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#481: Desmond Sean Ellington // Hamilton Standby // Part Two

The Hamilcast: A Hamilton Podcast

Release Date: 08/18/2025

#484: Tyler McKenzie // Hamilton Dance Captain and Universal Swing // Part Three show art #484: Tyler McKenzie // Hamilton Dance Captain and Universal Swing // Part Three

The Hamilcast: A Hamilton Podcast

We're wrapping up Tyler McKenzie's episodes as he continues to take questions from the Patreon Peeps. Tyler talks about his special bond with the Charlotte arts community, his experience go-go dancing for the legendary Trixie Mattel, and we won't call it a comeback but Janet Jackson is performing again and you need to get yourself there to experience it. We also had to take some time to discuss the pure magic that was the start of the Philip Tour. It was such a moment in time and it was very, very special for a lot of people - and not just for the people in it. For Tyler, the Philip Company...

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#483: Tyler McKenzie // Hamilton Dance Captain and Universal Swing // Part Two show art #483: Tyler McKenzie // Hamilton Dance Captain and Universal Swing // Part Two

The Hamilcast: A Hamilton Podcast

Tyler McKenzie is back for round two! Tyler just wrapped up an eight year journey with Hamilton, starting as a swing on Broadway for six months and then spending the rest of his time as a Universal Swing and the Dance Captain of the Philip Tour. Make no mistake, Tyler was traveling all over the place, but as an original member of that now-famous (infamous?) Philip Company, "Philip will always be home." This week, Tyler talks about embracing his role as a teacher and a leader, which is absolutely pivotal when you're the dance captain. His teaching philosophy is simple: he understands that every...

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#482: Tyler McKenzie // Hamilton Dance Captain and Universal Swing // Part One show art #482: Tyler McKenzie // Hamilton Dance Captain and Universal Swing // Part One

The Hamilcast: A Hamilton Podcast

Tyler McKenzie is back on the podcast! Tyler joined Hamilton Broadway in 2017 and only had one week off before starting rehearsals for the yet to be revealed Philip Company. He graciously spent his first night off with me, recording his first episode of The Hamilcast. Tyler would join me once again when Mike and I had a party with some members of the Philip Company in Vegas in 2018. Today, Tyler wanted to come back on the podcast to reflect on his eight year journey with Hamilton. We recorded this at the end of May 2025, just days before his final performance on tour... in Las Vegas. Tyler...

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A Special Announcement from Gillian + Lin-Manuel Miranda's First Appearance on the Pod (2017!) show art A Special Announcement from Gillian + Lin-Manuel Miranda's First Appearance on the Pod (2017!)

The Hamilcast: A Hamilton Podcast

The news is out! After nearly ten years and what will be 500 episodes, The Hamilcast will be coming to an end on January 26th, 2026, the podcast’s official ten-year anniversary. While the community isn’t going anywhere and the archive will always remain available, the weekly episodes you’ve come to expect will soon be wrapping up. Until then, this is going to be a PARTY. Let's celebrate this journey with memories, special events, plus a few repeat episodes to bring things full circle and look back on some extraordinary moments on the pod. While there is plenty of time to get emotional, I...

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#481: Desmond Sean Ellington // Hamilton Standby // Part Two show art #481: Desmond Sean Ellington // Hamilton Standby // Part Two

The Hamilcast: A Hamilton Podcast

Desmond Sean Ellington is back for round two to further show that if you have to chase something, it’s probably not for you. This week, Desmond reflects on his five years touring with Hamilton as a standby and how he used what he learned making his Broadway debut in Hell’s Kitchen (after starting with the show down at The Public). As he continues to spread the Gospel of Surrender™, Desmond expands on his Hell’s Kitchen experience including how and why he turned down a chance to go back to Hamilton (hint: Broadway was calling!). Desmond also talks about being a firm believer that we all...

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#480: Desmond Sean Ellington // Hamilton Standby // Part One show art #480: Desmond Sean Ellington // Hamilton Standby // Part One

The Hamilcast: A Hamilton Podcast

Desmond Sean Ellington spent five years on tour with Hamilton as a Standby and recently made his Broadway debut in Hell’s Kitchen, after starting with the show down at The Public.  Desmond’s story is so interesting because it’s a case study in what can happen when you make the hard decision to leave something behind that you know deep down isn’t meant for you - even if it’s terrifying! In Desmond’s case, he left college without a plan and even though he had no interest in theatre at the time, he always knew he “was going to be a star.” Once he walked away from what...

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#479: Jeffrey Seller // Broadway Producer show art #479: Jeffrey Seller // Broadway Producer

The Hamilcast: A Hamilton Podcast

Award-winning and prolific Broadway producer Jeffrey Seller has finally made it to the podcast! Jeffery has produced Rent, Avenue Q, In the Heights, Hamilton, The Cher Show, and revivals of West Side Story and Sweeney Todd, just to name a few. Altogether his shows (currently) have 22 Tony Awards, and he's the only Broadway producer to have put up two Pulitzer Prize winning musicals: Hamilton and Rent. Jeffrey is the author of , which the New York Times describes as “a combination coming-of-age and rags-to-riches story that is unsparing in its description of his colorfully...

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#478: Nevin Steinberg // Hamilton Broadway's Sound Designer // Part Two show art #478: Nevin Steinberg // Hamilton Broadway's Sound Designer // Part Two

The Hamilcast: A Hamilton Podcast

In Nevin Steinberg's second episode, the award winning Broadway sound designer gives even more insight to some of your favorite Hamilton moments including The Yorktown dance break and the stuttering gunshots heard throughout the show. And get ready to have your mind blown as Nevin shares the evolution of the Satisfied rewind, from Lin-Manuel Miranda's very first demo to the layered masterpiece we all know and love today anddddddd he shares a secret (and creepy! and awesome!) Easter egg that I promise you don't know about. While taking questions from the Patreon Peeps, Nevin talks a lot about...

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#477: Nevin Steinberg // Hamilton Broadway's Sound Designer // Part One show art #477: Nevin Steinberg // Hamilton Broadway's Sound Designer // Part One

The Hamilcast: A Hamilton Podcast

Award winning sound designer Nevin Steinberg has made it to the pod! Nevin is such a captivating storyteller and everything he talks about is infused with gorgeous detail and a palpable feeling of both awe and gratitude. You know how they say "how can you not be romantic about baseball?" How can you not be romantic about sound design?! That's what I say, anyway. In his first episode, Nevin walks us through his early career from working all night editing reel to reel tape with nothing but the ghost light and a healthy fear of the shadows (This is so fascinating and cinematic!! He can still...

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#476: Jonathan Dinklage // Hamilton Broadway's Concertmaster // Part Two show art #476: Jonathan Dinklage // Hamilton Broadway's Concertmaster // Part Two

The Hamilcast: A Hamilton Podcast

After a quick detour talking about the magic of Rush, Jonathan Dinklage is back for round two and we’re diving into his Hamilton story. After participating in that reading he almost didn’t go to, Jonny says it was all over for him. He knew Hamilton was phenomenal and now he gets to be a part of it. From working with Alex Lacamoire to perfect the material, to getting the now legendary group of musicians together, Jonny is still not over how awesome it is that he gets to do this for a living.  This week, Jonny talks about why the Hamilton arrangements are so perfect, what it was like...

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More Episodes

Desmond Sean Ellington is back for round two to further show that if you have to chase something, it’s probably not for you. This week, Desmond reflects on his five years touring with Hamilton as a standby and how he used what he learned making his Broadway debut in Hell’s Kitchen (after starting with the show down at The Public).

As he continues to spread the Gospel of Surrender™, Desmond expands on his Hell’s Kitchen experience including how and why he turned down a chance to go back to Hamilton (hint: Broadway was calling!). Desmond also talks about being a firm believer that we all have the power to create the world we want to live in, why his unconventional way of finding his passion continues the cycle of representation, and reminds us to stay kind because that’s really what it’s all about anyway. 

Plus, Desmond walks us through going craaaazy viral with his “One Last Time” soundcheck (if you haven’t heard it before GET READY it’s so good), how seeing Satisfied for the first time made him want to shoot up out of his seat like a rocket, and lets us in on tiny Hamilton moments where he connected with his fellow actors on stage.

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