Rory O'Malley replaces Jonathan Groff in Hamilton

Tony nominee Rory O'Malley assumes the role of King George from "Looking" and "Glee" star Jonathan Groff tonight in Lin-Manuel Miranda's hit musical Hamilton, at the Richard Rodgers Theatre.

Mr. O'Malley was originally scheduled to take on the role of Bill Gates in the Broadway premiere of Nerds until the run was cancelled due to the loss of a major investor. He earned a Tony nomination in 2011 for his performance as Elder McKinley in 'The Book of Mormon.' He also appeared in the Broadway premiere production of 'The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,' as well as the off-Broadway productions of 'Nobody Loves You' and 'Little Miss Sunshine.' His screen credits include "Partners" and the film adaptation of "Dreamgirls."

The principal cast of Hamilton includes Lin-Manuel Miranda (Alexander Hamilton), Leslie Odom Jr. (Aaron Burr), Renée Elise Goldsberry (Angelica Schuyler), Phillipa Soo (Eliza Hamilton), Christopher Jackson (George Washington), Daveed Diggs (Marquis De Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson), Anthony Ramos (John Laurens/Phillip Hamilton), Jasmine Cephas Jones (Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds) and Rory O'Malley (King George).

The Broadway production of Hamilton officially opened on 6 August 2015 to excellent reviews, following previews from 13 July, and is currently booking through to 29 January 2017.

Hamilton features a book, music, and lyrics by Tony winner Lin-Manuel Miranda, and is inspired by the book "Alexander Hamilton" by Ron Chernow.

Synopsis: "Hamilton is a new musical about the scrappy young immigrant who forever changed America: Alexander Hamilton. From bastard orphan to Washington's right hand man, rebel to war hero, loving husband caught in the country's first sex scandal to Treasury head who made an untrusting world believe in the American economy, Hamilton is an exploration of a political mastermind. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Eliza Hamilton, and lifelong Hamilton friend and foe, Aaron Burr, all attend this revolutionary tale of America's fiery past told through the sounds of the ever-changing nation we've become."

Hamilton is directed by Thomas Kail, with music direction and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler, scenic design by David Korins, costume design by Paul Tazewell, lighting design by Howell Binkley, and sound design by Nevin Steinberg. It is produced on Broadway by The Public Theater, Jeffrey Seller, Sander Jacobs and Jill Furman.

- by Tom Millward