Top 10 'Ham4Ham' Performances

Nora Dominick ‘17/Emertainment Monthly Stage Section
Hamilton is continuing to take Broadway and the entire world by storm. Although tickets are hard to come by, fans can enjoy Hamilton through the cast recording and the “Ham4Ham” Lottery performances. During its run, Hamilton is offering a $10 dollar lottery the day of performances. The aptly named, “Ham4Ham” Lottery has taken the Internet by storm and causing even more fans to flock to the Richard Rodgers Theatre in hopes of winning tickets. Emertainment Monthly: Stage has rounded up the “Top 10 ‘Ham4Ham’ Performances” to date. Check them out below.

10. Schuyler Sisters

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYkUMHYtlNM[/embedyt] The Schuyler Sister’s took the “Ham4Ham” stage on August 4, 2015 to bring a soulful rendition of Alicia Key’s song “Fallin’.” Renee Elise Goldsberry, Phillipa Soo and Jasmine Cephas Jones shine in this song and bring the “Ham4Ham” crowd into the fun to finish it off. The Schuyler Sisters have a lot of heart, soul and killer vocal ranges. Check out the video!

9. Magic to Do

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmA0D_am3BY[/embedyt] What do you do when three of your leading actors in Hamilton have played the Leading Player in Pippin? You have them sing at the “Ham4Ham” lottery on September 23, 2015. At this “Ham4Ham” show, Phillipa Soo, Andrew Chappelle and Ariana Debose recreate the classic number, “Magic to Do.” Check out the magical “Ham4Ham” performance and get transported into the hit musical Pippin.

8. Kelli O’Hara

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZDRxSrsmoM[/embedyt] Tony Award winner Kelli O’Hara took the “Ham4Ham” stage on September 2, 2015 and moved Lin-Manuel Miranda to tears. O’Hara not only rapped “I Need Love” by LL Cool J alongside Miranda, but she also performed the song “Somebody, Somewhere” from The Most Happy Fella. O’Hara even preluded the song by saying this is the song she sang on her first ever audition in NYC. Check out the moving video!

7. Next Generation ‘Ham4Ham’

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31zJo-ys1bk[/embedyt] The most adorable Broadway video blogger took the “Ham4Ham” lottery stage on October 3, 2015 to show off his killer rapping skills. Iain Loves Theatre showed off his skills alongside Lin-Manuel Miranda and Daveed Diggs in singing the “Cabinet Battle #1” from Hamilton. Check out the video and also be sure to follow Iain Loves Theatre as he gives his opinion on some of the hottest shows on Broadway.

6. Beth Malone

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAXX_7uWD_4[/embedyt] When you cross the Tony Award winning production of Fun Home with Hamilton, you know it’s going to be an incredible “Ham4Ham” performance. On August 22, 2015, Tony Award nominee Beth Malone and Roberta Colindrez joined Lin-Manuel Miranda outside the Richard Rodgers Theatre to perform the opening number to Hamilton, “Alexander Hamilton.” The crossover was a complete success and even features some tiny guest stars. Check out the video now!

5. In the Heights Reunion

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFEz-sVDbRE[/embedyt] The “Ham4Ham” lottery experience wouldn’t be complete without a mini In the Heights reunion. On August 1, 2015, Lin-Manuel Miranda was joined by Christopher Jackson, Jon Rua, Javier Muñoz, Alex Lacamoire, Tommy Kail and surprise guest Karen Olivo for a once in a lifetime, In the Heights reunion. Step back in time with this classic Tony Award winning musical and watch in amazement at the amount of talent on the “Ham4Ham” stage.

4. Spring Awakening Reunion

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3g7sqkHzl-c[/embedyt] On August 19, 2015, Jonathan Groff led a little Spring Awakening reunion at the “Ham4Ham” lottery. Groff is joined by Andy Mientus and Krysta Rodriguez, who are currently starring in Deaf West’s revival production of Spring Awakening on Broadway. Groff, Mientus and Rodriguez lead the crowd in a nostalgic rendition of the hit number “Totally F**ked” from Spring Awakening. Check out the video now!

3. Laura Benanti

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dM4p5kIgR-g[/embedyt] “We need 100% more tap dancing and 100% more Laura Benanti.” On October 7, 2015, Tony Award winner Laura Benanti and Jared Grimes exploded the “Ham4Ham” lottery with rendition of “I Could’ve Danced All Night” from My Fair Lady. Benanti provided the killer vocals while Grimes delivered one of the most mesmerizing and phenomenal tap performances ever.

2. Lin-Manuel Miranda reads Alexander Hamilton

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aToj9Jrbkeo[/embedyt] To start off the Hamilton journey Lin-Manuel Miranda took the “Ham4Ham” lottery stage to read the first five paragraphs of the book Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow. The book inspired Lin-Manuel Miranda to write Hamilton so it was only fitting these passages were read on the opening night of Hamilton on August 6, 2015. Check out the video and listen to Miranda read the words that inspired this great, historic musical.

1. Kyle Jean-Baptiste

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASlkb6CLJng[/embedyt] One of the greatest “Ham4Ham” lottery performances came on August 15, 2015 when Les Miserables star Kyle Jean-Baptiste joined Lin-Manuel Miranda in singing the classic “Confrontation” from Les Miserables. The performance was met with rousing cheers for Baptiste and Miranda and is still the “Ham4Ham” performance to beat. Unfortunately, shortly after this on August 28, 2015 Kyle Jean-Baptiste, the first African-American actor to play Jean Valjean, suddenly and tragically passed away. He was only 21. Click the video and watch Kyle Jean-Baptiste leave a lasting memory on the Broadway community with this “Ham4Ham” performance.

Honorable Mentions:

Love for the Techies:

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqE-mGI5OaM[/embedyt]

Matthew Morrison:

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=482WWy3dwrA[/embedyt]

Newsies and Alan Menken’s Birthday:

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkhmqSbWTh4[/embedyt]

Hamilton is currently playing at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in NYC. For tickets and more information visit hamiltonbroadway.com

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