logo
‘Hamilton' will return to Chicago in 2026 following Kennedy Center cancellation

‘Hamilton' will return to Chicago in 2026 following Kennedy Center cancellation

Chicago Tribune18-05-2025
The Broadway musical 'Hamilton' will return to Chicago in 2026, the producer Jeffrey Seller announced Sunday at a Chicago Humanities Festival event. The first national touring company of Lin-Manuel Miranda's smash hit will play the CIBC Theatre (18 W. Monroe St.) from March 4 to April 26, 2026. Group tickets are now available; individual tickets will go on sale later this year, presenter Broadway in Chicago said.
Those dates roughly coincide with the previously planned dates for the show to play the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Seller had announced the cancellation of those dates after President Donald Trump announced plans to install himself as Kennedy Center chairman and change the arts center's programming to be more in line with his administration's priorities.
Beginning in 2016 and concluding in 2020, 'Hamilton' had a dedicated, 171-week run in Chicago, the first city to present the show after its Broadway opening. The Chicago company played to more than 2.5 million people and grossed more than $400 million at the Chicago box office over three and a half years. It was an economic driver in the Loop, with more than half of its audience coming from more than 100 miles away.
Updated 'Hamilton' timeline: From Miranda's 'joke' to Obama's White House to Broadway to Chicago and back
A touring production of the musical came back in 2023 for a fall run at the Nederlander Theatre. This new engagement will represent a promised return.
Seller was in Chicago for an event at the Francis Parker School to talk about his new memoir, 'Theater Kid.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Trump will host Kennedy Center Honors in presidential first. Here's who's on the honorees list
Trump will host Kennedy Center Honors in presidential first. Here's who's on the honorees list

Yahoo

time27 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Trump will host Kennedy Center Honors in presidential first. Here's who's on the honorees list

Ten years after his career as a television star ended when he launched his first campaign for the presidency, President Donald Trump is returning to his presenter roots as host of this year's Kennedy Center Honors award ceremony this December. The president, who appointed himself head of the Kennedy Center shortly after taking office, made the announcement himself at a press conference to unveil this year's slate of honorees. He claimed the Kennedy Center board had requested that he serve as the emcee of this year's show, stepping into shoes once filled by the late CBS News anchor Walter Cronkite from 1981 to 2002, then by Ambassador Caroline Kennedy — the daughter of President John F. Kennedy, for whom the arts center is named — from 2003 to 2012. More recently, the award ceremony was hosted by Glenn Close, Stephen Colbert, Gloria Estefan, LL Cool J, and David Letterman. 'I think we're going to do very well, because we have some great honorees, some really great ones,' he said. Trump, most likely in jest, claimed he'd always wanted to be among those honored for lifelong contributions to American arts and culture but was 'never able to get one.' He initially claimed the center's board had selected 'a truly exceptional class of honorees.' But under questioning from reporters he admitted that he had signed off on the list and rejected multiple picks for honorees because they'd been 'too woke.' 'I would say I was about 98 percent involved ... they all went through me,' he said. 'I turned down plenty who were too woke.' He added that the annual event's roster is 'very different than it used to be' and is packed with 'great people.' Here's who is on the list. George Strait The first nominee announced by Trump is country music artist George Strait. The award-winning singer, songwriter and actor is one of the best-selling artists of all time, with 33 different albums certified as gold or platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. The RIAA also ranks him as the 12th best selling recording artist in the United States with over 70 million records sold. Called the 'King of Country Music' by some critics and writers, Trump remarked that Strait was a 'good-looking guy' as his photograph was unveiled. 'Over an extraordinary four decade career, George has sold more than 120 million records worldwide, amassed 60 number one hits Wow, and produced 33 Platinum certified albums, more than any other living American. That is amazing,' Trump said. 'He's beloved by hundreds of millions of people all over the world. He's really something, and they call him the king of country, and we know him very well.' More follows... Solve the daily Crossword

Trump preps for high-stakes Putin meeting
Trump preps for high-stakes Putin meeting

The Hill

time28 minutes ago

  • The Hill

Trump preps for high-stakes Putin meeting

Happy Wednesday. Do you think we should join every other company today in rebranding to glittery orange and mint green? 🧡💚 In today's issue: Trump preps for Putin meeting Speaks with Zelensky, European leaders President unveils Kennedy Center honorees Trump weighs marijuana reforms Schools brace for MAHA lunch changes 🎤 IN THE WHITE HOUSE Europe would like to have a word: It's quiet on Capitol Hill — it's Congress's much-needed August recess — but President Trump is keeping a full schedule. He spoke with European allies this morning in preparation for his Friday meeting in Alaska with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump has been more critical of Putin lately, but he reverted to his sharp criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky this week. The Hill's Laura Kelly reports this is sending chills across Europe. Europe's worst-case scenario is Trump aligning with Putin and then forcing a bad deal on Ukraine. So Trump spoke with European leaders and Zelensky this morning ahead of Friday's one-on-one with the Russian leader. How did the call go?: European Commission President Urusula von der Leyen said the call was 'very good.' 'Nobody wants peace more than us, a just and lasting peace,' she wrote on X. It's worth reading Laura Kelly 's reporting today: 'Will Trump get played by Putin? Europe is worried' 🗨️ Follow today's live blog Trump is also tamping down expectations: The White House called the upcoming meeting a 'listening exercise,' lowering expectations for Friday. This comes after Trump recently suggested Ukraine could cede land to Russia to end the conflict. Where are Trump and Putin meeting?: Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, according to The New York Times. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Tuesday that Trump and Putin would be meeting one-on-one. President Trump just unveiled the Kennedy Center Honors recipients. Actor Sylvester Stallone, disco singer Gloria Gaynor, rock band KISS, British actor Michael Crawford and country singer George Strait will be recognized at the first awards gala since Trump's overhaul of the iconic venue. 💻 Watch Trump's Kennedy Center visit What else is on Trump's schedule today?: Trump is expected to sign more executive orders. ➤ WHERE IN THE WORLD IS JD VANCE?: Vice President Vance is in the United Kingdom today. He visited U.S. troops at Royal Air Force Base Fairford this morning. 💻 Vance's visit with U.S. troops Do we think Dunkaroos and Lunchables are definitely a no or …?: Schools are bracing for changes to school lunches due to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 's 'Make America Healthy Again' (MAHA) movement. Like what?: The Trump administration is looking to add freshly cooked meals to school lunch programs, despite some only being able to buy frozen meals. However, this would require more employees, more ingredients and possibly more equipment. It's an open question of how school districts will pay for these changes. Some schools have partnered with nonprofit organizations, but not every district can afford to make these changes. Keep an eye out: The MAHA Commission was required to send its recommendations to the White House by Tuesday. But CNN reports it won't be released for several weeks. What we know about the report: It's the second part of the commission's report. The first installment came out in May, advocating against ultraprocessed foods, pharmaceutical prescriptions and environmental toxins, per CNN. This second document is expected to lay out a plan to tackle those issues. Another thing to watch for — Trump considers marijuana reform: President Trump has been considering changing the federal classification of marijuana. He said Monday that he's planning to decide in the coming weeks. The Wall Street Journal first reported that Trump was considering rescheduling marijuana from a Schedule 1 drug to a Schedule 3 drug. Axios's Tal Axelrod reports that MAGA World is urging Trump to back off this plan. If marijuana is rescheduled as a Schedule 3 drug, will it become legal?: No, it would not decriminalize marijuana or make it legal federally, explains Nexstar's Addy Bink. It would still be considered a controlled substance. So, what would it do then?: It would recognize medical uses of cannabis. It would also reduce federal taxes for businesses involved in marijuana distribution. It's worth reading this explainer. ➤ QUICK HITS: 🔎 The 13-year search for a journalist: The Washington Post published new details about the efforts to find Austin Tice, the journalist who was kidnapped in Syria in 2012. 🤖 OpenAI's newest AI technology has a lot of quirks: OpenAI's latest AI chatbot, GPT-5, has had a rocky rollout. The Wall Street Journal reports how its troubles show how hard it is to 'remain undisputed [as the] AI leader.' COMING UP The House and Senate are out. 🌴 President Trump is in Washington. Vice President Vance is in England. (All times EST) 4 p.m.: Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office. 🐝 INTERNET BUZZ 🔎 The 13-year search for a journalist: The Washington Post published new details about the efforts to find Austin Tice, the journalist who was kidnapped in Syria in 2012. 🤖 OpenAI's newest AI technology has a lot of quirks: OpenAI's latest AI chatbot, GPT-5, has had a rocky rollout. The Wall Street Journal reports how its troubles show how hard it is to 'remain undisputed [as the] AI leader.' 👋 AND FINALLY…

Trump says he will host the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony
Trump says he will host the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony

NBC News

time29 minutes ago

  • NBC News

Trump says he will host the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony

President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that he would host this year's Kennedy Center Honors ceremony, the latest move by the president to revamp a Washington, D.C., cultural institution in his image. "It's going to be a big evening. I've been asked to host," the president said on Wednesday as he was announcing this year's Kennedy Center Honorees. Trump, who appointed himself chair of the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees earlier this year, said that he was reluctant to host when he was first presented with the idea. "I said, 'I don't care. I'm president of the United States. I won't do it'. They said, 'please,'" he said. "I didn't want to do it? Okay? They're going to say, 'He insisted.' I did not insist. But I think it will be quite successful," the president added. The White House did not respond to clarifying questions about what Trump's role in hosting will look like, including whether that means he'll emcee the ceremony. Past hosts of the Kennedy Center Honors include Queen Latifah, who hosted last year, and David Letterman, who hosted in 2021. On Wednesday, Trump announced this year's Kennedy Center Honorees, which include singer George Strait, actor and comedian Michael Crawford, actor Sylvester Stallone, singer Gloria Gaynor and the band KISS. Since the start of his second term, Trump has often spoken about the Kennedy Center and the changes he hopes to make there. In February, the president abruptly fired several Kennedy Center board members and installed himself as chair of the board. In a post on Truth Social at the time, the president wrote, "At my direction, we are going to make the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., GREAT AGAIN." "Just last year, the Kennedy Center featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth — THIS WILL STOP. The Kennedy Center is an American Jewel, and must reflect the brightest STARS on its stage from all across our Nation. For the Kennedy Center, THE BEST IS YET TO COME!," he added. On Wednesday, Trump spoke about his February decision, saying, "We ended the woke political programming, and we're restoring the Kennedy Center as the premier venue for performing arts anywhere in the country, anywhere in the world." The president also previewed forthcoming construction at the Kennedy Center, telling attendees at Wednesday's event that "with the help of Congress, we secured the critical funding necessary to rebuild the building," adding that the seats in the venue would be replaced. "All of the seats will be taken out. The room is being completely rebuilt," Trump added. Trump has also boosted an effort by a group of House Republicans to rename the Kennedy Center after first lady Melania Trump — a move that could potentially violate the law that created the center in the first place. In a Truth Social post earlier this week announcing his Wednesday visit to the Kennedy Center, the president joked about the potential renaming, writing, "GREAT Nominees for the TRUMP/KENNEDY CENTER, whoops, I mean, KENNEDY CENTER, AWARDS. They will be announced Wednesday." Trump has also sought changes at other Washington cultural institutions, including the Smithsonian Museum. On Tuesday, the White House confirmed it was conducting a review of the Smithsonian's museum exhibitions to make sure they align with Trump's view of history.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store