Leslie Odom Jr, Broadway’s original Aaron Burr, to join London cast of Hamilton

Leslie Odom Jr, who originated the role of Aaron Burr in Hamilton on Broadway, is to return to the hit musical – this time making his West End debut.The actor will join the London cast at the Victoria Palace theatre for nine weeks this summer. Odom won a Tony award in 2016 for his portrayal, which he developed alongside the show’s creator and star, Lin-Manuel Miranda, at its workshop and off-Broadway productions. He appears on the Grammy award-winning cast album and also played the role in the Disney+ film of Hamilton, recorded at the Richard Rodgers theatre in New York.Burr is the chief antagonist in the musical – a lawyer and politician whose rivalry with Hamilton" class="entity-link entity-person" data-entity-id="30788" data-entity-type="person">Alexander Hamilton, the first US secretary of the treasury, results in tragedy. Burr has the first lines in the show in an opening number where he also introduces himself with the words: “And me? I’m the damn fool that shot him.” He leads the songs Wait for It and The Room Where It Happens and shares a poignant duet, Dear Theodosia, with Hamilton.Odom played Burr in the original Broadway production for a year and reprised the role for a 12-week stint in 2025. “Returning to Hamilton and revisiting the role of Aaron Burr with the growth and perspective of time has been a profoundly healing artistic experience,” he said. “I am thankful to [producers] Cameron Mackintosh and Jeffrey Seller for the invitation to make my West End debut with this fabulous company.”Mackintosh said: “When Jeffrey Seller first invited me to see Hamilton during its New York tryout at the Public theatre over 10 years ago, I was knocked out by Leslie Odom Jr’s electric performance … I’m absolutely thrilled that London will now be able to share the experience.”Hamilton opened in London in 2017 and won seven Olivier awards, including best actor in a musical for Giles Terera as Aaron Burr.