For the first time ay isang Filipino-American ang nagbibida ngayon sa hit Broadway musical na Hamilton.
Ang Hawaii-born Broadway actor na si Marc dela Cruz ang kauna-unahang Asian-American na gumanap bilang Alexander Hamilton sa musical na Hamilton at nagsimula siya noong nakaraang January 19, 2019.
Ang Tony Award-winning American-Puerto Rican actor/singer/composer na si Manuel Lin-Miranda ang unang nagbida sa Hamilton at siya rin ang nagsulat ng istorya at music na nagbukas sa Broadway noong 2015.
Nakasama sa cast ng Hamilton si Marc noong November 2018 kasabay ang ilang Fil-Am actors na sina Karla Puno Garcia and Christina Glur.
Ilang characters sa naturang musical ang ginampanan ni Marc bago niya nakuha ang lead role.
Kabilang sa mga characters na ginampanan niya sa Hamilton ay ang role ni Philip Schuyler, Philip Hamilton, James Reynolds, King George at John Laurens.
Hindi nga makapaniwala si Marc, na may dugo ring Hapon at anak ng isang Filipino U.S. Army man, sa pambihirang pagkakataon na binigay sa kanyang theater career.
AUDITION PROCESS
Kinuwento niya sa isang interview ang naging audition niya for Hamilton.
Saad niya, “I am over the moon to be a part of Hamilton.
“I’ve been a fan of Lin-Manuel Miranda since I saw ‘In the Heights’ and I always wondered at the possibility of being in something he created.
“My first appointment was sort of a general audition where I was given cuts from two songs to perform.
“Then for every role I auditioned for after that I was given a pretty dense packet of song cuts.
“Over the next series of appointments, I was given the Aaron Burr music, then Hamilton, then King George materials.
“I was eventually brought in for a work session with Patrick Vassel, the associate and supervising director, and Matt Gallagher, the associate musical supervisor.
“By the time I had my final audition with [co-creators] Tommy Kail and Alex Lacamoire I had so much material in my head, I was praying I could keep it all straight.”
Sobrang natuwa si Marc nang makatanggap siya ng tawag na siya na ang gaganap na bida sa Hamilton.
Pagbabalik-tanaw niya, “After getting off the phone with my manager I think I just sat in my living room for a long time in silence.
“I had been given such a gift and I immediately felt grateful. Then I told my parents and they freaked out!”
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Natuwa rin si Marc sa pag-acknowledge sa kanya ng actress na si Olivia Oguma sa social media post nito sa pagganap niya bilang si Alexander Hamilton.
Lahad ng aktres, “Tonight … we had the first Asian-American Alexander Hamilton in ‘Hamilton’ on Broadway. Just wanted to let everyone know. Marc de la Cruz I have never been more proud of anyone. I’m so happy for you. Marc is not my friend—he is my brother, and someone we consider a family member. I am so thrilled to have had him in my life for 11 years. His best performance to date will always be singing ‘We Kiss in the Shadow’ with me in our recording studio/bathroom in our hotel room in Minneapolis on the High School Musical tour, but his performance as Hamilton is a close second.”
WORKS
Nag-debut sa Broadway si Marc noong 2014 sa musical na If/Then kunsaan nakatrabaho niya sina Idina Menzel and Anthony Rapp.
Lumabas din si Marc sa short film na HAPA at sa TV series documentary na A Crime To Remember. Nagtrabaho din siya bilang production assistant sa short film na Marriage Material.
THANKFUL
Sa kanyang Instagram post kunsaan suot niya ang costume bilang Alexander Hamilton, labis na nagpasalamat ito sa suporta ng kanyang tinatawag na pamilya sa Hamilton na “Ham fam.”
Lahad niya, “Sometimes amazement lies right around the corner. Thank you for all the messages of support and encouragement I’ve received over the last few days. I’m truly overwhelmed and humbled. It’s an honor to represent my communities in any way big or small. Since joining @hamiltonmusical I’ve witnessed the power of this show to bring people together in a positive, uplifting way. I’m so happy to have any kind of part in that. ‘This is not a moment it’s the movement.’”
Nilagay din ni Marc sa kanyang caption ang hashtags na #asianactor #pinoy #filam #filipinoactor #filamactor #pinoyactor at #pinoypride.
Bago si Marc, ang Pinay singer-actress na si Rachelle Ann Go ang unang Asian actress na gumanap bilang Eliza Hamilton sa West End London production ng Hamilton noong 2017.