Hamilton extends to 22 Mar 2015 and announces cast

The Public Theater has announced that the world premiere of Tony and Grammy Award-winning composer and lyricist Lin-Manuel Miranda's new musical Hamilton, inspired by the book 'Alexander Hamilton' by Ron Chernow, has extended its limited engagement at Astor Place by four weeks. Instead of concluding on 22 February, it will now end its run on 22 March 2015. Previews begin on 20 January, with an official opening set for 17 February 2015.

It has also announced full casting. Alongside previously announced Lin-Manuel Miranda as Alexander Hamilton, the cast will also include Daveed Diggs (Marquis De Lafayette, Thomas Jefferson), Renee Elise Goldsberry (Angelica Schuyler), Christopher Jackson (George Washington), Brian d'Arcy James (King George), Anthony Ramos (John Laurens, Phillip Hamilton), Leslie Odom Jr. (Aaron Burr), Phillipa Soo (Eliza Hamilton), with Carleigh Bettiol, Ariana DeBose, Sydney James Harcourt, Sasha Hutchings, Thayne Jasperson, Stephanie Klemons, Jon Rua, Seth Stewart, Betsy Struxness, Ephraim Sykes, and Voltaire Wade-Greene.

Inspired by Ron Chernowthe's biography of Alexander Hamilton, which traces the life of Hamilton, an illegitimate, largely self-taught orphan from the Caribbean who rose to become George Washington's aide-de-camp and the first Treasury Secretary of the United States. The musical features a cast of historical figures that includes George Washington, Aaron Burr, James Madison, and Thomas Jefferson.

Hamilton will be directed by Thomas Kail, who collaborated with Miranda on the Tony and Grammy Award winning musical 'In The Heights,' and will feature music direction and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler, scenic design by David Korins, costumes by Paul Tazewell, lighting by Howell Binkley, and sound design by Nevin Steinberg.

The musical is being produced by The Public Theater with the support of Jeffrey Seller, Sander Jacobs, and Jill Furman.

- by Tom Millward