Welcome to Cristina Lundy’s second episode! Cristina is Hamilton Broadway's Assistant Wardrobe Supervisor and this week we’re diving into what it means to work in wardrobe: Cristina explains how she got into the union, how she started working on Broadway, how she got the gig at Hamilton, and what it’s been like working at a show with a lot of power and a lot of influence. From hidden costume details, to why the wardrobe department is the heart of the building, (plus a well timed and under appreciated reference to Damn Yankees), Cristina has great stories and even better advice. Because, as she says, it’s not just about living the dream but living the life.
Cristina Lundy is currently Hamilton Broadway's Assistant Wardrobe Supervisor. Cristina has been doing theatre since she was ten years old, and started working in her costume shop in college. But she’s always been, as she says, “costuming herself” as a form of self expression. Cristina is also the artistic director of the New York Shakespeare Exchange, an independent Shakespeare company with a focus on inclusion and a mission to stop gatekeeping Shakespeare (even if you’re the one gatekeeping yourself, which tends to happen with the Bard).
This week we talk about everything from the phenomenal clothes and aesthetic of Mad Men, to what makes a good director, the gospel of Taylor Swift, and we contributed to the endless effort to burn down the patriarchy… among other things.
Daniel Assetta is as determined as he is talented as he is ready to put in the work. It’s not surprising he landed his dream role of Samuel Seabury in the Original Australian company of Hamilton. That story is full circle, starting and ending in New York City. From performing for his family starting at a very young age, to performing all over the world in various roles, Daniel always knew exactly what he wanted to do and he never once apologized for it. And yeah, going viral on TikTok with incredible dance videos from when he was 12 years old is a fun little detour. This week, Daniel reflects on the journey and contemplates what comes next.
Daniel Assetta was the original Samuel Seabury in Australia (with the fun bonus of covering King George III), and in this episode you get to hear the story of how that happened. It started in New York City in 2016, took a turn in Australia in 2019, and then stopped cold in 2020 (ugh pandemic). It was a tumultuous time for countless reasons but it has a happy ending: not only did Daniel book Hamilton, but the Australia company was the first one back after lockdown. Daniel is telling me this from his apartment in New York City, so his Hamilton story is truly full circle.