An Exclusive Interview with Jason Arrow and DeAundre’ Woods of the ‘Hamilton’ Cast
The show dates for ‘Hamilton’ live in Singapore have also been extended till June 9.
Last October, it was revealed that the Tony Award-winning musical Hamilton would finally be making its way to Singapore, on the show’s first international tour. And if that wasn’t exciting enough, Hamilton has just been confirmed to extend its Singapore tour dates, with shows now running from April 19 to June 9 2024. So for Hamilfans who have yet to secure tickets, now’s the time to watch the R&B, hip-hop and jazz-infused Broadway musical in person.
Ahead of the hit Broadway musical’s stop in Singapore, Jason Arrow and DeAundre’ Woods, who play Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr respectively in the international cast, speak to L’Officiel Singapore in an exclusive interview. Jason Arrow is taking on the titular role, succeeding Lin-Manuel Miranda, the playwright and composer of this genre-bending musical. Aaron Burr, as portrayed by DeAundre’ Woods, is the antagonist in this historical tale.
Arrow and Woods each share their preparation processes for the massive production, which moments of the musical they love most, and what they’re looking forward to on our sunny shores. So before you head out to catch the show live this year at the Sands Theatre at Marina Bay Sands, read our full interview with the two castmates where they chat about diversity in the musical, and which themes from the show speak most to them.
Did you two manage to catch Hamilton on Broadway and what about Hamilton drew you to audition for the show?
Jason: Yes I did, when we had rehearsals in NYC! It was so amazing to finally see the show on stage, LIVE! What drew me to the show was the music. I’ve had such a connection to hip-hop and R&B influences growing up it was so lovely to hear a musical that embodied this style of music, along with many other styles I adore!
DeAundre’: Yes! I was fortunate enough to see it for the first time on Broadway. Unfortunately, the original cast had moved on by that time, but if you know anything about Hamilton, you know that no matter the cast, the show is still phenomenal. My first encounter with the show was listening to the original Broadway cast album in my college dorm room. The soundtrack immediately drew me into the world and since that first experience, I’ve been hooked. Aaron Burr was my dream role then and now here we are, living the dream... Crazy!
In the beginning, was it challenging to learn and perform the raps from the musical? Which song was the most challenging to learn and which is your personal favourite?
J: Absolutely! To say that I had no issues in the early days would be a blatant lie on my part, it is definitely challenging. These days, however, the show is so in my body that I’m not having to think about WHAT I’m saying, more so HOW I’m saying it, which is where I love to live when I perform. ‘My Shot’ was at the top of that list, one of the most sonically difficult to learn but so rewarding once you nail it!
D: Hamilton is the most challenging piece I’ve ever had the pleasure of learning. Having studied classical music in college, I came in with the tools necessary to tackle the piece, but it was still no easy feat. The score is extremely intricate with a sickening amount of detail and nuance. It’s one of those pieces of musical theatre that require you to always have an open mindset. The work never ends! And that’s the joy of being in this show. It’s such a challenge and yet simultaneously so fulfilling. As Burr, I would say the top of ‘What’d I Miss’ is quite the mouthful. You’re moving across the stage, spitting fire, going up stairs backwards…it’s definitely my favourite because it feels the best when you nail it!
Jason, while you originally auditioned for the role of Aaron Burr during the musical’s run in Australia, you were cast as Alexander Hamilton instead. How does it feel to be taking on the leading role for the international tour?
J: Such an honour! There have been such icons who have played this role that I’m so privileged to be a part of its ever-evolving history and bring this story to the world!
DeAundre’, for the show’s US National tour, you played the main role of Alexander Hamilton as well, and now you are taking on the role of Aaron Burr. Which of the two roles do you connect to more and why?
D: Burr is a church boy. A singer (thanks to Lin). Charming. Elegant. Complicated. I find myself to be the majority of those things, minus the complicated part :) — But yes, I was fortunate enough to play Alexander Hamilton as a standby, as well as full-time, and it taught me a lot about myself. It is such an amazing role and a ton of work to play day in and day out. However, Burr suits me better because I grew up a singer first so I just plain out love the music that role comes with, but also his arc as a character is so intriguing as an actor. My favourite thing about him is the poise he possesses within his stillness. And the fact that I get to break the fourth wall as the narrator, I love connecting with the audience.
What are you looking forward to most when visiting Singapore?
J: I love Singapore, it’s such a beautiful city! I’m looking forward to exploring more this time around and really getting immersed in what Singapore has to offer!
D: I’ve heard it is an extremely clean city, so I’m looking forward to the fresh air, as well as the food, which I’ve also heard is pretty darn amazing. New cities are my favourite. The opportunity to indulge in a culture, its traditions and lifestyles is the ultimate lesson in being human. There are so many ways to live life. It’s the best part about touring!
What has the preparation and training process been like at each stop on the tour? Are they different for each city and what has been the biggest challenge so far?
J: We only really had the 3 weeks of brush-up rehearsals in NYC and in each city, we do tech rehearsals which are purely for technical aspects of the show. So we basically arrive and off we go! Of course, travelling is always hard no matter what, but it’s made so much easier by the support we have from our management team. The tiniest things that can make travelling difficult are taken care of for us so we are incredibly lucky. Having said that, packing is and always will be the greatest bane of touring life haha!
D: Yes, the process changes depending on the circumstances. For instance, when I first began the show, we rehearsed for six weeks before beginning performances. Now that this international cast is made of all-stars, who have all done the show in some form or aspect, we only need about a couple of days to get grooving. And it’s different everywhere you go, based on what the needs are of that specific company.
Safety comes first, so we’re always well-prepared once we gear up for showtime. It’s a fun process to be a part of and there are so many hands on this monster of a show that keeps it up and running. Shout out to the folks you don’t see in the spotlight, working tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure we have a stage, costumes, wigs, sound, lights, guidance, security, and merchandise... it’s truly a sight to see and it takes a village.
Hamilton explores so many universal yet complex themes such as ambition, legacy and the intricacies of human relationships. What is the one theme explored in Hamilton that personally speaks to you the most and why?
J: There is a commonly overlooked theme that over time has become more apparent to me in the show and that is Family, specifically how it pertains to the balance between work and life. Hamilton very much puts his family behind him in Act Two. Even if he is subconsciously doing it for them, he is inadvertently causing harm by being so separate from them so consistently. It’s just a tiny thing I’ve noticed that I love playing into.
D: I’m gonna cheat and give two because they’re too good not to. One theme that has continuously onstage and offstage resonated with me time and time again, is time. We cover over 50 years of history within about 3 hours. I haven’t even lived 30 years yet, so to play with this idea of evolution in such a small span of time is really bizarre. And it’s been super influential on how I spend my personal time each day, and how I hope to live my life. With purpose, urgency and unconditional love.
The other is knowledge. This theme actually spoke to me only recently. One evening, I was reflecting on a few of our performances from the weekend and realised a consistent appearance of this idea behind what we know or at least what we think we know: “And the world’s gonna know your name..,” “Let me tell you what I wish I’d known..,” “Now I didn’t know this at the time..,” “I should’ve known..”— it was everywhere, all over the piece. What spoke to me was this theme of enlightenment. What do we do once we learn better? Do we continue to float in ignorance or do we change our habits and educate our successors? It was very moving.
Diversity has always been a big part of what makes Hamilton special. What is it like performing with such a diverse cast for the international tour?
J: We honestly have people from every corner of the globe! It makes for such a vibrant storytelling experience, everyone has different cultural expectations about respect, about humour, about love and life, and it makes the show live and breathe in such a universal way. This is one of the most unique versions of the show playing right now.
D: It is the most amazing thing about performing with the international cast. There is no difference between my heartbeat and my brothers or sisters next to me. That’s what we have to learn in this life. We are all connected. Parts of a whole too vast to comprehend. And this fear we live in, the one which leads us to this type of thinking, that we’re against one another, is the reason we tell this story. Our individual histories and the lineage from which we extend are no doubt the beauty of who we are as a people, but it is community that holds us together. This may be an American story, but obviously, you only have to be human to tell it.
What is one scene or song from Hamilton that stands out for you and why?
J: ‘Wait for It’. Purely because it’s something I have practised in my life, just waiting for my moment but then taking that opportunity and running with it when it comes.
D: I’m gonna go with the final duel. It’s one of the few moments/scenes in the show that still spark questions in real-time. Don’t wanna give too much away for anyone reading who may not have seen the show yet, but essentially who knows what Hamilton’s intention was... For purposes of drama, Burr is the villain, but had he thrown away his shot, he may not be the narrator of this show. Who knows!
What has been your strongest memory and greatest takeaway from the international touring experience so far?
J: Rehearsing in NYC has been the single best experience of my professional life so far. It will stay with me for a very long time.
D: I’ve had and am currently having some pretty amazing experiences. I don’t think I can choose one because there have been so many monumental growth moments for me throughout this journey. I always say that Hamilton is the gift that keeps on giving. And I think I speak for a lot of the Hamilton Alum when I say, this show hosts a feast of opportunities for us as artists. It’s a bold, brilliant and beautiful piece of art. And our job each day as storytellers is to breathe life onto the canvas, the stage. I’m very fortunate to have shared some of my favourite moments on that stage. With some of the most amazing humans known to Earth, experts at their crafts and true to their hearts. Friends for life. It’s a pretty super sweet gig.
