The Hamilcast: A Hamilton Podcast

Eliza Ohman, Hamilton's universal swing, takes time out of her insanely busy schedule to chat with us and we are so happy she did because we had a blast. As a universal swing, Eliza performs with every production of Hamilton: Broadway, #HamiltonCHI, and #HamiltonSF/#Hamiltour. IT IS INSANE. Get ready to have your mind blown as Eliza tells us how tracks are different depending on the production, how grateful she is to be able to see so many different actors portray such wonderful roles, and what it was like working with Tom Hanks and Justin Bieber in Carly Rae Jepsen's "I Really Like You" video on the coldest day of all time.   

Nik Walker is back for another round and this time he goes into the details of playing both Aaron Burr and George Washington on Broadway, the complexities of both men, and how going back to the text impacts his performance each night. Nik tells also us about past and future projects he's working on, and his passion for bringing a different type of storytelling to the stage.     

Nik Walker hung out with us and we're so excited to welcome our first George Washington to the podcast! Nik also plays Aaron Burr and Mulligan/Madison, NBD. Remember Michael Luwoye's Waldo prank? Nik was the victim and we tell you all about how we were 100% in on it and helped make it happen. As we sip the custom-tailored The Dark Knight Rises Up cocktail, Nik tells us about joining the Broadway cast of Hamilton, how fun it is to work with so many of his closest friends, and declares a prank war on Michael Luwoye. 

J. Quinton Johnson is back and in part two of his chat with us we learn all about what it's like to play Hercules Mulligan/James Madison and why Q makes the acting choices that he does. Q also opens up about how much music means to him and the ways it has enriched his life. 

That's right, HERCULES MULLIGAN! We had so much fun talking to J. Quinton Johnson who is currently playing Hercules Mulligan/James Madison in Hamilton on Broadway. Q is awesome for many reasons, but one of them is because he is a full on Hamilnerd just like us. In the first half of our chat, Q geeks out over Lin Manuel Miranda's musical isms, talks about his love for Christopher Jackson, and tells an Andy Blankenbuehler story that will blow your mind. 

Amber Kempter joins us to talk about how she's joined the many artists making custom Funko Pop figures of pop culture and Broadway characters, including Hamilton. Amber also blew us both away by sending us not only Mulligan & Lafayette pops, but custom pops OF OURSELVES!

Hamilton swing extraordinaire Karla Garcia is on the podcast this week and we get into more of that #SwingLife. We learn about the cast nicknames for roles (The Dead Mother track, anyone?), what it was like to choreograph and win Gypsy of the Year 2016, and how Karla is totally on that Andy Blankenbuehler path.    Hamilton performs “America” - Gypsy of the Year 2016 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJf3YQoknn8 Credit: Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS/YouTube Digital #Ham4Ham 2/27/16 -- The Taglish Commandments https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poroeR2bBf4 Credit: Hamilton: An American Musical/YouTube Hamilton Ham4Ham 11/11/15 with Lea Salonga & Lin-Manuel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6CwjP2urAU Credit: Howard Sherman/YouTube

Lexi Lawson is back and you are not ready for the emotional journey that is the second half of our conversation with her. Why? Because Lexi walks us through what Eliza is feeling throughout the entire show: from meeting Alexander to the very last moment she is on stage. Lexi goes IN and yes, we cried. But don't worry! We balance it out with a Green Day singalong, Lexi's time with Rent and In The Heights, and how Lin-Manuel Miranda is "a walking sweet genius."

Lexi Lawson, currently playing Eliza in Hamilton on Broadway, spent her night off with us and we are so excited she did. In the first part of our conversation Lexi tells us how straight up manifested getting cast in Hamilton (seriously, she turned down other jobs before she even auditioned for Eliza), all the months of work she put into preparing for her audition, and why she cannot under any circumstances listen to The Hamilton Mixtape. Werk!

Jevon McFerrin is back for round two! In the second half of our chat with him he talks about his strong bond with the cast and the nuances of his takes on Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, while also getting into the mindset of Alexander Hamilton during the final duel. Oh, and most importantly, Jevon gives us a crash course on how to master Lafayette's rap in "Guns and Ships."

Jevon McFerrin joins us three days after he went on as Hamilton for the first time and helps us celebrate our one year anniversary! In Part One of our interview with him, Jevon walks us through his tumultuous audition process, why he ran into Central Park in celebrate booking multiple roles in Hamilton, and what it was like to sing "Dear Theodosia" to his dad. 

In Part Two of our interview with Michael Luwoye, we hear some behind the scenes Hamilton stories including backstage pranks, being surprised onstage, and how Javier Munoz almost played King George III. Fascinated by Michael's voice? Us too! He tells us why he takes being as clear as possible so seriously, especially with Hamilton. Michael also talks about his time in Invisible Thread and blows us both away by saying some very lovely things about what The Hamilcast means to the Hamilfan community.    Track at the 5:30 mark is "No Regrets" by Aesop Rock. Album: Labor Days. Label: Definitive Jux.

Hello! Have you heard about @HappyBdayLin? Alicia, one of the creators of the fundraising campaign, sent us a message that we wanted to share with you. They are trying to raise money to not only help the wonderful Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, but it's also in the spirit of wishing Lin-Manuel Miranda a happy birthday. Even TeeRico is involved! I'll let Alicia tell it... 

Michael Luwoye helps us celebrate our 50th episode in style! Yes, you read that correctly: Michael Luwoye, the man who made history when he became the first actor to play both Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr, is on the podcast. In Part One, Michael tells us about his complex audition process, if he prefers Hamilton or Burr, and blows our minds when he tells us that Theodosia is actually in the show. 

Grab your wig and your kitten heels because this week is all about King George III. Ashley Graffeo schools us on all things #KGIII: from his governing style, to his wonderful wife Charlotte, to his occasionally blue urine. Find out why Ashley thinks the Big Bad of Hamilton may just be a little misunderstood. 

Andrew Chappelle joins us this week and he went IN, friends! Grab the popcorn because we get some great behind-the-scenes tidbits. Andrew told us about #SwingLife and what it's like to have played Aaron Burr, King George III, George Washington, Mulligan/Madison, Lafayette/Jefferson, Laurens/Philip, James Reynolds, and Philip Schuyler in Hamilton. We talk about his favorite character to play, his recent trip to Europe, the wonders of Snapchat, and of course... Patti LuBone. 

The thing about the Reynolds affair is that it was bananas and there were so many people involved. This week, we tackle Ron Chernow's Chapter 21: "Exposure" which is "We Know" only with three entirely different dudes. The endless soap opera of Hamilton's bad decisions is even more convoluted than you think but Chernow reminds us that this is just the beginning. BA DA DA DA DUM.

Playbill's own Felicia Fitzpatrick joins us as we discuss every track on the #HamiltonMixtape. We go IN, so get ready! 

Mike joins us as we recap Lin Manuel Miranda's hilariously boozy "Drunk History" appearance. We also talk about our favorite "Drunk History" episodes, the stories we'd love to tell (Hamilton and non-Hamilton), our favorite reenactors, and start the #Grohl4Hamilcast movement. Plus! Gillian and Mike had a full on In the Heights moment while rehearsing for Mike's new play - in a basement, no less! 

We're back to talking Chernow this week and things are getting meaty, friends. We discuss the start of the two-party system, how the cabinet's fractured into factions, and get into how they smacked each other in the press (anonymously of course) and didn't print retractions. Oh, did we mention that Thomas Jefferson had a Burn Book about Alexander Hamilton? Because that was an actual thing. Daddy's callin'.