Hamilton, the hit musical created by Lin-Manuel Miranda, has been a huge success with critics and audiences alike since it first premiered on Broadway in 2015. Praised for its complex lyrics and genre-hopping musical numbers that include hip-hop, pop and R&B, the show retells America’s early political history. Jonathan Hermosa-Lopez, an actor on a UK and Ireland tour of the show, states that Hamilton is the “boss level” of musical theatre, explaining it is theatre of the highest level in every way.
A British-Colombian actor, Hermosa-Lopez is a member of the theatre company currently presenting Hamilton in the UK and Ireland. However, his journey to play multiple roles in the production was not a simple one. After being turned down on his first audition, he was called back a week later for an “alternate Hamilton” – an understudy who stands by in case a lead actor cannot perform. Rather than being intimidated by the task, he embraced the opportunity, memorising every word and every note over a 12-hour day. This effort impressed the American producers, who offered him the part.
The production’s cast is mostly made up of artists from minority communities playing white historical figures, some of whom subjugated black people to servitude. Nonetheless, those who’ve performed in Hamilton have spoken of the show as a platform for sharing their experiences, and Hermosa-Lopez found his role particularly important. Raised in south London, he is proud to represent his community and considers himself a living example of something extraordinary that someone from his background can achieve.
Hermosa-Lopez discusses how the production is different since he gets to enter the show with his own baggage and use it to perform. Hermosa-Lopez’s debut was in Manchester, where his mother finally got to see him perform. Freedom to express oneself is encouraged in the show, with Hermosa-Lopez discussing how the beauty of this show is being able to “come in with your own energy, your own baggage, and say, how can I take what I have today and use it?
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