On Aug. 6, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “Hamilton” blockbuster will celebrate its 10th anniversary with a gala performance in the house where it happened — that would be the Richard Rodgers Theatre.
I received an invite, if you can believe it, to partake in the gala on Aug. 6. Guess the show wanted some regular fans to be dazzled by the notable invitees.
Financially, this one’s way out of my reach – tickets are either $5,000 or $2,500 for mezzanine seats –but it will be historical and memorable if you want to splurge. The higher-price ticket includes a pre-show and after-show reception; the less expensive ticket includes the post-show event.
The performance will feature the current cast which, lest you forget, currently features two performers with Hawaii ties, Marc delaCruz, who I have befriended and interviewed, and Reanne Acasio, who I also met via an interview. It would be a hoot to see them in action, but health is a priority now, and I don’t think I could survive the journey.
There’s the airfare to consider, too, and a hotel room is a necessity.
For the record, I’ve seen the Broadway production twice, once with the original cast, a second time with delaCruz, who is an understudy of the title character of Hamilton. Acasio, who joined the cast a few months ago, understudies the three Schuyler sisters in the show, but I have yet to see her.
But I’ve watched another localite, Joseph Morales. enacting the Hamilton role in a touring company when it was ensconced in a Chicago theater. Plus, I watched the touring company that did show at Blaisdell Concert Hall two years ago.
I recall the first time; I couldn’t secure affordable seats, and orchestra tickets were astronomically high. So, I wound up buying two tickets –at $750 apiece – way up in the balcony, in the second-to-the-last row up high. However, it’s still a conversational memory.
For the 10th anniversary, the “Hamilton” logo bears 10 stars surrounding the familiar figure of Hamilton atop the star.
Ultimately, here’s the rub: If you want to be in the room where it happened, on a milestone date, who’s stopping you to go? The Public Theatre, where “Hamilton” first played off-Broadway prior to its Broadway debut, is overseeing the anniversary show. Come to think of it, though I didn’t see “Hamilton” there, I have taken in shows at the Public. Maybe that’s how I got the email invite. If you have been to the Public and weren’t invited, go for it—invite yourself at events@publictheater.org
Scherzinger, ‘Sunset Blvd.’ are No. 1
A new Broadway champ: ‘Sunset Blvd.’
In the final week of “Sunset Blvd.” on Broadway, Hawaii star Nicole Scherzinger – performing as Gloria Swanson, talkies star – went out as a winner, with the musical yielding grosses of $2,481,018.
The surge earned the show, and Scherzinger, the laurels of being the No. 1 hot ticket for the week ending July 20, bypassing perpetual chart topper “Wicked,” which was No. 2.
The Top 10:
1—”Sunset Blvd.,” $2.481 million
2— Wicked,” $2.412 million
3—” The Lion King,” $2.218 million
4—”Hamilton,” $2.187 million
5—” Death Becomes Her,” $1.485 million
6—”Aladdin,” $1.469 million
7—”MJ,” $1.406 million
8—”Maybe Happy Ending,” $1.347 million
9—”Just in Time,” $1.327million
10—” The Outsiders,” $1.207 million.
The full list, courtesy the Broadway League:
And that;’s Show Biz…