Hamilton has found its new Alexander Hamilton: Lin-Manuel Miranda’s alternate Javier Muñoz will take over the role in July.
Broadway.com has confirmed the sad-yet-joyous news that Javier Muñoz is taking over from Lin-Manuel Miranda as Alexander Hamilton in the smash hit Broadway play.
The website notes Muñoz will take over starting July 11, but according to Washington Post’s Peter Marks, the switchover happens on the 9th (which makes sense: The 9th is a Saturday, making the 11th a Monday):
Breakfast with Lin Manuel Miranda. Says Javier Munoz will take over from him full time after July 9 when he leaves. Says he will come back.
— Peter Marks (@petermarksdrama) June 16, 2016
While Hamilton fans (especially those who have not yet seen the play) are devastated that Miranda is departing, this is the best possible news, since Javier Muñoz is already familiar to audiences as Miranda’s alternate, having followed him from In the Heights.
Related: Lin-Manuel Miranda’s imminent Hamilton exit sends ticket prices skyrocketing to $10,000 apiece
According to Vulture, Javier Muñoz already fills in for Miranda for one performance a week. Although he puts a different spin on the role, the fact that Muñoz is already familiar to audiences (and that he is a long-time collaborator of Miranda) will likely make fans delighted to hear that he’s stepping in full-time.
And, as Broadway.com reminds us, “Miranda is still planning to appear in Hamilton from time to time,” even potentially jumping into performances on tour. (In their words: “He may ‘jump’ into the tuner in other cities to cover actors’ vacations.”)
Check out this interview with Muñoz in which he talks about working on Hamilton:
As of now, Hamilton will still feature the talents of original cast members Leslie Odom Jr. as Aaron Burr, Christopher Jackson as George Washington, Phillipa Soo as Eliza Hamilton, Rory O’Malley as King George, Anthony Ramos as John Laurens/Phillip Hamilton, Daveed Diggs as Marquis De Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson and Renée Elise Goldsberry as Angelica Schuyler.
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