#394: Nikisha Williams // Eliza on the Philip Tour // Part One
The Hamilcast: A Hamilton Podcast
Release Date: 11/20/2023
#497: Thomas Kail Returns! // Part One
The Hamilcast: A Hamilton Podcast
Hamilton’s brilliant director Thomas Kail helps me wrap up the podcast with two thoughtful, insightful, and sweet episodes. Tommy is known as “The Architect” and I’m telling you, the guy lives up to the title and then some. This week T.Kail unpacks a lot of the HamilTen celebrations and how they came to be, including how they landed on the decision to release the Hamilfilm in movie theaters, his profound experience with the original cast reuniting for the Tony Awards, and Leslie Odom Jr.’s reprising Aaron Burr in Hamilton on Broadway. Tommy also talks a lot about editing the...
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#496: Alex Lacamoire Returns! // Part Two
The Hamilcast: A Hamilton Podcast
Alex Lacamoire is back for round two and I hope you're ready because not only does he put that keyboard to very good use, but Alex was also kind enough to bring isolated stems from the Hamilton cast album. Yep, I know, it's insane. Not only does he play some of his favorite parts (the Stevie Wonder moment in One Last Time and the Eleanor Rigby part of the opening number, for example) but Alex gives us a tour around the orchestra, one instrument at a time: strings from Burn, percussion from Guns and Ships, guitar in Helpless, stride piano in The Room Where It Happens, the list goes on and on...
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#495: Alex Lacamoire Returns! // Part One
The Hamilcast: A Hamilton Podcast
Hamilton’s award winning music director and orchestrator Alex Lacamoire is back after his legendary three episode series in 2018 and he's here to help wrap this show up right! Lac never comes to the pod empty handed and once again brought a keyboard, a laptop full of Hamilton music that no one has ever heard, and his ✨immaculate✨ vibes. This week, Alex talks about celebrating ten years of Hamilton on Broadway including putting together the amazing performance at the Tonys, experiencing the Hamilfilm on the big screen, the pure joy of Leslie Odom Jr. reprising Aaron Burr, what his...
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#494: Andy Blankenbuehler Returns! // Part Two
The Hamilcast: A Hamilton Podcast
Hamilton choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler is an absolute treasure trove. There's really no other way to say it. This is his fifth episode of The Hamilcast and he's still dropping details and Easter eggs and insight into a show we've all been talking about for over ten years. HOW DOES HE DO IT?! I have no idea, but at the very least, these episodes let you in on his incredible thought process. This week is all about the deep dives, so I hope you're ready for endless mind explosions. There are way too many to mention in the description but here's one just so I'm not totally leaving you hanging:...
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#493: Andy Blankenbuehler Returns! // Part One
The Hamilcast: A Hamilton Podcast
Here we go! The grand finale of The Hamilcast is officially underway with the return of Hamilton's mastermind choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler! Andy was the last guest before lockdown, coming over in person in February of 2020. Five years later, he's back to celebrate #HamilTEN and reflect on over a decade of working the show we are still happily dissecting all these years later. I love talking to Andy because every single story he tells gives more insight into his incredible thought process. From getting Hamilton Broadway's original cast together for the 2025 Tony Awards performance, to the...
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#492: Leslie Odom, Jr. // Hamilton Broadway's Original Aaron Burr
The Hamilcast: A Hamilton Podcast
It feels very fitting that after ten years and speaking to dozens of actors who have played Aaron Burr, the very last one to grace the podcast is Hamilton Broadway's original (inimitable!) Leslie Odom, Jr. We didn't have a long time, but let me tell you... we had a GREAT time. This episode is funny, it's moving, it's layered, it's healing, it's so much of why Leslie Odom, Jr. is such a fascinating person to talk to. He tells me about how his beautiful cover of Tonight, Tonight" by the Smashing Pumpkins came to be, his experience with Purlie Victorious, how much he loved pushing the nerd bar to...
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THROWBACK // Episode #93: Anna-Lee Craig (2017)
The Hamilcast: A Hamilton Podcast
This is the last throwback before we really dive in and start wrapping up The Hamilcast. Anna-Lee Craig is HamiltonBroadway’s A2 (assistant sound), and when she came on the podcast all the way back in 2017, she made all of our heads explode. It actually keeps happening because I STILL hear from listeners about this conversation. I mean, she invented the famous ALC Special! And, come to think of it, listeners write not just about this conversation, but the many conversations I’ve had with people behind the scenes at Hamilton, in all different arenas: hair, wardrobe, management, sound, you...
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THROWBACK // Episode #77: Mandy Gonzalez (2017)
The Hamilcast: A Hamilton Podcast
Time for another throwback! The truly effervescent Mandy Gonzalez came on the podcast in 2017 and gave new meaning to "I'm about to change your life." It was so important that she came on the show because, duh, she is THEEEEEEEE Mandy Gonzalez. Mandy was kind, gracious, and generous, and her recording was a big turning point in the life of The Hamilcast. It was a really, really big deal that she came over. And! This is the episode that made Lin-Manuel Miranda want to come on the podcast, so yeah, life changing status ACTIVATED. This is the full, untouched episode from 2017 and below is the...
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Bonus B-Side: Back to Basics with Michael Paul Smith!
The Hamilcast: A Hamilton Podcast
As The Hamilcast starts to wrap up, I couldn't end this thing without jumping on the mic with Michael Paul Smith and making a podcast love letter to every listener, guest, Patreon Peep, and cool experience from these last ten years. Of course I couldn't mention everything and even as I type this, I'm kicking myself for not going back and discussing every single episode and every single experience at length and with extreme detail. But this feels very self serving as it is (woof!) so please, if you're reading this, please know how much I love I have for this entire journey, and how much fun...
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#491: Aaron Burr, Sir(s) // #HamilTEN Event at South Street Seaport
The Hamilcast: A Hamilton Podcast
On August 21st, 2025, I hosted a #HamilTEN event where I was asked to moderate a conversation with five actors who have played Aaron Burr over the years: Nik Walker, Donald Webber Jr., Jared Dixon, Marc delaCruz, and Deon’te Goodman. It was extra fun because they are all my friends and have all appeared on the podcast! This is the full audio of our chat, including the first announcement about the ending of The Hamilcast. It won’t be any surprise for you to learn that this conversation was *excellent.* All of these guys have so much insight and incredible things to say; we absolutely could...
info_outlineI’m so excited to welcome Nikisha Williams, who currently plays Eliza Schuyler on the Philip Tour, to the podcast!
Prior to joining Hamilton in 2018, Nikisha gained a ton of experience performing in musicals and operas across the country. Oh! She was also a high school choir teacher! Yep, Nikisha has a masters degree in Choral Conducting and a Bachelor’s degree in Vocal performance so she has the unique ability to bring her experience as an educator to the role of Eliza.
This week, Nikisha talks about her journey as both a teacher and a performer: from auditioning multiple times to get into her vocal performance program, to leading an award-winning all girl high school a cappella group, and how her students got her into Hamilton.
A firm believer in taking care of your mental health and meeting yourself where you are, Nikisha also talks about the strength of the women in the show and the strength of her Eliza specifically. For example, her version of “That Would Be Enough” isn’t begging Hamilton to stay, but about getting these two determined people on the same page.
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"It's a Man's Man's Man's World"
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