Lin-Manuel Miranda Will Not Lead HAMILTON in Chicago; Premium Ticket Pricing, Online Lottery & More Confirmed

Sorry Chicagoans, despite some online chatter in recent months, Lin-Manuel Miranda will not be reprising his Tony-nominated role in his hit musical Hamilton when it comes to the Windy City next year.

In a new interview with Chris Jones of The Chicago Tribune, the show's lead producer Jeffrey Seller has put the minor rumblings to rest, saying: "There is no chance of Lin-Manuel being in the show," adding, "and I have never subscribed to star casting. We are presently in the casting process, and I am as excited about this Chicago cast as any cast I ever have assembled. We are getting close, and we probably will announce the cast in July. We have been looking for big talent, not big names. We have always said the show will look like America, and that will be true in Chicago."

In addition, Seller has also confirmed a slew of other details regarding the production, which he expects to play Chicago's PrivateBank Theatre for "about two years."

Premium ticket prices, which were not revealed in today's on-sale date announcement, will go for $500 at regular performances and $600 during the holiday season. Seller won't rule out the possibility of raising the cost in the future should a large number of tickets end up being scalped.

To compensate for the high price tag, Seller says Hamilton will offer an online lottery, not unlike those currently employed by many Broadway shows. At each performance, a total of 44 seats will be sold for $10.

"We found that an online lottery results in more diverse audience members," he said. "We feel this helps us serve people better. Obviously a lot of people enter and not everyone is going to win. But it's real. There are a lot of seats. It is part of our mission to make "Hamilton" available to everyone."

For Seller's full interview with The Chicago Tribune, click here.

Single tickets for Hamilton in Chicago will go on-sale to the public on Tuesday, June 21st. Tickets will be available for performances September 27, 2016 through March 19, 2017.

There is a maximum purchase limit of 6 tickets per household. Tickets range from $65 - $180 for regular performances with select number of premium seats available for all performances and some increased pricing during the holidays.

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.

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.

HAMILTON's creative team previously collaborated on the 2008 Tony-Winning Best Musical IN THE HEIGHTS.

HAMILTON features scenic design by David Korins, costume design by Paul Tazewell, lighting design by Howell Binkley, sound design by Nevin Steinberg, hair and wig design by Charles G. LaPointe, and casting by Telsey + Company, Bethany Knox, CSA.