Playing Aaron Burr in ‘Hamilton’ is no stunt, Brady says
Wayne Brady clearly did not like being called an unusual casting choice for the role of Aaron Burr in the Chicago production of “Hamilton,” an assignment he begins Tuesday night at Chicago’s PrivateBank Theatre.
“Why do you say that?” the actor asked, talking by phone as he made his way to one of his precious few rehearsals with the Chicago cast — of which he soon will be a member.
It seemed to me an obvious observation — Brady is a bona fide household name, thanks mostly to his hosting duties on “Let’s Make a Deal” and a long run on “Whose Line is it Anyway?” By 2001, he was sufficiently known to get his own daytime talk show on ABC. It lasted for two seasons, but was highly regarded in the industry. In 2002, he hosted “Miss America.” He has been a frequent guest star on “The Drew Carey Show,” “How I Met Your Mother” and many other shows. He has voiced characters in several animated movies. He has released two studio albums, including one aimed at kids. He is not staying in Chicago in your standard actor housing.
Not only is that not your usual profile for an actor replacing an original cast member in the second production of a musical, but the circumstances of this interview were unusual. A tense publicist was on the line listening in and anxious to cut things short. These are all the standard rules of La La Land engagement for TV stars like Brady, but far more unusual for an actor in a stage show in Chicago, where conversations tend to be longer and deeper.
They even are unusual circumstances for “Hamilton,” a show that, aside from its creator, LinManuel Miranda, has never before cast anybody you might reasonably term even a demi-celebrity (to borrow a term coined by actress Sherie Rene Scott).
That’s before the gig. After is a whole other matter.
Even the amount of time you have to see Brady as Burr is unusual. A busy guy (see above), he’s doing the show only through April 9. Musicals like “Hamilton” generally prefer six-month or yearlong contracts. Especially for stars.
So, I said, that is what makes him very unusual in my book.
“I don’t think of myself as an unusual choice but a well-qualified choice who happens to be known,” Brady said. “This is not stunt casting. ‘Hamilton’ have to be Burr? does not need stunt casting. “Yes. There is no other You and I both know role that suits what I particularly that the show was rolling can do.” along fine with people And then Brady got who are just good at their very interesting, talking jobs.” about how he saw in Burr All true. a reflection of his own “I auditioned like anyone self as a young AfricanAmerican else,” Brady said. “I man making really wanted this role. his way in Los Angeles I’ve wanted to do it ever show business, trying to since I saw Leslie (Odom figure out how much to Jr.) do it. I am unusual speak up and how much only in that I am the performer-singer-danceractor-dancer just to keep smiling at the suits. In the show, you need Burr, a pragmatist, tells to do this role. I’ve got to Alexander Hamilton, a kick a—. This is a great sometimes insufferable piece of American art, wonk, to talk less and especially in this day and smile more. age. It is important. I just want to be part of the cast. This already has been a life-changing experience for me, and I’ve not even gone on yet.”
All fair enough. Did it