Breaking: New Leads Set for HAMILTON on Broadway

This just in -- Two-time Tony Award nominee Brandon Victor Dixon will begin performances mid-August (date TBA) as Aaron Burr in Hamilton on Broadway, it has been announced by producer Jeffrey Seller. Also joining the Broadway cast on July 11 are Lexi Lawson in the role of Eliza Hamilton, and Michael Luwoye, who performs as alternate to Javier Muñoz in the title role. Starting July 11, Mr. Muñoz will formally take over the role of Hamilton, a part he has played as Lin-Manuel Miranda's alternate since the musical debuted Off-Broadway last year.

Brandon Victor Dixon was nominated last season for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for SHUFFLE ALONG, and was previously nominated for Best Featured Actor for the original production of the THE COLOR PURPLE. Mr. Dixon also starred in MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL on Broadway, receiving a Grammy Award nomination, and headlined the original cast of THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS Off-Broadway at the Vineyard Theatre, and later in London's West End where he received an Olivier Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical.

Ms. Lawson returns to the music of Lin-Manuel Miranda, have performed in the first national tour of his Tony-winning Best Musical IN THE HEIGHTS in the leading role of Vanessa. She also portrayed Mimi in the Broadway tour of RENT. Lexi steps into the role of Schuyler sister Eliza in Hamilton, currently performed by Phillipa Soo through July 9.

Michael Luwoye makes his Broadway debut in Hamilton, having appeared most recently Off-Broadway in the musical INVISIBLE THREAD, for which he received a 2016 Lucille Lortel Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor.

Javier Muñoz will play Alexander Hamilton seven shows a week, while Michael Luwoye performs the role once weekly.

With book, music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, direction by Thomas Kail, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler and musical direction and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire, HAMILTON is based on Ron Chernow's biography of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton. The musical will celebrate its 1st anniversary at the Richard Rodgers Theatre (226 W. 46 St.) on August 6.

HAMILTON won eleven 2016 Tony Awards including Best Musical, Score, Book of a Musical, Direction of a Musical, Choreography and Orchestrations. Mr. Miranda received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for Hamilton.

HAMILTON is the story of America's Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, an immigrant from the West Indies who became George Washington's right-hand man during the Revolutionary War and was the new nation's first Treasury Secretary. Featuring a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, blues, rap, R&B, and Broadway, HAMILTON is the story of America then, as told by America now.

The musical is produced by Jeffrey Seller, Sander Jacobs, Jill Furman and The Public Theater.

The HAMILTON Original Broadway Cast Recording is available everywhere nationwide. The HAMILTON recording received a 2016 Grammy for Best Musical Theatre Album.

HAMILTON: The Revolution, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter's book about the making of the musical, is also on sale, regularly appearing on the New York Times Best Seller List.

A Chicago production of Hamilton will open in October 2016. A touring production begins a 21-week run in San Francisco in March 2017 followed by a 21-week engagement in Los Angeles. A London production will be mounted, also in 2017.