HAMILTON Plays Benefit Performance for Wesleyan University Tonight

Tonight, October 2, Wesleyan University will host a sold-out benefit performance of the much celebrated musical HAMILTON at the Richard Rodgers Theatre.

Alumni Lin-Manuel Miranda '02, Hamilton star and creator of the book, music, and lyrics, and director Thomas Kail '99, are giving back to the university that helped launch their theater careers. The two previously collaborated on the hit musical In the Heights, of which Miranda wrote early versions while a student at Wesleyan.

For this special Wesleyan evening, the house was bought out by Tony award-winning producer and mother of two Wesleyan alumni Carole Shorenstein Hays. Through additional sponsorships and sales of 1,275 tickets, Wesleyan has raised $1.5 million for financial aid. Attendees will include Wesleyan alumni, parents, faculty, staff, students and friends.

Most of the proceeds will go toward establishing four Hamilton scholarships. The recipients, to be announced shortly, will be invited to attend the performance. Also being honored at the event is Gilbert Parker '48, Wesleyan's first theater major and a fabled agent at William Morris who has mentored Miranda, Kail and many other aspiring theater professionals. Part of the event's proceeds will enlarge the existing Gilbert Parker '48 Wesleyan Scholarship.

A post-show party is planned at the Edison Ballroom for audience members with Lin-Manuel Miranda, Thomas Kail, and other members of the cast.

The new musical Hamilton has book, music and lyrics by Tony and Grammy Award-winning composer Lin-Manuel Miranda, who also plays the title role. The musical is directed byThomas Kail, with choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler and music direction and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire.Hamilton is inspired by Ron Chernow's biography "Alexander Hamilton."

The cast of Hamilton is comprised of Lin-Manuel Miranda (Alexander Hamilton), Daveed Diggs(Marquis De Lafayette,Thomas Jefferson), Renée Elise Goldsberry (Angelica Schuyler), Christopher Jackson (George Washington),Jonathan Groff (King George), Jasmine Cephas Jones (Peggy Schuyler, Maria Reynolds), Javier Muñoz (Hamilton alternate), Okieriete Onaodowan (Hercules Mulligan, James Madison), Leslie Odom, Jr. (Aaron Burr),Anthony Ramos(John Laurens, PhilipHamilton) and Phillipa Soo (Eliza Hamilton).

HAMILTON is the acclaimed new musical about the scrappy young immigrant Alexander Hamilton, the $10 Founding Father who forever changed America with his revolutionary ideas and actions. During his life cut too short, he served as George Washington's chief aide, was the first Treasury Secretary, a loving husband and father, despised by his fellow Founding Fathers and shot to death by Aaron Burrin their legendary duel.