Fresno residents have been buzzing with excitement at the possibility of the hit Broadway musical Hamilton coming to their city. Rumors started swirling when the Fresno Convention & Entertainment Center listed Hamilton as part of their upcoming 2022-2023 Broadway in Fresno series. However, Hamilton is not currently listed on the official website for the national Hamilton tour. So, is Hamilton really coming to Fresno or is this just wishful thinking on the part of local fans? Let’s take a closer look at the evidence.
Where did the Hamilton to Fresno rumors start?
In May 2022, a preliminary list of shows for the upcoming Broadway in Fresno season at the Saroyan Theatre was posted on the Fresno Convention & Entertainment Center website. One of the listings was for Hamilton, slated for March 28-April 9, 2023. This led to a flurry of excited social media posts and news stories about Hamilton possibly making a stop in Fresno as part of its national tour.
However, this preliminary list was removed a few days later and currently the official Broadway in Fresno website has TBD (to be determined) for the March 28-April 9, 2023 slot. The Fresno Convention & Entertainment Center has said the preliminary list was posted in error.
What do official sources say about Hamilton coming to Fresno?
The national tour of Hamilton is managed by Broadway Across America. On the Hamilton tour website, there is no indication that Fresno is currently part of the tour route. The website lists tour stops through June 2023 in cities like Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Milwaukee, and Oklahoma City, but nothing further west than Texas.
Additionally, a spokesperson for Broadway in Fresno confirmed to local media that nothing has been finalized regarding Hamilton coming to the Saroyan Theatre in March 2023. The spokesperson reiterated that the preliminary list posted briefly on the Fresno Convention & Entertainment Center website was posted in error.
So unfortunately, based on information from official sources, there is no evidence right now that Hamilton will be coming to Fresno as part of the 2022-2023 Broadway in Fresno season.
Does Fresno meet the requirements for Hamilton’s tour route?
While nothing is confirmed yet, Fresno does seem like a viable tour market for a show as hugely popular as Hamilton. Here are some factors that work in Fresno’s favor:
– Population size – At over 500,000 residents, Fresno is one of the largest cities in California outside of Los Angeles and the Bay Area. A large metro area means more potential ticket buyers.
– Past Broadway interest – Broadway in Fresno has been bringing touring Broadway shows to the Saroyan Theatre for over 30 years. Past hits like The Lion King, Wicked, Book of Mormon, and Dear Evan Hansen have played to enthusiastic Fresno audiences.
– Saroyan Theatre capacity – With over 2,600 seats, the Saroyan Theatre has the capacity and staging facilities to host a major production like Hamilton.
– Central location – Fresno’s relatively central location between Los Angeles and San Francisco makes it a convenient tour stop for a show traveling up and down the state.
So while not yet confirmed, Fresno does seem like it would be on the radar for the Hamilton tour routing team based on its demographics, past Broadway ticket sales, and theater facilities.
How likely is it that Hamilton will come to Fresno in 2022-2023?
Given that Hamilton is not currently listed on tour schedules beyond June 2023, the main question is whether Fresno is a planned stop for the 2023-2024 season. Based on industry expert speculation, a Hamilton run in Fresno in 2023 or 2024 seems highly likely for a few key reasons:
– Momentum of the tour – The Hamilton tour launched in 2017 and has rapidly expanded to new markets each subsequent season. In recent interviews, the producers have said they plan to continue this expansion as long as demand supports it.
– West coast focus – Early tour routes focused on the Northeast, Southeast and Midwest. But in 2021 and 2022, the tour has sharply expanded along the west coast with runs in cities like Seattle, Portland, San Diego, and Las Vegas. This momentum makes Fresno a likely next west coast addition.
– Additional touring productions – In February 2023, a third national tour of Hamilton is slated to launch. This will give the show capacity to reach more markets in a single season, increasing Fresno’s chances.
– Proven market demand – As evidenced by the frenzy of excitement over the premature announcement, Fresno residents are clearly eager for Hamilton. The show’s proven success in other California cities makes the Fresno market a relatively low-risk addition.
So while 2022-2023 seems premature, a Hamilton run at the Saroyan in 2023-2024 or 2024-2025 appears highly likely based on current tour trends. The show seems destined for Fresno in the near future.
What needs to happen for Hamilton to come to Fresno?
For Hamilton to officially announce a stop in Fresno, a few key pieces need to fall into place:
– Saroyan Theatre availability – Scheduling for a blockbuster show occurs years in advance, so both parties will need to ensure the Saroyan Theatre calendar is clear.
– Contract finalization – Broadway Across America and the Fresno venues will need to finalize booking contracts and negotiate financial terms, which takes time.
– Announcement timing – Hamilton producers tend to announce new tour stops 1-2 years prior. A Fresno announcement would likely happen 8-12 months before opening night.
– Marketing launch – A Hamilton run requires a robust local marketing campaign including season ticket promotions and strategic ticket on-sales. This machinery takes months to ramp up.
– Final tour routing – The Hamilton team will need to map out complete tour routing and logistics for any West Coast expansion into new markets like Fresno.
Realistically, fans may need to wait 12-18 months from an official announcement to opening night for all these factors to fall into place. But the payoff of seeing Hamilton live on stage in Fresno would undoubtedly be worth the wait!
How much are Hamilton tickets likely to cost in Fresno?
Based on price data from other California cities that have hosted Hamilton, if the show comes to Fresno ticket prices would likely average:
Section | Potential Price Range |
Orchestra | $200 – $400+ |
Mezzanine | $100 – $200 |
Balcony | $75 – $150 |
Premium seats could potentially exceed $400, while partial view or lottery seats would be below $100. In cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco, demand has been so high that average resale prices ended up 2-3X higher than face value prices.
Fresno has lower overall cost of living than LA or San Francisco, which could possibly allow producers to price tickets slightly below the major coastal cities. Regardless, Fresno fans should brace for Hamilton to be one of the priciest touring shows in Saroyan Theatre history given its unprecedented popularity.
When can Fresno fans expect an official Hamilton announcement?
As eager as Fresno theatre fans may be, Hamilton is highly unlikely to announce a local run before summer 2023 at the earliest. Broadway Across America typically announces upcoming touring seasons in April-June of the preceding year.
So for a March 2023 or 2024 run, an announcement potentially wouldn’t come until June or July 2022 at the soonest. However, given that Hamilton is not currently booked beyond mid 2023, a Fresno announcement realistically may not come until 2023.
The good news is that when the official Hamilton announcement does come, it is sure to be a major event for the Fresno arts community. Based on all signs, the wait will absolutely be worth it!
How can I get tickets to Hamilton in Fresno?
When tickets for Hamilton in Fresno finally do go on sale (likely 12-18 months before showtime), here are some tips for scoring seats:
– Get on the Broadway in Fresno email list – Subscribers get early access to presales.
– Join fan clubs – Official Hamilton fan club members get exclusive ticket lotteries and early booking windows.
– Watch social media closely – Last-minute seats are often released via Facebook and Twitter.
– Be ready right at on-sale time – Use electronic alerts and countdowns so you can purchase the moment sales begin.
– Buy early for best selection – It may ease planning to secure tickets far in advance, though prices are higher.
– Consider multi-show packages – Season ticket bundles can give you first access before single tickets go on sale.
– Check resale sites – If official tickets sell out quickly, resale sites like StubHub may have inflated price options.
With immense demand expected, the key is being ready to pounce when tickets are made available. Have accounts set up in advance, pick your desired seats right away, and don’t hesitate on your purchase!
Conclusion
While nothing is yet confirmed, the bulk of evidence indicates that Fresno will likely be seeing Hamilton take the Saroyan Theatre stage within the next 2-3 years. Between the show’s massive popularity, Hamilton’s expanding tour route, Fresno’s strong track record of supporting Broadway, and the mistaken early announcement hinting at plans already in motion, the stars seem aligned for Hamilton to coming to Fresno soon. Fans should temper expectations for 2022-2023 dates but can reasonably start getting excited for the experience of seeing the iconic musical in their hometown sometime in the 2023-2025 window. Whenever the official Hamilton-in-Fresno announcement does arrive, it will certainly be cause for eager celebration and commemoration in Fresno!