“Hamilton” Milwauke Broadway series reviewed by Amy Menzel

Highly Recommended ***** Earlier this week, The New York Times ran a retrospective on Jesus Christ Superstar fifty years after its Broadway debut. “It married rock and musical theater, ushering in Broadway’s British invasion of the 1970s and 1980s and paving the way for shows like Les Misérables and The Phantom of the Opera,” writes Sarah Bahr. I thought about this as I took in Hamilton Friday night. If there’s anything more thrilling than this driving, moving, and stunning stage production, it’s considering the impact and influence this show will continue to have on the future of Broadway.

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s show, brought to Milwaukee as part of the Johnson Financial Group’s Broadway Series at the Marcus Center, and directed by Thomas Kail, who has also directed Miranda’s In the Heights to much acclaim, is as captivating as it is commanding. Friday’s audience was ready for it. The house erupted in cheers when Edred Utomi simply introduced himself as Alexander Hamilton in the first number. Likewise, Peter Matthew Smith received a warm welcome simply taking the stage as King George. Somehow every cast member lives up to the hype. I mean, surely many have seen the production with the original 2016 Broadway cast on Disney+ and social media is awash with pre-show “HAMILTON!!!!!” posts when the show is in town. Expectations are high and this cast does not disappoint.

Zoe Jensen, Stephanie Umoh, and Olivia Puckett nail “The Schuyler Sisters,” prompting an energetic expression and impressed, “Alright!” from a man behind me. A woman a few rows in front of me bounced her head throughout the King’s “You’ll Be Back.” I tried to command myself not to blink so I wouldn’t miss a moment. Folks, this is a show that has so much movement that the stage itself needs to move too. (Check out more set secrets here.) Each aspect of the production — the lighting, the costuming, the music, the choreography — adds a layer of awe.

Of course, this is all very purposeful. In a 2020 interview, Miranda explains the creative process behind “My Shot.” “I’m grabbing from those influences and paying homage to those influences,” he says, “So I’m literally calling on the ancestors of this, uh, of this flow to say that, ‘Hamilton’s the future,’ in this group of friends.”

One can only imagine how others will grab from Miranda’s influences, how they will pay homage to his brilliance, and how this will shape the future of theatre. Meanwhile, Miranda, and this touring team, have created a must-see right now.

“Hamilton” runs through October 24 at Uihlein Hall at the Marcus Performing Arts Center.
Sunday – 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Tuesday – Thursday – 7:30 p.m.
Friday – 8 p.m.
Saturday – 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

The show runs 2 hours and 45 minutes with a 10-minute intermission.

Theatre-goers should consult the venue’s COVID-19 safety protocols prior to purchase and attendance.

Ticket prices start at $49.

A digital lottery presented by producer Jeffrey Seller and Johnson Financial Group Broadway at the Marcus Center offers 40 $10 tickets for each performance. More information can be found at marcuscenter.org.

Student Rush has been added to all performances. Students can get tickets for only $29 with a student ID starting 1 hour prior to showtime (in-person only). More information can be found at marcuscenter.org.

Editor Note: For those who missed the long Chicago run, Milwaukee is just an hour-and-a-half away, a fairly easy drive after passing Waukegan and the prices for theater are lesss, parking is easy ( and inexpensive) and restaurants quite affordable. ENJOY!