Hit stage musicals have long had an impressive knack for leaping out of their home theater and into the hearts of new fans around the world, many of which haven't even seen it yet.
Think of "Cats" or "Phantom of the Opera," two spectacles that grew a mega fan base in cities where neither production had even traveled (both would go on to major road careers, of course). Shows don't get that sort of lightening-hot heat every day, or even every decade, but "Hamilton" has, and how.
Based on the life of Alexander Hamilton, the hip-hop historical from exuberant story innovator Lin-Manuel Miranda became the Broadway phenom of 2015 thanks to catchy lyrics, energy-laden numbers, and a general joie de vivre that permeates every corner of the production.
The only question for many musical-obsessed SoCalers was this: When would "Hamilton" arrive in Los Angeles, and where, and how can I find a ticket, and when? When???
The when and where and how have been determined, after lo these many months of waiting: The musical, which is based upon the Ron Chernow-penned biography, will play at The Pantages Theatre starting in the summer of 2017.
Yes, "starting" is the key: "Hamilton" is set to run into December 2017, an especially lengthy stop for a show, but, of course, not a show that has hit the heights in such a mega manner. (Speaking of which, Lin-Manuel Miranda is also well-known for his great work on "In the Heights," which proceeded "Hamilton" as another much-catch Broadway musical.)
The Pantages revealed its full schedule on Tuesday, Jan. 26. Joining "Hamilton" on the 2016-2017 roster will be "Hedwig and the Angry Inch," the Lincoln Center production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's "The King & I," "An American in Paris," "The Bodyguard," "Finding Neverland," and a return engagement for "The Book of Mormon."
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How can you score your seat for "Hamilton" and the other musicals making for Tinseltown? Season Packages are available now. The venue says the individual ticket on-sale date for "Hamilton" will be "announced at a later date."
If that's what you're waiting on, best listening to the official cast recording a few more times, and read the biography that inspired Mr. Miranda to write his hit show. After all, musicals that reach far and wide beyond their original venues, even ahead of going on the road, don't come around all that often.
So we in other cities must enjoy the show from where we are, how we can, by hitting "replay" on the songs again and again, ahead of the production's actual arrival. (Which is, for your calendar, Aug. 11, 2017.)
