Congratulations to Marcus Choi, who has been cast as George Washington in the second national tour of Hamilton. Performances begin February 6, 2018 at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle for a six week limited engagement before touring North America.
Choi has been rehearsing for Hamilton while appearing in the Broadway revival of Miss Saigon. He has appeared in the Original Broadway companies of Flower Drum Song, Wicked, The Times They Are A-Changin’, Allegiance, Christina Applegate’s Broadway production of Sweet Charity and the City Center Encores’ productions of Kismet. He has performed in the NY workshops of Bruce Lee: Journey to the West, Frank Wildhorn’s Tears of Heaven and Hadestown. His regional credits include Mysterious Skin (Broadwayworld.com Best Supporting Actor nomination) and Pippin at East West Players, Dangerous Beauty, and most recently the US premier of Waterfall at Pasadena Playhouse.
Most recent guest star and recurring appearances on TV are: Netflix’s “Luke Cage” “The OA” and “Project Mc2” NBC’s “Chicago PD ,“Blind Spot”, Showtime’s “Homeland”, TNT’s “The Last Ship,” ABC Family’s “The Fosters,” Disney XD’s “Jessie,”.” Film: Isn’t It Romantic (2019), Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018) Enchanted, Adopting Terror, The Novack Murders.
Marcus took the time to answer a few questions via email on New Year’s Day.
Lia: What was it like to be back on Broadway with this company of Miss Saigon?
Marcus: It was such a joy to join this company. I’ve never done Miss Saigon, so it was an honor to be able to do the show at this level. The attention to detail and the sheer grandness of the show was breath taking.
Lia: What did you do when you heard the news you were cast in Hamilton?
Marcus: I was on the 7 train going out to Queens with a couple of friends. I think we screamed and group hugged while jumping in a circle.
Lia: Has this been a goal for you?
Marcus: Yes, Hamilton has always been on my radar. I think whenever a new show comes out and is a hit, we always wonder if there’s something “right” for me in it. I think one of the genius things about the show and the way it’s constructed is that anyone can live in this world and tell this story.
Lia: What have you been up to this year?
Marcus: I feel like the first half of 2017 was a blur. I was trying to audition as much as I could and I was fortunate enough to shoot a few tv shows like and work on a couple of films. One of the thing’s I love about working in NY is that there are always readings and developmental workshops going on. I love the creative process of building something from the ground floor. So when I wasn’t working, I tried to do as many of those as I could.
Lia: Any directors or shows that you are interested in working with or on?
Marcus: I’m a big fan of Alex Timbers and John Doyle, I’d love to work with them someday. I also saw Once on This Island and was completely blown away by Michael Arden’s direction. I did The Times They are A-Changin’ with him as an actor, but I’d love to work with him as a Director.
I’m just consumed with double duty right now, but there’s something that I’ve been feeling while in rehearsals. I feel so fortunate to be able to play this role. I know it’s such a great opportunity for me, but I can’t help but feel like it’s a big win for our community. Asian Americans are the most under represented ethnic group in entertainment and I am so grateful to Hamilton for taking the chance and casting Asians in principal roles for this tour. Joseph Morales and Shoba Narayan along with myself!
SECOND NATIONAL TOUR OF HAMILTON
Joseph Morales and Nik Walker will lead the second national tour of Hamilton as Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr, respectively. In addition to Choi as George Washington, other principal roles in Hamilton will be played by Ta’Rea Campbell as Angelica Schuyler; Elijah Malcomb as John Laurens/Phillip Schuyler; Shoba Narayan as Eliza Hamilton; Fergie L. Philippe as Hercules Mulligan/James Madison; Kyle Scatliffe as Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson; Danielle Sostre as Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds and Jon Patrick Walker as King George.
The second national tour also includes Tia Altinay, Amber Ardolino, Conroe Brooks, Cameron Burke, Evan S. Cochran, Phil Colgan, Desmond Sean Eillington, Hope Endrenyi, Lili Froehlich, Daniel Gaymon, Camden Gonzales, Jennie Harney, Stephen Hernandez, Kristen Hoagland, Abby Jaros, Emily Jenda, Wonza Johnson, King David Jones, Carina-Kay Louchiey, Brandt Martinez, Taeko McCarroll, Tyler McKenzie, Justice Moore, Antuan Magic Raimone, Julian Ramos, Jen Sese, Willie Smith III, and Julius Thomas III.
This new company continues the remarkable run of Hamilton productions that have rolled out since the musical first opened on Broadway in 2015. A Chicago company opened in September 2016; the first national tour began performances in San Francisco on March 10, 2017; and the West End engagement began December 6, 2017 at London’s Victoria Palace Theatre.
With book, music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, direction by Thomas Kail, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler and musical supervision 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.
The Hamilton creative team previously collaborated on the 2008 Tony Award ® 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.
The musical is produced by Jeffrey Seller, Sander Jacobs, Jill Furman, and The Public Theater.
www.marcuschoi.net www.nycreel.com
Tour Cities
Costa Mesa, CA @ Segerstrom Center for the Arts – May 8 – May 27
Atlanta, GA @ Fox Theatre — May 22 – June 10
Las Vegas, NV @ The Smith Center — May 29 – June 2
Washington, DC @ The Kennedy Center — June 12 – Sept. 16
Des Moines, Iowa @ Des Moines Performing Arts Center — June 27 – July 15
Boston, MA @ Boston Opera House — Sept. 18 – No. 18
Charlotte, NC @ Belk Theater — Oct. 10- Nov. 4
Click here for further information
Marcus Choi Makes Broadway Principal Debut as Frankie Suzuki at Today’s Matinee of ‘Allegiance’
Lia Chang is an actor, a multi-media content producer and co-founder of Bev’s Girl Films, making films that foster inclusion and diversity on both sides of the camera. Bev’s Girl Films’ debut short film, Hide and Seek was a top ten film in the Asian American Film Lab’s 2015 72 Hour Shootout Filmmaking Competition, and she received a Best Actress nomination. BGF collaborates with and produces multi-media content for artists, actors, designers, theatrical productions, composers, musicians and corporations. Lia is also an internationally published and exhibited photographer, a multi-platform journalist, and a publicist. Lia has appeared in the films Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman and Hide and Seek. She is profiled in Jade Magazine and Playbill.com.
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