Each season theatre goers see shows come and go with a handful few holding on from year to year – “The Phantom of the Opera” lasted 35 years and after 25 years, “The Lion King” is still roaring on Broadway.
Some eight years ago, Lin-Manuel Miranda took Broadway by storm with his all non-white, not-traditional Broadway musical “Hamilton”. Actor Miguel Cervantes has played the lead role of Alexander Hamilton for those eight years – 2,013 performances.
Cervantes gave his final performance in the hit musical on January 7, 2024.
Speaking on his leaving Cervantes said, “I don’t know if there’s anything that will ever come to this level of fulfillment.” He admits that after eight years in the same role, his body is struggling to adjust to the changes; in fact, he came down with a bout of pneumonia right after leaving the show.
Cervantes notes that in eight years as “Hamilton” he never missed a day due to sickness.
Noting that he has never left a show, Cervantes is leaving “Hamilton” for what he calls an even more important role – that as a father!
Cervantes began his journey as a part of “Hamilton” as an alternate on Broadway before originating the role in the Chicago production. He returned to New York to take on the lead role as Alexander Hamilton through Covid, lockdowns, and returns to performing. He has held the role longer than any other performer.
During curtain calls on his final performance, “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda noted that Cervantes has spent 6,039 hours on the stage as Alexander Hamilton. Adding that the only person who has been Alexander Hamilton longer than Miguel Cervantes is Alexander Hamilton himself. Quoting George Washington, Miranda said, “now you get to sit under your own vine and fig tree, your legacy with “Hamilton” if firmly planted and will never be forgotten.”
Cervantes noted, “it’s hard to believe how much has happened over the last eight years.” In the purest example of life imitation art, Cervantes lived out the stage a tragedy no parent should have to suffer – the loss of a child. Diagnosed with Infantile Spasms – a rare form of childhood epilepsy – that caused several seizures each day. Adelaide died just five days before her fourth birthday on October 12, 2019.
“I couldn’t have written a better version of this tragedy that we experienced,” said Cervantes. “I say this all the time. You could have ‘Hamilton’, I don’t want it, if that meant we could have had a different ending for my daughter. Ut that was not the option I was given. Instead, this show gave me an opportunity to use my frustrations and anger and sadness.”
When it comes to the show itself, Cervantes says that he has no regrets, he has done everything that he could have done as “Hamilton”.
He chose now to leave the show because he feels time is running out, “Could I have don ‘Hamiton’ for another year? Yeah, sure. I could have kept going. But the reality of watching my son go from four years old to eleven years old right in front of my eyes… I’m need somewhere else. And it’s a hard thing because I’ve never closed a show. I’ve never left a show before, every show I’ve ever done in my entire life closed.”
He adds, “But the recognition of my own mortality, that my kids are getting older, and that life is moving…it was time.”
Cervantes is ending his current role, but he isn’t ready to completely retire just yet. Along with his son, the couple have adopted a little girl and for the moment, at least, Cervantes has a new leading role…
Noting that he is excited to see what the future brings; Cervantes said, “I got to help my son with his homework for the first time. And that’s the most exciting thing.”
feature photo credit: “Hamilton” Facebook page