January 24, 2019
Inquirer.net
https://usa.inquirer.net/19324/marc-delacruz-on-his-shot-as-first-fil-am-hamilton
Recognition:
2019 Plaridel Award
for Excellence in Filipino American Journalism
in the Best Entertainment Story category
from the Philippine American Press Club
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| Marc delaCruz is the first Filipino American actor to portray Alexander Hamilton in the musical "Hamilton." |
"I finally knew what it was like to perform the role with a full audience. As our conductor said to me that night, I had successfully landed the plane."
In a Facebook post, he writes, "Thank you for all the messages of support and encouragement I've received over the last few days. I'm truly overwhelmed and humbled. Thank you to the Asian, [Asian Pacific Islander] and Filipino/Fil-Am communities for your words of support and cheer. It's an honor to represent my communities in any way big or small. Since joining Hamilton I've witnessed the power of this show to bring people together in a positive, uplifting way. I'm so happy to have any kind of part in that."
DelaCruz is an actor in the ensemble and the understudy for the title role. An understudy takes over the role in case the originally assigned actor is unable to perform.
DelaCruz joined the production last year and debuted as Alexander Hamilton this January.
Created by Lin Manuel Miranda (who also co-wrote songs for the Disney animated film "Moana" and is an actor in the Disney film "Mary Poppins Returns"), the multi-awarded musical is about the life of Alexander Hamilton, a statesman, one of the Founding Fathers of the U.S., as well as the founder of the nation's financial system.
Loving and generous
"My first performance as Hamilton was scheduled for January 20, but I ended up going on for the first time one day early. We were at the theater for a music brush up rehearsal that day and as soon as it was over, our stage manager called me and asked if I felt ready to go on that night," he said.
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| Filipino American Marc delaCruz was born in Hawaii and raised in Seattle. |
"I said yes. I was ready and would be happy to do it. By that point, the anticipation of going on had been building up so I was eager to get the first performance under my belt.
"The rest of the night was incredible. The entire company lifted me up and gave me so much energy and confidence. Even before the show began, I knew I would be okay because I was surrounded by such loving, generous people."
Hawaii, Seattle, Broadway
DelaCruz made his Broadway debut in the musical "If/Then," which starred Idina Menzel ("Wicked," "Frozen").
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| DelaCruz backstage in his Alexander Hamilton costume. |
Prior to that, he had cut his teeth with credits such as Thuy in "Miss Saigon" and Chip Tolentino in "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee." He's been in the national tour of "Disney's High School Musical" and in the world premiere cast of "Allegiance" at San Diego's Old Globe Theatre alongside Lea Salonga.
DelaCruz, whose father is Filipino, was born in Hawaii and raised in Seattle. He trained in dance while studying at the University of Washington.
While in college, he was cast in his first professional production, "The Fantasticks," with the Northwest Asian American Theater Company. He went on to act for theater groups in Seattle such as ReAct, Village Theatre and the 5th Avenue Theatre.
Amazing
His journey to the role began with two songs at his first audition. Then came more and more songs at every callback audition and meeting more and more of the show's directing and music supervisors and other co-creators.
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| DelaCruz, in his James Reynolds costume, backstage with a fellow cast member. Photo from Instagram |
"Everyone in the room at all of my auditions was absolutely wonderful-warm, encouraging, gracious."
When delaCruz found out he'd been accepted into the show, he was in the middle of preparing for the Off-Broadway show "Ordinary Days" with Keen Company.
"I got to celebrate the news in one of the best ways I can imagine, going to perform in another incredible show in which I got to play a wonderful role."
"I was floored when I received the offer. Any offer for 'Hamilton' would have been amazing but finding out I'd be onstage every night in the ensemble and understudying Alexander Hamilton took a moment to process."
Double duty
DelaCruz rehearsed for four and a half weeks before his first performance. "During three of those weeks, I was still in `Ordinary Days,' so I was doing double duty-rehearsing one show during the day while performing another on at night."
It's apparent that delaCruz is not only adept at multitasking, he's a versatile actor as well.
His main assignment in the show is to be in the ensemble and to perform three characters: Philip Schuyler, James Reynolds and the Doctor. Then comes the Alexander Hamilton understudy assignment.
But that's not all. He is also the understudy for three more characters: John Laurens/Philip Hamilton (two roles assigned to one actor) and King George.
"My first responsibility was to learn my ensemble track, Man 5. Once I began performances as Man 5, I started rehearsals for the role of Hamilton."
And there is no resting on laurels for the man.
"Now that I've performed Hamilton, I can begin learning my next cover, John Laurens/Philip Hamilton. I actually haven't learned the King George track yet. That will be my last cover to learn. I'm looking forward to it!"
Other Fil-Ams
"Hamilton" has productions in New York, Chicago, Puerto Rico, London, one slated to open in San Francisco in February and two touring productions in the U.S.
On Broadway, delaCruz joins Filipino Americans Karla Garcia, the production's Co-Dance Captain, and Christina Glur, a swing-an actor who knows multiple roles and fills in for absent actors.
There are also Fil-Am actors in the two touring productions.
In the Angelica cast, Isa Briones plays Peggy Schuyler and Maria Reynolds; and Jon Viktor Corpuz plays John Laurens and Philip Hamilton.
In the Philip cast, Aaron Albano is in the ensemble and plays Samuel Seabury.
Filipino recording artist Rachelle Ann Go is currently playing Eliza Schuyler-Hamilton in the London production.
RELATED STORIES:
READ about Isa Briones acting in the touring production of 'Hamilton' here.
READ about Jon Viktor Corpuz in his role as Chulalongkorn in the Broadway revival of 'The King and I' here.
READ about Fil-Am artists joining George Takei's 'Allegiance' in LA staging here.