Hamilton breakthrough: Local rapper Sami Afuni returns a star

A former Indooroopilly State High School student who never had a theatrical role before has started at the top having been cast in the Australian production of HAMILTON.

Brisbane rapper Sami Afuni knew virtually nothing about the hit musical HAMILTON before he auditioned for the show.

So he watched it on Disney+ the night before to get the gist. That worked and he found himself cast in the Australian production

The 25-year-old former Indooroopilly State High School student had never had a theatrical role before and has pretty well started at the top.

Afuni plays the roles of revolutionary Hercules Mulligan and the adversarial James Madison in the show about Alexander Hamilton, one of America’s founding fathers.

Sami Afuni.

He is rapt to be on stage in the Lyric Theatre at QPAC where the musical is now previewing before a glittering opening night Tuesday.

“My teachers will be stoked,” Afuni says. “I can’t wait to see the reaction. I’m just happy to be home after seven months away. Being in HAMILTON in Melbourne was fantastic but coming home, it was like, this is where it’s at ... Brisbane!”

Afuni, who grew up in Kuwait and Brisbane, has Egyptian, Jordanian and Palestinian heritage and describes himself as “an Arab salad”. And that’s perfect for HAMILTON which is pointedly diverse, as creator Lin-Manuel Miranda wanted it.

The Brisbane rapper got national attention when he performed on television on The X Factor. He was encouraged to sing and develop his rapping as a student at Indooroopilly State High School.

Sami Afuni.

His talent was a perfect fit for a show that blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B and Broadway show tunes to tell the story.

It stars South African-born performer Jason Arrow in the lead role and Arrow says everyone is happy to be in Brisbane and that they are relying on Sami Afuni to give them pointers on the city.

“This is Sami’s town,” Arrow says.

Afuni is staying at home with his parents while performing at QPAC and says being at home is great after time away,

“I’m staying with the family and mum’s cooking the food ... and I’m eating it,” he says laughing.

HAMILTON is on in the Lyric Theatre at QPAC until April 2.