HAMILTON, Ohio — Hours ahead of their next performance at the Aronoff Center in downtown Cincinnati, two “Hamilton” cast members went north to visit the city of Hamilton Wednesday.
Paul Oakley Stovall, who plays George Washington, and Edred Utomi, who plays Alexander Hamilton in the musical, got a warm welcome from fans and Hamilton Mayor Pat Moeller.
“It’s fun, it’s exciting and an honor to have you actors — you artists — here in our city,” Moeller said. “You have created a buzz right here, right now.”
The mayor credits the creators, cast and crew of “Hamilton” with bringing the city’s namesake back into popular culture, recognizing the traveling cast with a proclamation from the city.
“It’s an honor to tell this story and it’s an honor to get this proclamation,” Utomi said in front of the iconic Alexander Hamilton statue, The American Cape, on High Street.
“Being a midwestern boy myself, Ohio is the heart of this country and it’s really lovely to come to a town of this size that has clearly maintained its integrity,” Oakley Stovall said.
Actors Paul Oakley Stovall and Edred Utomi
The two actors posed for photos before heading back Downtown for a 7:30 p.m. performance.
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The city of Hamilton, one of 16 cities named for Hamilton, is admittedly using the show's popularity to draw tourists to the area by placing a centerfold advertisement in the edition of Playbill every theatergoer receives when they see the Broadway musical at the Aronoff Center.
The tagline: You’ve seen the show. Now see the city.
“Hamilton” — the Tony award-winning story of Alexander Hamilton — blends hip-hop, jazz, rap and Broadway. The musical is in town through March 10.
