Hamilton is one of the biggest and most popular musical productions of recent years. The rap and hip hop-infused retelling of American founding father Alexander Hamilton’s life premiered on Broadway in New York City in 2015 and quickly became a cultural phenomenon, winning multiple Tony Awards and a Pulitzer Prize for Drama. With its catchy songs, diverse casting, and creative twist on American history, Hamilton captured the imagination of audiences and critics alike. Since debuting on Broadway, Hamilton has launched multi-year national tours, opened a production in London’s West End, and released a film version on Disney+. With Hamilton’s incredible popularity and reach, many theaters across North America likely hope to host the buzzworthy musical. This leads to the key question – will Hamilton make its way to Edmonton in the near future? There are several factors to consider when determining if Edmonton might land a production of Hamilton in upcoming years.
Hamilton’s Past and Future Tour Plans
To predict whether Hamilton will come to Edmonton, it helps to look at where the musical has toured in the past and its plans for future productions. Hamilton’s first national tour began in March 2017, starting in San Francisco before traversing major markets like Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, and Washington D.C. International productions also launched in London in December 2017 and in Sydney, Australia in March 2021. Upcoming tours are planned for Germany starting in 2022 and returning to Australia in 2023. As of October 2022, there has been no official Hamilton tour stop in Edmonton. However, large-scale Broadway tours often take multi-year routes through North America, so Edmonton could still be on the itinerary for a future leg.
Edmonton’s Theater Landscape
In addition to Hamilton’s tour route, Edmonton’s own theater landscape is a factor in determining if the city could host the musical. Edmonton has a thriving performing arts scene with multiple large theater venues. Some of the main theaters include:
- Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium – 2,538 seats
- Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium – 2,538 seats
- Citadel Theatre – 879 seats
- Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium – 2,538 seats
These theaters have the capacity to stage major touring productions. In recent years, Edmonton has hosted well-known shows like The Lion King, Wicked, The Book of Mormon, and Dear Evan Hansen. The Jubilee Auditoriums also frequently feature Broadway Across Canada tours. Edmonton therefore has the proper theater infrastructure and audience to attract a high-profile musical like Hamilton.
Local Interest and Demand
Beyond theater logistics, there also appears to be substantial interest in Hamilton from Edmonton theater-goers. Many cultural commentators and media outlets in the city have highlighted a desire to see Hamilton make its way to Edmonton stages:
- In a 2017 year-end review of the theater scene, the Edmonton Journal noted Hamilton as a hugely popular musical they hoped would tour to the city soon.
- On tourism site Explore Edmonton, Hamilton is listed under “Broadway Musicals We Crave.”
- The University of Alberta’s student newspaper The Gateway has published multiple articles wishing for Hamilton to tour to Edmonton.
This commentary indicates that bringing Hamilton to Edmonton would satisfy consumer demand. Edmonton residents are clearly excited at the prospect of Hamilton coming to their city.
Factors Working Against Edmonton Hosting Hamilton
However, there are also some potential challenges or limiting factors facing Edmonton in landing a production of Hamilton.
Edmonton’s Smaller Market Size
With a metropolitan population around 1.4 million, Edmonton is a mid-sized theater market. It lacks the massive population of cities like Toronto, Chicago, or New York City. Hamilton producers may feel Edmonton cannot support an extended multi-week engagement. They may focus touring on larger urban centers first. Edmonton’s secondary market size could put it lower on the priority list.
Minimal Touring Activity in Western Canada
Many Broadway tours concentrate on the eastern half of North America. Looking at Hamilton’s past tour stops, they have focused on cities like Los Angeles, Houston, Philadelphia, and Seattle. Western Canadian cities like Edmonton, Calgary, and Winnipeg have received fewer visits. The significant travel distance to Western Canada could be a deterrent. Producers may be reluctant to send productions to farther flung markets with lower name recognition.
Availability of Theaters
Edmonton has quality theater venues; however, scoring dates in those busy theaters could be tricky. With only a few viable options like the Citadel Theatre and Jubilee Auditoriums, scheduling conflicts pose a hurdle. If those venues are already booked for certain dates, it limits Hamilton’s ability to plan a visit. The constrained supply of large theaters makes scheduling difficult.
Projecting the Chances of Hamilton Touring to Edmonton
Given the factors for and against Edmonton as a tour stop, what are the chances Hamilton actually comes to the city in the next few years? Several projections can be made:
Hamilton’s National Tour Continues
This is the most basic requirement. For Hamilton to reach Edmonton, its American tour needs to continue traversing North America in upcoming years. Right now there are no signs of the tour concluding. It has an open-ended run and consistently sells out. As long as the tour remains active, Edmonton has a chance.
Good Chance Within 5 Years
Looking at Hamilton’s gradual expansion across North America, a stop in Edmonton seems likely within a 5-year window, probably 2024 or 2025. Expanding into additional mid-sized markets like Edmonton fits Hamilton’s previous growth models. The show has gradually reached new cities each year.
1-2 Week Run Most Likely
Given Edmonton’s smaller market, Hamilton would probably schedule a 1 or 2 week engagement. A short run reduces the theater booking issues. Mega-hits like Hamilton only need 1-2 weeks to attract demand.
So in summary, Hamilton touring to Edmonton appears to be a realistic possibility within the next few years. The city has the appetite and venue capacity, though market size limitations may cap the length of a run. If Hamilton does announce an Edmonton stop, expect strong ticket sales and excited audiences.
Comparisons to Other Canadian Cities
To further gauge Hamilton’s likelihood in Edmonton, it is helpful to look at other major Canadian markets. How do they compare to Edmonton in attracting a Hamilton run?
City | Population | Theater Infrastructure | Got Hamilton Tour? |
---|---|---|---|
Toronto | 5.9 million | Excellent – Multiple large theaters | Yes – 2018 |
Montreal | 4.1 million | Excellent – Place des Arts | Yes – 2019 |
Calgary | 1.6 million | Good – Jubilee Auditorium | No |
Edmonton | 1.4 million | Good – Citadel and Jubilee | Not yet |
Winnipeg | 822,000 | Decent – Centennial Concert Hall | No |
Toronto and Montreal had the population, theater supply, and overall prominence to attract an early Hamilton tour. Calgary’s market is just slightly larger than Edmonton but lacks venues on par with Edmonton’s Citadel and Jubilee. Winnipeg is the smallest market with relatively limited theater options. The analysis shows Edmonton faces challenges as a mid-tier city but has strengths over smaller cities in theater infrastructure and growing demand for big musicals. If Hamilton comes to Calgary in the future, it would signal a stronger likelihood of also reaching Edmonton.
Potential Dates for an Edmonton Hamilton Run
If one assumes Hamilton will tour to Edmonton based on the above analysis, when might it come? Some target windows for Edmonton to land Hamilton:
- Spring/Summer 2024 – With the London production closing in June 2023, the 2023-24 season could see producers push the North American tour into new secondary markets like Edmonton. Spring/summer has less competition with other tours.
- Fall 2025 – After running over a decade by 2025, producers may want to mix up the tour routing. Fall 2025 could bring a return to Canada hitting markets missed on the first tours like Edmonton.
- Spring 2026 – A 12+ year run on Broadway seems likely. After over a decade, Hamilton could embark on a “final tour lap” reaching every remaining major city. Edmonton would be part of this ultimate tour.
These are hypothetical but plausible timeframes for Hamilton to finally reach Edmonton based on typical Broadway tour cycles.
Ideal Venues
If Hamilton does play Edmonton, which theaters could potentially host it?
- Jubilee Auditorium – With 2,538 seats, the Northern or Southern Jubilee Auditorium would offer the largest venue and likely the top option.
- Citadel Theatre – Its classic proscenium stage and nearly 900 seats make the Citadel a quality secondary possibility.
- Rogers Place – Edmonton’s major indoor arena could house Hamilton, but theatrical productions rarely play arenas.
The Northern or Southern Jubilee Auditorium would provide the ideal size and theatrical atmosphere.
Conclusion
In summary, there are strong indicators Hamilton will tour to Edmonton within the next 5 years. As a popular mid-sized market, Edmonton has the ingredients to land the hugely successful musical: engaged audiences, suitable venues, and a growing arts scene hungry for blockbuster theater. Hamilton’s producers would be wise to bring the show to Edmonton, where it is primed for a round of sell-out crowds and excited buzz. While not guaranteed, an Edmonton Hamilton stop in the 2024 to 2026 window seems a highly workable prospect based on the musical’s touring history and direction. For local arts followers, putting Hamilton on your wish list for Edmonton theater over the next few years looks like a safe bet.