Hit musical ‘Hamilton’ returns to Ottawa’s National Arts Centre

The popular Broadway show is back at the National Arts Centre for a limited time. CTV’s Natalie van Rooy reports from the room where it happens.

It’s energetic, cultural, and political with theatre fans around the world. The award-winning ‘Hamilton’ production, presented by Broadway Across Canada, is back for two weeks in Ottawa at the National Arts Centre.

It’s a soundtrack that’s recognizable to musical theatre fans internationally.

“It’s the story of how the U.S. got started and it is very interesting as the U.S. continues to grow and evolve and change,” said Tyler Fauntleroy, who plays the lead character, Alexander Hamilton, in the production. “You know, this show, how much it still resonates, is awesome and how it still lands on people is what I love.”

The musical score brings together R&B, jazz, and hip hop with the entire production a musical from start to finish.

“It feels like an Olympic sport because of what it asks of you, but it’s a joy to do, to sing, to rap, to feel like there’s a part of this medium that celebrates the thing that so many people and so many actors of colour do so well,” Fauntleroy said.

The production has won accolades around the world, including eleven Tony Awards. At the National Arts Centre, care and consideration goes into each costume.

“We travel approximately two thousand pieces for every single cast member,” said Michelle Cross, the wardrobe supervisor for the tour. “Be it dress pants, their shirts, their shoes.”

The wardrobe is a significant element to the storyline.

“There’s not a lot to the set of the show,” said Cross. “There’s not a lot of extra things going on. The story of Hamilton is really told through all of the other technical elements like the costumes, the choreography, the lighting, the sound, all of that just kind of comes together to tell the story of Hamilton.”

‘Hamilton’ is playing in Ottawa until Aug. 17.

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