Hamilton: ‘We’re working on getting the heart back’

Ahead of Hamilton’s anticipated re-opening night next week, the show’s lead actor Jason Arrow reveals the challenges of returning to the stage after four months away.

When Hamilton: The Musical opened in Sydney in March this year, Jason Arrow – who stars as Alexander Hamilton – knew all eyes were on the Harbour City.

The revolutionary and critically adored stage production had called curtains across the globe due to the pandemic, which meant this was the only place you could see it on-stage – anywhere in the world.

“I feel like Sydney was very much a beacon of hope,” (Picture: Daniel Boud)

“I feel like Sydney was very much a beacon of hope,” he tells Stellar On Friday.

“And at that time, I didn’t think it would go down because Sydney had survived every outbreak. The contact tracing was so on point and they were catching up to it before it spread too far.”

But three months into the show’s run at the Sydney Lyric Theatre, the Delta variant shut the city down, leaving Arrow and his castmates waiting in the wings since late June to see if and when the show would go on.

“I feel like Sydney was very much a beacon of hope,” (Picture: Daniel Nadel)

Despite his concerns during lockdown, Arrow says it was never a question of if.

“When it started to get so out of control, and the numbers were in the thousands, I really started to think, OK, this isn’t good, we may not come back from that. I started to get worried about our show, but that was just me getting in my head during lockdown. No-one ever said anything about not returning to the stage.”

For Arrow and his fellow castmates, the freedoms that come with hitting vaccine targets mean the curtain will once again rise next Tuesday, and the show’s star is eagerly anticipating re-opening night.

“We’ve got the show already, but we’re working on getting the heart back because that’s what needs work after a few months away,” he explains.

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“There’s a sort of calm, connected energy with everyone in the cast and crew.

“Having said that, I think when we get to the weekend, the excitement will start to build into it because we’ll start adding our costumes, the band and the lighting. It will be all systems go and it will start to feel real.”

And for those who are yet to see Hamilton, Arrow has a message: “Make a big thing of it. Come and see the show, book somewhere for lunch or dinner and support local restaurants. Stay in a hotel if you want to. Dress up, make it an event and enjoy the full experience.”

Originally published as Hamilton: ‘We’re working on getting the heart back’