From February 8th to 20th, 2022, the Philip Cast of Hamilton‘s North American Tour came to the DeVos Performance Hall in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I was lucky enough to attend the 8:00 PM showing on February 18th. Let me tell you…it was ~ i n s a n e ~

Prior to this event, I’d only ever seen the Disney Plus performance of Hamilton, with the original Broadway cast. I was eagerly waiting to see a new cast of people perform this amazing work of art.  While walking the streets of Grand Rapids, we noticed the DeVos Performing Hall almost instantly when we saw the giant photos posted on the windows, each one showcasing a series of characters and stances. This includes the Schuyler sisters, Alexander Hamilton pointing at the sky, the bros (Laurens, Hamilton, Lafayette, and Mulligans), and Geooooorge Waaashington (we are outgunned WHAT outmanned WHAT) bravely protruding his sword.

Before we took our seats, we got the chance to go to the pit and take a closer look at the stage. The detail is ✨immaculate✨ The turntable? Awesome.  The moving stairs? Insane. Ropes? Neat. Bricks? Look old. You know what else is old? Hamilton. Kind of. He died at either 47 or 49, no one really knows.

The set helps the story. Makes it believable.

Then, we were told by an employee we in fact were not allowed to be by the floor seats, so we went back to our row in the balcony. Then I anxiously awaited for it to begin.

After what seemed like forever, the voice of King George III spoke over the audience, telling us to shut up and get off our phones. Also to enjoy his show, that he only features in for, like, 10 minutes. But we love him nonetheless. Well, the character. I couldn’t care less about the actual King George III.

Sorry, I’m rambling.

The lights dimmed. I cried. *do do-do-do do do do da da daaaa daa* I cry harder. Aaron Burr begins to sing. I hyperventilate. What. A. Vibe.

Then Alexander Hamilton arrived on stage. And WAIT. He sings well. This is wild. Now, hear me out, Lin Manuel Miranda -ACTUALLY CAN SING-. Hate me if you want. Literally sue me. And ignore the demos of Hamilton. Those do not support my case. BUT, he is insanely talented, and just has a distinct, unique voice. He has his own style and dynamics. But regardless, it was strange to hear Alexander with such a smooth voice, might I say better than John Laurens’ voice.

There were two characters who just absolutely blew me away: George Washington and Aaron Burr. It’s hard to imagine anyone besides Christopher Jackson and Leslie Odom Jr. playing these roles. But the actors who were chosen to take on the part, Marcus Choi as Washington, and Jared Dixon as Burr, were absolutely phenomenal. Dixon actually resembled Odom’s voice quite well during Your Obedient Servant and The World Was Wide Enough. He told the story SO well through his astonishing voice and characteristics. As for Washington, you have to have PIPES. Christopher Jackson set the bar UNBELIEVEABLY HIGH for this character. And Choi was able to hit that bar. His voice made me cry, in the best way possible. Insane.

My favorite character in this production of Hamilton, though it’s basic, would have to be  King George III. He was played by Neil Haskell, who was a part of the ensemble for the Original Broadway Cast of  Hamilton. No one plays the King the way Jonathon Groff did originally, but each actor brings their own personality to the character. Haskell’s sass and stubbornness was perfect for the part. His British accent was above par, as was his voice.

One thing I noticed was how every actress plays Eliza Hamilton differently. Stephanie Jae Park played her with with more bite to her. She had more aggression, rather than pain, during Burn, and had a heavier heart during Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story.

The best moment, as always, was Nonstop. In this song, the whole cast comes together, singing their own parts, and reprising their past moments. It’s big and bold, and brings us to the end of Act 1. There’s so much movement, which you don’t get to see as much of on Disney Plus, so it was so amazing to have the ability to observe it in person. To see the whole picture was a blessing. That goes for the whole show. Getting to see how other characters react, more ensemble action, even seeing the costumes in person. It created a whole new affect I wasn’t aware was there before.

Overall, this was one of the best experiences of my life. If you ever have the chance to witness this amazing show, do NOT throw away your shot.

*close curtain*