Hamilton Returns to Denver for the Third Time

Denver, prepare for a revolution: Lin-Manuel Miranda's mega-hit historical hip-hop musical Hamilton is returning to the city following two sold-out runs in 2018 and 2022. Through an electrifying blend of musical composition, the performance chronicles the rise and fall of Alexander Hamilton, one of America's most influential Founding Fathers.

“The way Lin and Lac [Alex Lacamoire, musical supervision and orchestrations] took multiple musical styles and melded them together to create the musical world of Hamilton was absolutely brilliant,” says Simon Longnight, who plays Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson on the national tour. “This show has changed my life. Beyond the show being a creative nonfiction depicting real historical events in American history, it is also an Easter egg hunt of hip-hop, rap and musical-theater history. It truly is a masterpiece.”
It's not just the cast members who are in awe of the work. Since its Broadway debut in 2015, Hamilton has won eleven Tony Awards, a Grammy, seven Olivier Awards and even the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Its innovative fusion of contemporary music and historical content has transformed it into an entertainment powerhouse as well as a cultural and educational phenomenon.

"The ciphers and rap battles grow in complexity as opinions and arguments evolve to the revolutionary ideas being delivered by bodies of color through art forms created by bodies of color," Longnight says. "Lin and the original team recognized the parallels between the building of this nation and the cultural revolution of hip-hop and rap, and through their vision, they have helped an entire generation connect with the founding of this nation in a new way."
The musical, based on Ron Chernow's Alexander Hamilton biography, tells the story of a man who rose from obscurity to become a pivotal force in the country's early days. From its inception, Hamilton has been a trailblazer, not only for its genre-blending score, but also for its focus on casting actors of color in the roles of America's Founding Fathers.

"Witnessing bodies of color fighting for revolutionary ideas set to the beat of revolutionary music helps me see myself in the founding of this country, even though the privileges I now have were not intended for someone like me in its genesis," Longnight says. "It’s a joy to be surrounded by bodies of color and allies every day I come to work."
Orignally from Eugene, Oregon, Longnight went to the University of Michigan to pursue his BFA in musical theater and has built an impressive résumé, including appearances on television shows like The L Word: Generation Q and Instinct. Longnight has played Lafayette and Jefferson in numerous national tours, as well as Hamilton's Los Angeles engagement since 2016. After a brief hiatus from the show, he is thrilled to be back and in Denver for a month-long run.

"From the walking tours of the city to exploring Denver’s national parks, I can’t wait to experience Denver," Longnight says. "Eight shows a week really does take a good bit of physical and emotional energy, so I’m really looking forward to finding moments of self-care and peace in Denver. From what I’ve heard, serenity is readily available."

For Denver theater-goers, there’s an exciting opportunity to catch Hamilton without breaking the bank. Producer Jeffrey Seller and the Denver Center for the Performing Arts Broadway announced earlier this month that $10 tickets would be available through a digital lottery for each performance. Fans can enter via the official Hamilton app beginning at 10 a.m. on Fridays during its run in Denver, with winners announced each Thursday for the upcoming week's performances. This #Ham4Ham lottery is part of the production’s ongoing efforts to make the show more accessible to a wider audience. Hamilton remains a must-see production, not just for its spectacular performances, but for the conversations it sparks. With performances still selling out across the country, its run at the Buell Theatre is sure to be no exception.

"The original team of Hamilton cast their friends, and it just so happened that their friends created this beautiful tapestry of different stories and backgrounds," Longnight says. "Because of the original team's unapologetic acceptance of Daveed Diggs as Thomas Jefferson and Renée Elise Goldsberry as Angelica Schuyler, I have the privilege of making a living starring in this hit Broadway musical, playing a Tony Award-winning role and being able to unapologetically bring my own swagger to it."

Hamilton, Wednesday, October 16, through Sunday, November 24, at the Buell Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 1350 Curtis Street. Learn more at denvercenter.org.