Leslie Odom Jr. to reprise role as Aaron Burr in ‘Hamilton' on Broadway
His return will mark the 10th anniversary of the musical created by Lin-Manuel Miranda and directed by Thomas Kail.
'Returning to 'Hamilton' is a deeply meaningful homecoming,' Odom said in a statement. 'I'm so grateful for the chance to step back into the room — especially during this anniversary moment and to revisit this brilliant piece that forever changed my life and the lives of so many.'
Odom will have a 12-week limited run from Sept. 9 through Nov. 23 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York City. A new block of tickets went on sale Monday.
Earlier in the day, the Queens native appeared on the 'Today' show and mentioned how award-winning theater producer Jeffrey Seller, whom he first worked with 25 years ago on 'Rent,' invited him back to 'Hamilton.'
'You don't get shows that run 10 years,' he shared. 'There are a lot of shows we love, great shows, that they come and they go — that's the nature of the theater. So for something to be embraced by the public and the culture, and the way that 'Hamilton' has and the way that 'Rent' was — it's twice in a lifetime.'
Odom, 43, first played the former Vice President — who killed fellow founding father Alexander Hamilton in a duel — in the off-Broadway run of 'Hamilton' at the Public Theater before the show transferred to Broadway in August 2015.
He departed the hit production in July 2016 along with fellow stars Phillipa Soo and Miranda.
Since his 'Hamilton' heyday, the Carnegie Mellon University alum went on to score two Oscar nominations for his work as Sam Cooke in Regina King's historical drama 'One Night in Miami.' Odom also returned to Broadway in 2023 as both an actor and producer for 'Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch,' which earned him Tony Award nominations for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play and Best Revival of a Play.
_______
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Wire
2 hours ago
- Business Wire
Dunkin'® Serves Up a Fall First: The New Cereal N' Milk Latte, Plus Lineup Full of Fall Favorites Return
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--This fall, Dunkin' is taking mornings back to where they began: with the clink of a spoon in a cereal bowl. Launching nationwide today, the all-new Cereal N' Milk Latte transforms that memory into a sweet, nostalgic sip, blended with cereal milk and espresso. The season gets even sweeter as two-time GRAMMY Award-winning global superstar Sabrina Carpenter is back with more Daydream Refresher flavors to turn any fall afternoon into a little escape. Dunkin's fall icons also make their comeback, with pumpkin spice back in the spotlight and the $6 Meal Deal delivering unbeatable value for great-tasting breakfast all day long. A Sip of Nostalgia: Meet the Cereal N' Milk Latte Dunkin' is serving up a latte that tastes like childhood, all grown up. The new Cereal N' Milk Latte combines espresso with cereal milk for a marshmallow-cereal flavor that's creamy, rich and unmistakably nostalgic. Building on the success of the Dunkalatte™, Dunkin' is taking its latte innovation to the next level with cereal milk made with real cereal, unlocking that unmistakable bottom-of-the-bowl sweetness. Available hot or iced, it's marshmallow cereal nostalgia made for today's busy mornings—spoon-free. 'This latte is all about nostalgia! The idea came from the best part of eating cereal, that last bit of milk. We all remember finishing a bowl just to enjoy those final, sweet sips, which inspired our new Cereal N' Milk Latte,' said Anthony Epter, vice president of menu innovation at Dunkin'. 'With our very own cereal milk blended with rich espresso, the Cereal N' Milk Latte brings that marshmallow-flavored, bottom-of-the-bowl taste in every sip. Just like the Dunkalatte, it gives the classic latte a fun new twist.' And because one good throwback deserves another, Dunkin' is dropping a limited-edition Cereal N' Milk Latte-inspired merch collection at starting today at 9 a.m. ET. Taking inspiration from the golden era of cereal culture, the exclusive drop includes a crewneck ($45), graphic tee ($30) and trucker hat ($20). The merch features a range of playful throwback designs – from cereal bowls, spoons and milk cartons to graffiti-style Cereal N' Milk branding. Each piece is available in three vibrant colors, while supplies last. Dunkin' Refreshers Just Got Dreamier After the buzz of Sabrina's Strawberry Daydream Refresher, two-time GRAMMY Award-winning global superstar Sabrina Carpenter is back to round out the lineup with Mixed Berry, joining Mango and Strawberry to create a trio of Daydream Refreshers. Crafted with oatmilk and topped with velvety cold foam, each sip is indulgent yet refreshingly light. Whether you're in the mood for the tropical pop of Mango, the juicy sweetness of Mixed Berry or the creamy nostalgia of Strawberry, Sabrina's Daydream Refreshers deliver three crave-worthy flavors to match any mood. Through the Dunkin' app, guests can create their perfect sip with the Mix Your Own Refresher option. With customizable bases (green tea, black tea, lemonade, sparkling water, water, or oatmilk), flavors, and sweetness levels – there's a drink that's as creamy, bold, bubbly or tart as they like. Plus, more fun is brewing next month, so fans can stay tuned to Dunkin's social channels for what's next. The Return of Pumpkin at Dunkin' No fall at Dunkin' is complete without pumpkin. The iconic Pumpkin Spice Signature Latte, hot or iced, is back to spice up the season, made with flavors of sweet pumpkin, vanilla and warm fall spices, then finished with whipped cream, caramel drizzle and a dusting of cinnamon sugar. Guests can also add pumpkin swirl to their favorite hot or iced coffee, Cold Brew or espresso drink. Joining the pumpkin lineup this year is the all-new Iced Pumpkin Loaf, a rich pumpkin and vanilla flavored pound cake topped with cream cheese icing. Individually wrapped for on-the-go convenience, it's an instant seasonal classic. Guests can pair their favorite pumpkin sips with the returning Pumpkin Bakery lineup, featuring the Pumpkin Cake Donut and Pumpkin MUNCHKINS® Donut Hole Treats, glazed to perfection for that unmistakable Dunkin' pumpkin fix. Savor the Season with New & Returning Favorites Beyond pumpkin, Dunkin' is rounding out the fall menu with more crave-worthy bites both sweet and savory: Kreme Delight Donut: a yeast shell filled with vanilla flavored buttercreme, topped with rich chocolate icing and finished with a vanilla flavored buttercreme rosette. Chipotle Loaded Hash Browns: Crispy hash browns drizzled with chipotle aioli and topped with crumbled bacon. A delicious take on the popular Loaded Hash Browns. Maple Sugar Bacon: A fan favorite since 2019, back in the Maple Sugar Bacon Breakfast Sandwich, Snackin' Bacon, and Wake-Up Wrap®. These join seasonal favorites like the Chipotle Hash Brown Wake-Up Wrap®, Ham & Swiss Croissant Stuffer and Braided Apple Pie, making fall at Dunkin' a full lineup of flavor. Deals Worth Runnin' On Fall isn't just about flavor—it's about value, too. And with busy schedules in full swing, Dunkin' is keeping guests fueled with deals that fit every kind of day. The popular $6 Meal Deal is back, serving up a Bacon, Egg and Cheese Sandwich, crispy hash browns and a medium hot coffee (14 oz.) or iced coffee (24 oz.) – all for $6*. For Dunkin' Rewards members, the savings stack up even higher with limited-time offers**: Through August 31: $2 10 count MUNCHKINS® Donut Hole Treats, with beverage purchase August 25 – October 27: 100 bonus points when ordering ahead on Mondays September 1 – 15: $1 Braided Apple Pie, with beverage purchase September 16 – 30: $2 Chipotle Hash-Brown Wake-Up Wrap®, with beverage purchase Those not yet enrolled in Dunkin' Rewards can create a free account on the Dunkin' app or by visiting To stay up to date on what Dunkin's brewing up this fall, visit or subscribe to the Dunkin' blog to receive notifications at * Excludes espresso and cold brew beverages, seasoned bacon, and loaded hash browns. Offer valid on Bacon, Egg & Cheese breakfast sandwiches only. Price and participation may vary. Limited time offer. Cannot be combined with other offers. Terms apply. ** Dunkin' Rewards members only. Must activate before use. Additional charges, terms and exclusions may apply. About Dunkin' Dunkin', founded in 1950, is the largest coffee and donuts brand in the United States, with more than 14,000 restaurants in nearly 40 global markets. Dunkin' is part of the Inspire Brands family of restaurants. For more information, visit and
Newsweek
3 hours ago
- Newsweek
Laufey Is an 'Anxious Cinderella' on New Album 'A Matter of Time'
"Dark sarcasm" isn't something that one would expect to hear in the jazz- and classical-influenced pop of Laufey. The 26-year-old Icelandic-Chinese musician is known for her romantic and dreamy tunes inspired by the Great American Songbook—a canon of classic pop songs, Broadway numbers and jazz standards from the first half of the 20th century, including works by such composers as George Gershwin, Cole Porter and Rodgers and Hammerstein—and rendered with a Gen Z perspective. Yet several songs on her upcoming new record, A Matter of Time (August 22), take a more candid—and at times, sobering—tone that contrasts with her earlier material about growing up and being in love at a young age. Album announcement Album announcement Emma Summerton "I'm a very sarcastic person," Laufey (pronounced Lay-vay) tells Newsweek. "With the last album [2023's Bewitched], I showed the light, and I wanted to show a little bit of darkness on this album. I had a lot of fun doing it. It's kind of like an anxious Cinderella." A Matter of Time, Laufey's third studio record, marks another step in the career of the Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter, whose story reads like a fairy tale come to life. Since her 2022 debut album, Everything I Know About Love, Laufey has played sold-out shows; performed with such artists as beabadoobee, Norah Jones, Barbra Streisand and Billy Joel; and won a Grammy Award in 2024 for her second record, Bewitched. Her music attracts nearly 19 million monthly listeners on Spotify, and her TikTok account has 8.7 million followers. Larger and Bolder Sound For A Matter of Time, Laufey says she wanted to make a work that sounded larger and bolder. "But at the core," she adds, "I didn't want to move too much away from my own sound. There's definitely more sonic exploration on the album, which was really important to me." Helping Laufey achieve that vision were her longtime producer Spencer Stewart and, for the first time, The National's Aaron Dessner, whose production credits include albums for Taylor Swift and Gracie Abrams. "I've always wanted to work with Aaron," Laufey says. "I'm such a big fan of his and The National. I worked with Aaron [on] a session, and something felt really right about it. It brought a level of speed and shine to the album that I was looking for." An example of Laufey branching out stylistically for this record is the country-inspired track "Clean Air." "It's about letting go of something toxic from the past, whether it's a job, a relationship or a friend," she says. "It immediately landed in this dreamy country world. I love the harmonies of Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris. I wanted to have that sound in some way, and it felt like it wasn't a far toss from my world." The song "Silver Lining," the first single released ahead of the new album, recalls early 1960s pop music; Laufey wrote it while she was at Electric Lady Studios in New York City. "I found this vintage electric guitar in a corner and was like, 'I want to write a '60s song with the fun strings and this mid-century vibe and reverbed-out kind of sound.' I wanted it to be a love song, but sarcastic. Icelanders are not good at saying things very directly. We find these side ways of saying it. And I think 'Silver Lining' was kind of my way to do that." Yet A Matter of Time isn't a drastic stylistic left turn from Laufey's first two albums—the lush and elegant arrangements and her sublime torchy singing voice remain the cores of her work, such as on the bossa-nova-styled "Lover Girl" and "Clockwork." But her perspectives about love and the world around her have matured. "It's definitely more bold as well," she says of the lyrics. "It's more honest. It's more raw. It was a fun challenge finding growth within myself." Snow White lead Snow White lead Emma Summerton The feisty "Tough Luck," which finds Laufey throwing shade at a rotten boyfriend, is a notable counterpoint to her usual romantic perspective. "I just wanted to write a mean song," she says. "I had this experience, and it was so funny to me. I was like, 'This is a song.'" On the lush and heartbreaking "Snow White," she critiques idealized beauty with the ironic lyric: "A woman's best currency is her body, not her brain." "I was frustrated with beauty standards and myself for needing to compete with those standards," she says. "Like, 'Why can't I just remove myself?' The lyrics are about how the world has kind of set us all up to need to fit into those standards to compete." "Sabotage" is the album's final and most dramatic track, featuring a dissonant-sounding coda that seems more appropriate for an indie rocker than a pop song; Laufey calls "Sabotage" the album's thesis statement. "It's about that contrast between this glass-like beauty and chaos. This album, for me, showcases the complexity of female emotion to the world. So often, we're good at putting up a beautiful front on the outside, but then there's a noise or mess going on inside, this anxiety. I wanted to find a way to use songwriting and music to describe that contrast." Although Los Angeles is her current home, Laufey pays homage to her Icelandic roots on the track "Forget-Me-Not," recorded with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra; some of the lyrics were written in her native language. "It's a song about the experience of leaving your home country and feeling like you're losing it a little bit," she says. "This was my way of reaching back and reminding it that I love [Iceland] and pleading to 'not forget me.' And so the lyrics—at least in the chorus—had to be in Icelandic because I want to speak to its soul." Born Laufey Lín Bing Jónsdóttir, she was introduced to classical music through her Chinese violinist mother, and her exposure to jazz-pop standards came courtesy of her Icelandic father's record collection. At a young age, she played both cello and piano. "I was like listening to orchestra rehearsals in my mother's womb," Laufey, who was raised in Reykjavík and Washington, D.C., says. "I was given a violin when I was 2. Classical music was what I've heard at home my whole life. But also, it was a lot of jazz music and the Beatles." Although she harbored the idea of becoming a singer in addition to being a musician, Laufey initially didn't think it was realistic for her to forge a career in the vintage music that she grew up with. "I didn't have any example of success from somebody who looked or sounded like me in current times. My favorite singers were from the '40s, '50s and '60s. So I just didn't believe it. I knew that music was always going to be a huge part of my life. I was just too scared to jump into it. Laufey later attended Berklee College of Music in Boston on a scholarship, which was a turning point for her. "There were so many people writing around me, and it kind of empowered me to explore my sound and try things. So I started writing in a way that reflected my favorite music, which was songs from the Great American Songbook. I realized that if I wrote in that form but used modern experiences, it could create something that people would be interested in." Her breakthrough came when she wrote and released a single, "Street by Street," in 2020 that topped the Icelandic radio charts. Laufey's fame grew around this period when she started posting popular videos online of her performances of classic standards by jazz legends such as Ella Fitzgerald and Chet Baker, as well as her original compositions. Through AWAL, a record company that allows its artists to retain ownership of their work, she released her albums Everything I Know About Love and, a year later in 2023, Bewitched. 'A Generation of Mixture' Much has been written about Laufey's huge popularity with her Gen Z audiences, which is remarkable given that jazz and pop songs from the 1920s to the 1960s are generally a tough sell to mainstream youth. One major aspect of Laufey's appeal to her young fan base is that, underneath the music, her mostly autobiographical lyrics are relatable and contemporary. "I loved it [the Songbook sound] so much growing up.... It's very natural to me to advocate for that. I couldn't fake being a pop singer—this is just what I do. I'm so lucky that people are interested in it. I think it's because Gen Z is just so open to different styles of music. And with the amount of access we have to music from all different genres and decades, the palette of young listeners has really changed. "There are so many artists who have styles that don't fall into a certain box, but are applauded because we are a generation of mixture. So many of my fan base are mixed race like me or from different cultural backgrounds. I think that's a part of it." Laufeyperforms with Gustavo Dudamel & LA Phil at the Coachella Stage during the 2025 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 19, 2025 in Indio, California. Laufeyperforms with Gustavo Dudamel & LA Phil at the Coachella Stage during the 2025 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 19, 2025 in Indio, Coachella Laufey will be touring large arenas in support of the new album—further evidence of her growing popularity—including two nights at New York City's Madison Square Garden. Yet she has stayed mostly grounded through all of the attention. "I've been practicing that since I was so young," she says, "like the highs and lows of going on stage, playing a recital, coming back home and knowing that I still have to finish my homework the next day. My Chinese upbringing is, 'Stay humble and thankful and respect everyone around you.' That is something that I carry with me always." "I am in true shock over my career," she adds. "It's always surprising to me. It's very hard to have any sort of ego about it when I'm kind of curious as to how it even happened in the first place." Further Listening Everything I Know About Love [ARTWORK] Everything I Know About Love [ARTWORK] Emma Summerton Everything I Know About Love AWAL, 2022 If someone was listening to Laufey's 2022 debut album for the first time and did not know that its music consisted of mostly original material, they could've sworn she was interpreting classic Broadway and jazz-pop songs from the era of Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee and Tony Bennett. That's a credit to how Laufey faithfully mines that era with letter-perfect precision and authenticity: from the melodies and lovelorn lyrics to Laufey's wistful and sultry voice. "It's about dealing with growing up," Laufey said of the album in a press release at the time. "It's also very 'hopeless romantic.' All the songs are based on my personal experiences in the past years, but the way I write about them is like fiction." Bewitched Cover Bewitched Cover Emma Summerton Bewitched AWAL, 2023 Laufey didn't experience the dreaded sophomore slump with Bewitched. Instead, it won a Grammy in 2024 under the best traditional pop vocal album category. In addition to containing the hugely popular "From the Start" and the title song, Bewitched features Laufey's cover of the Erroll Garner standard "Misty." "This is a love album," she said in a previous statement, "whether it be a love towards a friend or a lover or life. The first album also touched a lot on things like moving out of my childhood home and moving into a new city for the first time—being an adult. With this one, I've experienced a little bit more of that, and I'm writing about the magic in the love of being young."
New York Times
4 hours ago
- New York Times
Onstage and Onscreen, The New York Times Is Ready for Its Close-Up
Times Insider explains who we are and what we do and delivers behind-the-scenes insights into how our journalism comes together. In the Betty Boop musical that was recently on Broadway, the titular cartoon character's arrival in the real world was greeted with a headline on the front page of The New York Times: 'BETTY BOOP IN NYC.' The fake front page, which an associate scenic designer, TJ Greenway, helped create for the production, is one of dozens of fake New York Times pages that have shown up in films, TV shows and stages over the past century. Sure, it would be easy enough to break news in a New York paper with a fictional name. But for decades, designers have set out to replicate The Times's instantly recognizable logo and typeface. Perhaps surprisingly, one does not necessarily need permission from the real New York Times to produce such original, editorial creations. Certain uses may sometimes be protected under the First Amendment — provided they are not so-called trademark uses, suggestive of endorsement, or deceptive or damaging to the newspaper, according to Simone Procas, a lawyer for The Times. (And The Times enforces its intellectual property rights when appropriate, she added.) Here are seven memorable Times cameos onstage and onscreen from the past few decades. 'Boop! The Musical' (2025) The Tony-nominated musical, which closed in July, found the animated character escaping her black-and-white universe for the real world. The show's creative team started with the layout of a real New York Times front page from 2023, the year that the original Chicago production of 'Boop!' began performances. The designers then slotted in a new headline and a photo of the character beside another story — which, it turned out, was about President Donald J. Trump being indicted as he ran for re-election. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
