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My Encounter with the Cast of Hamilton

Elly Lonon and I met some of the Hamilton cast. Enjoy our photos, and follow Elly’s writing journey HERE.

Hamilton, Daveed Diggs

Here we are with Daveed Diggs. He’s nominated for a Tony, and he should be. His dual performance as Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson is one of the best I’ve ever seen on a stage. He hung around and talked to a group of kids for almost an hour after the show and still took time to pose with Elly and me.

christopher jackson, hamilton

Christopher Jackson rules the stage as George Washington, but I was even more impressed with him as a person. He’s devoted to his family. During Tony voting season, he got up at 4am to take his kids to school. He sat for several interviews, gave a knock-out performance, and still lingered to talk to us. When he followed us to the stage door, screaming fans awaited him, meaning he ran the gauntlet of autograph-signing before he stumbled home to do it all again the next day. We don’t often consider the toll success has on the famous. When we see someone of note, we want to say we met them. If I’m ever anybody special, I hope I’ll be as gracious as Chris Jackson was to me.

hamilton, lin-manuel miranda, andra watkins, elly lonon

And then there’s Lin-Manuel Miranda. I’ve admired this man for years. He’s talented, sure, but his steely determination, his belief in his hip-hop history concept, that’s what I followed. People talk about Hamilton like it’s an instant sensation, but it took him ten years of development, a decade of testing the concept and courting the right people to help him realize his dream. He didn’t give up, even when people told him nobody would buy it. AND THEY TOLD HIM HE WAS CRAZY. But he kept working, kept refining, kept trying. Determination and grit are big parts of the story of Hamilton: An American Musical. He’s a genius-talent, sure, but Lin shows us what’s possible if we never give up on our dreams.

Read more about him asking for MY autograph! If you like the behind the scenes story make sure to sign up for my free newsletter to read more of them.

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7 Comments

  1. There are those who work hard, ultimately “find fame,” and yet still, and always, remember humility. These young men would seem to fit that bill. How refreshing!

    You? You are already somebody “special” to a whole host of people, and your graciousness is ingrained. I would not worry.

  2. Tell you what. I think Lin-Manuel is a role model for all of us artists who want to make it on out own terms. The guy is The Guy for making his own crazy dreams happen. He is a unique blend of talent, perseverance, humility, and relentless determination. He’s Hall of Fame stuff.

  3. I don’t even have words. I showed my 8yr old sons these pictures and we all oohed and ahhed and they ( again!) Begged me to mortgage the house to get us into that show.

    Thank you for telling us about your your visit with them. Honestly this show album has changed our lives. The boys are learning and asking about history, about the men and women that formed our nation and they know All the lyrics. I can’t play anything else in the car…this is the music they yearn for.

    So I’m happy, jealous, proud of you for working just as hard to make YOUR dreams come true Andra. I’m so glad I got to meet/hug you.

  4. Really, Andra. I am beyond thrilled for you! I can’t imagine any way to explain how this all worked out except I do believe that we can want something so much that the Universe just opens up and hands us a gift, and this was a gift. This man is a genius on so many levels and his brilliant ability to find the threads of story in our past and make it compelling and memorable is really thrilling. I don’t think he’ll ignore your book–I really believe he’ll be interested! He surely recognizes a kindred spirit! I have my 2017 tickets for “Hamilton” in Los Angeles. That’s November 2017! If I can see it sooner than that I’ll be thrilled, but I was fortunate to get these! What an exceptional experience. And Elly needs to go with you wherever you go!

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