ensemble The original James Reynolds, Harcourt replaced for Aaron Burr for a brief stint on Broadway. He starred in the Public Theater’s production of Girl From the North Country and was announced as the star of the workshop for the new musical Popstar.
Sasha Hutchings, Ensemble An understudy for Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds, Hutchings appeared Off-Broadway in The New Group’s Sweet Charity in 2016 and played leading lady Kathy Selden in the ZACH Theatre production of Singin’ In The Rain in Austin. She has had guest roles on Jessica Jones and appeared as a dancer on Fosse/Verdon.
Thayne Jasperson, Ensemble Broadway’s original Samuel Seabury, the So You Think You Can Dance and Newsies alum still performs in Hamilton on Broadway.
Emmy Raver-Lapman, Ensemble The actor played the role of Angelica Schuyler on the national tour of Hamilton, having covered the role on Broadway and in the Chicago sit-down production. She appeared in the final season of The CW’s Jane the Virgin. She is originating the role of Martha Clark in the Signature Theatre production of the new musical Gun & Powder in Arlington, Virginia.
Jon Rua, Ensemble The standby for Alexander Hamilton, Rua did go on in the lead role a few times. He danced up a storm in Broadway’s SpongeBob SquarePants, The Musical. He has choreographed West Side Story at Milwaukee Rep, and worked on Broadway’s The Cher Show, contributing choreography. He continues to choreograph and dance with his troupe, The Grit, including a project with Phish.
Austin Smith, Ensemble After Hamilton, Smith performed in Lincoln Center Theater’s 2017 Off-Broadway production of How to Transcend a Happy Marriage. He appeared in the Public’s production of Socrates, and the NYTW production of Martyna Majok’s Sanctuary City.
Seth Stewart, Ensemble An original ensemblist in the show, Stewart was bumped up to the dual roles of Lafayette/Jefferson from September 2016 through April 2017. You can also catch him in the PBS documentary In The Heights: Chasing Broadway Dreams.
Betsy Struxness, Ensemble Struxness understudied the role of Angelica in the Broadway production. She had a role on an episode of Broad City and in the short film In The Field, which she produced.
Ephraim Sykes, Ensemble Featured as George Eacker, Sykes also covered the roles of Mulligan/Madison on Broadway. He played the role of Seaweed in the broadcast television event Hairspray Live!, thenappeared in the world-premiere production of Ain’t Too Proud at Berkely Rep and earned a Tony nomination for his performance in the role on Broadway. He will next appear as the title role in Broadway's MJ: The Musical.
Andrew Chappelle, Swing The Hamilton ensemblist was seen in Muny’s Jesus Christ Superstar during the 2017 summer season. He still rocks it in Hamilton on Broadway as the standby for Aaron Burr. He has appeared on the web series Indoor Boys, created by Wesley Taylor and Alex Wyse.
Neil Haskell, Swing Originally a swing on the show, Haskell is now King George on the U.S. tour, Philip Cast.
Stephanie Klemons, Swing A swing for Broadway’s Hamilton, Klemons also worked on the West End production of the show at the Victoria Palace Theatre. She is the associate and supervising choreographer for Hamilton worldwide and is closely associated with The Growing Studio.
Morgan Marcell, Swing The Hamilton swing traded in one Blankenbuehler show for another, joining the original ensemble of Broadway’s Bandstand after leaving the Miranda-penned musical. She now performs in the ensemble of Broadway’s Moulin Rouge!.
Voltaire Wade-Green, Swing Wade-Greenleft the Broadway production. We can’t wait to see what he has in store.
