Hamilton coming to Brisbane: Local rapper scores starring role

It’s one of the most acclaimed musicals of all time and now Hamilton is Brisbane bound, with a young local rapper in a starring role. See the dates and when tickets go on sale.

SMASH hit Broadway musical Hamilton is heading to Brisbane.

The show’s Australian producer, Michael Cassel, has confirmed the show, which began its Australian run in Sydney, will close its current Melbourne season on January 15 and will then hit the road to Brisbane to run from January 27 at QPAC’s Lyric Theatre.

“We are ecstatic to be bringing Hamilton to Brisbane and to share this brilliant production with even more Australians,” Cassel said.

“Queensland fans have been waiting so patiently and it will have been absolutely worth it when our talented cast heads north, bringing the revolution to the Sunshine State.”

Hamilton premiered on Broadway in August 2015 to wide critical and audience acclaim, winning Tony, Grammy and Olivier awards and even a Pulitzer Prize for drama.

Hit musical Hamilton is finally coming to Brisbane. Picture: Daniel Boud

Featuring a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, R & B and Broadway, Hamilton has taken the story of American founding father Alexander Hamilton (Jason Arrow in this production) and created a revolutionary moment in theatre – a musical that has had a profound impact on culture, politics and education.

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 acclaimed biography.

Young Brisbane rapper and actor Sami Afuni will start his theatre career in the show,

Afuni, 25, who is of Egyptian, Jordanian and Palestinian heritage, was born in Brisbane but spent part of his childhood in Kuwait and said he was thrilled to be part of such a diverse cast.

He went to Indooroopilly State High School and has largely performed as a rapper making the finals of the TV series The X Factor in 2016.

He has had some TV and film roles including in the NBC series Young Rock and in Kidnapped for Netflix.

He auditioned for Hamilton when it was first announced but didn’t make the cut.

Brisbane rapper Sami Afuni is coming home as one of the stars of Hamilton.

“At the time I got the feedback that I was still a bit young,” Afuni said.

“So I went away and kept working on myself.”

He eventually auditioned again, landed the roles of Hercules Mulligan and James Madison, and he takes to the stage in Melbourne on September 27.

Then, after warming up there, he comes home to Brisbane where he will star in the hit show and be back at home with his mum and dad.

“I can’t wait to come home,” Afuni said.

“I love Brisbane and I’m always telling everybody about it. I first saw a show at QPAC when I was at school at Indooroopilly but I never imagined I would be on that stage in Hamilton.

“It’s an honour to join this incredible company, and to get to perform the show in my hometown is beyond anything I could have imagined. “

Tickets for the Brisbane season go on sale Monday September 12 but you can join the waitlist list from Monday September 5 at 10am.

hamiltonmusical.com.au