His previous credits include the original Broadway casts of “If/Then” and “American Idiot”, as well as the first national tour of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”. “Gemignani, who has been in “Violet”, Les Miserables” and “Sweeny Todd”, will play King George III in the Chicago production.
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“Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda left some big buckled shoes to fill when he bid the title character of his hit musical farewell last week, but Miguel Cervantes has been officially tasked with the job in Chicago. Olivo, who largely stepped away from Broadway after originating the role of Vanessa in Miranda’s In the Heights and winning the Tony for the 2009 revival of West Side Story, will return to the stage as the bold and brainy Angelica. Her most recent Broadway performance was in 2014.
Gemignani, 37, is the son of the famed Broadway musical director Paul Gemignani.
Casting for the show, which opens in previews on September 27 at the PrivateBank Theatre, was announced Wednesday morning. He’s also an accomplished Broadway performer in his own right.
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Also appearing in the Chicago staging of Hamilton will be Ari Asfar as Eliza Schuyler Hamilton, Chris Lee as Lafayettte and Jefferson, Joseph Morales as Cervantes’ alternate, Jose Ramos as John Laurens and Phillip Hamilton, Wallace Smith as Hercules Mulligan and James Madison, and Samantha Marie Ware as Peggy Schuyler and Maria Reynolds. The role of Hamilton’s dueling foe Aaron Burr has yet to be announced.
