Jonathan Groff joins Broadway cast of Hamilton

It has been confirmed that actor and 'Glee' star Jonathan Groff will reprise his role of 'King George' in Lin-Manuel Miranda's new musical Hamilton, which transfers from The Public's off-Broadway Astor Place to Broadway's Richard Rodgers Theatre this summer, with an official opening on 6 August 2015, following previews from 13 July 2015.

Groff replaced Brian D'Arcy James in the role of King George from 3 March 2015 during the off-Broadway run so that James could open in Something Rotten at Broadway's St James Theatre.

The full cast for the Broadway bound production includes: Lin-Manuel Miranda as Hamilton, Christopher Jackson as George Washington, Jonathan Groff as King George, Leslie Odom Jr. as Aaron Burr, Phillipa Soo as Eliza Hamilton, Anthony Ramos as John Laurens/Phillip Hamilton, Daveed Diggs as Marquis De Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson and Renée Elise Goldsberry as Angelica Schuyler.

The ensemble will include Jasmine Cephas Jones, Okieriete Onaodowan, Carleigh Bettiol, Andrew Chappelle, Ariana DeBose, Alysha Deslorieux, Sydney James Harcourt, Neil Haskell, Sasha Hutchings, Thayne Jasperson, Stephanie Klemons, Morgan Marcell, Emmy Raver-Lampan, Javier Munoz, Jon Rua, Austin Smith, Seth Stewart, Betsy Struxness, Ephraim Sykes and Voltaire Wade-Greene.

Jonathan Groff has previous starred in the Public Theater's productions of 'Hair' and 'The Bacchae'. His Broadway credits include the original cast of 'Spring Awakening'. He has appeared as a regular character in the TV series 'Glee', as well as the new HBO show 'Looking'. His film credits include 'American Sniper', 'HBO's The Normal Heart', and Disney's 'Frozen'.

Hamilton began performances off-Broadway on 20 January with an official opening on 17 February 2015. It opened to strong reviews, with critics praising Miranda's score as well as the performances by the energetic cast.

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 is directed by Thomas Kail, with 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.

- by Dom O'Hanlon