“For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Do not fear, I will help you.” -Isaiah 41:13
This year is the 10th anniversary of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton: An American Musical debuted on Broadway. This musical combined hip hop, classical Broadway music, dance, and a great American story to take the theatre by storm. From the moment it began on Broadway, it has been both a critical and popular success. It won a record-setting 11 Tony Awards in 2016. It has played around the world and continues today on Broadway. It is one of the most successful shows in Broadway history.
The original cast of Hamilton helped to bring this work to life. Telling the history of Alexander Hamilton and the powerful story of the start of our country was a challenge. Their amazing talent and Lin-Manuel Miranda’s exceptional imagination and writing skills helped to tell this story in a modern, amazing way.
Leslie Odom Jr. was part of the original cast. He played Aaron Burr, the founding father who shot Alexander Hamilton in a duel. For his work on stage, bringing the character of Aaron Burr to life, Leslie Odom Jr. won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical. Along with the rest of the original cast, Leslie Odom Jr. has gone on from Hamilton to have great success on stage, in Television, and in Movies. Leslie is now a published author with the release of his book Failing Up: How to Take Risks, Aim Higher, and Never Stop Learning.
Like many others, success did not come easily for Leslie Odom Jr. He had tried and tried to be an actor on stage and on screen. Just a little while before Hamilton, he filmed the pilot for a TV show that would never be picked up. Odom’s lack of success began to cause him to doubt his dreams, and soon he found himself applying for hotel clerk jobs.
Thankfully, he had met Lin-Manuel a few years before and was invited to be part of the initial reading of Hamilton. He immediately fell in love with the character of Aaron Burr. He set his sights on playing that role. He studied and practiced, hoping to be the one who would bring Burr to life on stage. Leslie Odom Jr. said, “You have to walk towards the things that make you alive.” When Hamilton arrived on Broadway, it was led, in part, by Leslie Odom Jr. playing the role of Aaron Burr.
Leslie Odom Jr. is a reminder that God has given each of us talent and passion. We truly find success when we muster our talent and move it towards the things that bring our passion to life. We will have failures and setbacks, but if we persist, we will find joy and new life as we walk towards the things that make us alive.
Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
