Ian Weinberger, the Associate Musical Director of Hamilton on Broadway, is going to BLOW US ALL AWAY. Ian conducts the show, plays keyboard in the pit, and happens to be one of the nicest people on the planet. In this first episode, Ian tells us how he got involved in Hamilton (Dear Evan Hansen is involved), confirms that Alex Lacamoire and Kurt Crowley are as nice as they are brilliant, and explains the musician's version of #BurrsCorner.
Oh, did I mention there's a keyboard involved? Thank you Gregory Treco for telling me to get a keyboard for this recording and thank you Tyler Mount for making that happen.
Raise a glass, friends! Welcome to another Emergency Podcast System. This week, Mike (you know Mike) and our friend and history enthusiast Ted O'Gorman help me recap August 12th's #HamiltonHappyHour, which was Ted's introduction to Hamilton and the Hamilton community. In case you missed it, Patrick Hinds of the Theater People Podcast, Broadway Backstory, and True Crime Obsessed hopped behind the bar with me and we hosted the #HamFam and sang the entire Hamilton cast album in New York City, the greatest city in the world. We had the best time and raised a ton of money for charity. It was also a much needed night of love, support, and community after the country endured what Mike described as a "James Reynolds kinda week."
After the Happy Hour, Ted went home and re-listened to the entire album so we also talk about his first impressions of Hamilton (spoiler: he loved it) and get super nerdy about history pop culture with things like 1776 and The West Wing.
PS: #HamiltonHappyHour is now a thing and Patrick and I are going to do it again. Stay tuned for details!
www.HamiltonHappyHour.com
Bryan Terrell Clark (George Washington in Hamilton on Broadway) was kind enough to invite me to his dressing room to hang out on a very busy two show day! Spoiler alert: things get real emotional real quick as BTC tells me about how his first time singing "One Last Time" was when President Barack Obama was giving his Farewell Speech in Chicago. Bryan gives beautiful insight to GDubbs, explains why he could never be a swing/cover/understudy (but why he has the utmost respect for them!), and how he keeps himself G.Wash-ready.
President Barack Obama's Farewell Speech
Bryan's t-shirt company inDEFINED
James Monroe Iglehart is a kind, funny, generous, amazing bolt of energy and I am so proud to say that he is my guest this week. Fan favorite Ashley Graffeo is my co-host, making this episode extra special. James told us what it's like to play Lafayette/Jefferson in Hamilton on Broadway, how the role compares to his Tony winning portrayal of Genie in Aladdin, meeting the Freestyle Love Supreme crew, the wonderful night that was The American Songbook performance at Lincoln Center (he played Hercules Mulligan!), and he even gives us a never-before-heard Burr's Corner. Plus, we talk about The Muppets, The Blues Brothers, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and more!
James Iglehart sings "I'm Going To Go Back There Someday"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZZjphU6hV0
Live at Feinstein's/54 Below: James Monroe Iglehart Sings "When You Wish Upon a Star"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SY3ABsBsqG0
Lin-Manuel Miranda and James Monroe Iglehart sing “My Shot” at Lincoln Center’s American Songbook in 2012
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OByswSEL-RA
The #BARS Workshop with Rafael Casal and Daveed Diggs
#BARS Mixtape Musical Medley Vol. 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pk89Retbl4A
The #BARS MEDLEY VOL 2 | Filmed live at the Public Theater, NY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xf3YR2wtMyM&t=3s