Several years after it first took Broadway by storm, the smash hit musical “Hamilton” is set to come to Baltimore.
The France-Merrick Performing Arts Center announced today that the revolutionary hip-hop musical that sold out every one of its shows in New York following its 2015 premiere will be part of the Hippodrome Theatre’s 2018-19 season lineup. The theater said further details on timing and tickets will come later.
In a phone interview, France-Merrick Performing Arts Center president Ron Legler said it was an exciting announcement, calling it a “tease” for next year. “It’s booked, we have it, and we have dates on hold for the show,” he said.
Legler said they highlighted Baltimore’s rich history and the fact that the city houses statues of famous characters, including Marquis de Lafayette and George Washington, as part of their pitch to host the musical. “We were successful so we’re happy,” he said.
The theater’s announcement noted that those who purchase season passes for the upcoming 2017-18 season and renew them for the following year can guarantee they’ll be able to secure tickets for “Hamilton.” Legler noted doing so also affords patrons an opportunity to upgrade their seats after one season, giving them a better shot at a great view of the show by the time it comes to town.
A press agent said the show will feature a new cast, but “will be produced with the same talent, attention to detail and high quality” as the musical’s Broadway, Chicago and national tour renditions.
The theater also announced the dates for eight shows planned for the upcoming season, which begins this September. Among those musicals are:
- A “special preview engagement” of “Love Never Dies,” the sequel to “The Phantom of the Opera” set 10 years after the Phantom disappears from the Paris Opera House, from Sept. 19-24, 2017;
- “The Color Purple,” based on Alice Walker’s novel about an African-American woman living in the South in the 1930s, from Oct. 17-22, 2017;
- “The Lion King,” based on the timeless Disney movie and returning after touring through Baltimore in 2005 and 2011, from Nov. 16-Dec. 10, 2017;
- “Waitress,” based on the film written by Adrienne Shelly and featuring music by Sara Bareilles, from Jan. 30-Feb. 4, 2018;
- “School of Rock,” based on the film starring Jack Black and featuring an actual kids’ rock band for the first time, from March 20-25, 2018;
- “An American in Paris,” the classic tale of a romance between an American soldier in France and a French girl after World War II, from May 1-6, 2018; and
- “On Your Feet,” about the rise of Gloria and Emilio Estefan in the United States, from June 5-10, 2018.
The Hippodrome is selling season subscriptions starting today. To learn more about the shows or to order tickets and passes, call 800-343-3403, visit the theater’s website or go to the box office at 12 N. Eutaw Street, just south of Lexington Market.
This story has been updated.
