Hamilton officially landed in the West End yesterday for its first night of previews.
The much-anticipated London offshoot of the hit Broadway musical has settled into the lovingly refurbished Victoria Palace Theatre. (Cover photo: Gregory Haney)
The new cast have been deep in rehearsals for the last several months, perfecting the hip-hop infused story of America’s Founding Fathers. They’ve also been having a lot of group hugs.
Writer, composer, and original Hamilton Lin-Manuel Miranda has been popping over to keep his eye on things.
London Sitzproooooobe pic.twitter.com/7JAw1x4yGf
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) 25 November 2017
And yesterday, he was on-site giving everything a final check. Awww.
And then, it was finally time for the cast to swap their backstage cosies…
For their on-stage frocks!
Jamael Westman starred in the lead role of Alexander Hamilton:
Rachelle Ann Go was playing Eliza Hamilton:
Giles Terera plays bad boy Aaron Burr:
Jason Pennycooke was Thomas Jefferson:
And Michael Jibson plays King George:
And by all accounts it was a bit of a bloody triumph.
A ‘mesmerising masterpiece’:
HAMILTON is a mesmerising masterpiece. Utterly faultless performances. Incredible interpretations of characters we’ve heard so much. @JamWestman is miraculous. The sound is unreal. Like listening with headphones. The crispness. The richness. Extraordinary. #HamiltonLDN
— Alex Packer (@_alexpacker) 6 December 2017
‘Incredible’:
#HamiltonLDN interval and guys, it is incredible. Full on screaming from the audience after every song. @JamWestman is beyond words. A star is born.
— Victoria Finan (@victoriafinan) 6 December 2017
Still can’t get over how incredible the #HamiltonLDN cast were last night. You’d never have known it was the first preview ?
— emmaonline (@emmaonline) 7 December 2017
‘Transcendent’:
Words utterly fail to describe #HamiltonLDN, entire production from lighting to choreography is just transcendent, never been in an audience like it, enraptured silence framed by thunderous screaming, & the utter collective communal flipping out when @Lin_Manuel was spotted ? pic.twitter.com/932uJqMPfm
— Bethan Morgan (@modcearig) 7 December 2017
‘Universally excellent’:
Finally home – quick thoughts – @JamWestman is a better Hamilton than we could have wished for, and he’s in good company. The cast are universally excellent. Full review coming soon #HamiltonLDN
— Caroline Preece (@carolinepreece) 7 December 2017
‘Goosebumps’:
I had goosebumps through most of the 1st half & cried all the tears in the 2nd half. @gorachelleann in particular broke my heart.
— Samantha (@Samantha_A_D) 6 December 2017
I have never known applause like the applause tonight. Take a bow @HamiltonWestEnd , you have blown us all away #HamiltonLDN pic.twitter.com/jSFd1zetJT
— Charlotte Nice (@CharliNice) 6 December 2017
I can’t believe what we just saw. I can’t say any more than that #HamiltonLDN #HamiltonIsOpen #HamiltonWestEnd #Hamilton pic.twitter.com/M1pKZuTXuF
— Jocy Levy (@AccioJellyBean) 6 December 2017
Take a bow, guys!
