Local Naples Players' Kidzact Actor Cast In HAMILTON National Tour With Lin-Manuel Miranda

Tony, Pulitzer, and Olivier-winning Broadway Playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda has cast a local Naples Players' KidzAct actor, Christopher Campbell, in the Hamilton National Tour. Miranda will reprise his title role as Alexander Hamilton in Puerto Rico for three weeks to launch the new National Tour January 8 - 27, 2019. The cast also includes Donald Webber Jr. as Aaron Burr, Brandon Armstrong as Hercules Mulligan and James Madison, Rubén J. Carbajal as John Laurens and Phillip Hamilton, Darilyn Castillo as Peggy Schuyler and Maria Reynolds, Julia Harriman as Eliza Hamilton, Isaiah Johnson as George Washington, Simon Longnight as Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson, Rick Negron as King George, and Sabrina Sloan as Angelica Schuyler. Rounding out The Ensemble Company is Christopher Campbell, a local Naples actor, who attributes his professional success to The Naples Players KidzAct youth performing arts program.

Campbell started his theatre education with KidzAct at a very young age. In his first TNP production, Christopher played Dandy Dan in KidzAct's Bugsy Malone Jr and went on to perform in the musical Oliver and as Mungojerrie in the KidzAct production of Cats as a teenager. Campbell also played Seaweed in the KidzAct production of Hairspray, Javier in Les Miserables, and most notably played Warner in The Naples Players mainstage production of Legally Blonde the Musical as he continued to blossom.

"That was where I immediately recognized his potential. His dancing was always impeccably sharp and precise,"shares Jessica Walck, The Naples Players' Associate Artistic Director.

Campbell transitioned from Naples, Florida to study at the Interlochen Center for the Arts High School in Interlochen, Michigan continuing his theatre education with a Musical Theatre degree from the University of Michigan.

"Quality theatre education is imperative for the future of our creative children. KidzAct is a perfect environment where children from Pre-K to High School can learn to grow and develop artistically under the wing of a nurturing professional staff. Chris was that young, inquisitive, and naturally talented student with unwavering drive," recounts Craig Price, Director of Education for The Naples Players.

Chris joins a growing list of KidzAct students who have gone on to Broadway, including Whitney Winfield, who has taken a hiatus from the national tour of Shrek and will be returning to KidzAct, this time as a teacher, leading an acting workshop for the next generation of aspiring young performers. Registration for the KidzAct Winter Session is now open for children Pre-K to ages 18 years old with theatre education classes and registration available online: NaplesPlayers.org.

The Naples Players (TNP) Sugden Community Theatre is Naples oldest and premier theatre group and a vital part of the exciting experience of Downtown Naples. Celebrating its 65th season, and as one of the top theatres in the country, they offer a variety of plays and musicals in three intimate spaces, Blackburn Hall, the Tobye Studio Theatre and outside Baker Stage - all located in one building on Fifth Avenue South. The KidzAct program, Southwest Florida's premier youth theatre program offers a performing arts education wing, offers top quality productions as well as in-depth skills classes for children. Adult education classes are offered throughout the year for skilled professionals to first-time performers. ETC Readers Theatre offers an opportunity to hear new works as well as rare one acts and classics.

The Naples Players continually seeks to enrich, educate, and entertain the community through a superior theatre experience. TNP is inspiring passion for the performing arts through life-long opportunities to participate in vibrant theatrical experiences. The 65th Anniversary Season, generously sponsored by Tanya & Denny Glass, is filled with dazzling musicals including Irving Berlin's White Christmas and Guys & Dolls - alongside heartfelt comedies, magical adventures, and this World Premiere Show. ?

Photo Caption: Christopher Campbell performs as Javier in The Naples Players
production of Les Miserables. Photo Credit: Drew and Karen Attanasio

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