Hamilton, the smash hit Broadway musical created by Lin-Manuel Miranda, has become a cultural phenomenon since its premiere in 2015. With innovative hip-hop music and powerful, thoughtful storytelling, it has energized legions of devoted fans around the world eager to see the story of America’s founding father Alexander Hamilton brought to life on stage.
For theater lovers in Michigan hoping to experience Hamilton live without traveling too far from home, there are a few ways to see the show locally. Here is a look at where you can catch performances of Hamilton in various Michigan cities.
Detroit
The first stop for Hamilton in Michigan was Detroit’s Fisher Theatre, where the show played a Limited engagement from March 12 to April 21, 2019 as part of the Broadway In Detroit series. It was a hugely popular run that gave Detroit theater audiences their first opportunity to be in the room where it happens with Hamilton live on stage.
There has been no announcement yet about when Hamilton might return to Detroit in the future. However, it was such a hit in 2019 that it seems likely the show could come back for another production at some point, giving Detroiters another chance to see the city’s history dramatized through Hamilton’s electrifying hip-hop, jazz, rap and R&B tunes.
Some other big Broadway shows coming to Detroit’s Fisher Theatre in the near future include Wicked, Tootsie, Hairspray, and Jesus Christ Superstar, but Hamilton fans will have to keep waiting for news of its return.
Other Detroit Theaters
In addition to the Fisher Theatre, there are a few other larger theaters in downtown Detroit that could potentially host Hamilton in the future:
- Detroit Opera House – A majestic, ornate theater that seats over 2,700 people.
- Fox Theatre – A sprawling historic movie palace with around 5,000 seats.
- Masonic Temple Theatre – A 4,400 seat venue inside the Masonic Temple.
However there has been no indication yet that Hamilton will play at any of these venues. For now, the Fisher remains the most likely Detroit home for the show.
Grand Rapids
In March 2020, nearly a year after its Detroit engagement ended, Hamilton came to Grand Rapids’ DeVos Performance Hall for a 3-week run. It kicked off the Broadway Grand Rapids series’ 2020-2021 season and gave West Michigan residents their first chance to experience the magic of Hamilton live.
The DeVos Hall engagement ran from March 3-22 before being suspended short due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, it drew large and enthusiastic crowds during its brief Grand Rapids run.
There is typically a 2 to 3 year gap between Broadway shows’ touring engagements in major cities, so it may be 2023 or 2024 before Hamilton returns to Grand Rapids. But after the rave reviews and excited fans during its abbreviated 2020 appearance,expect Hamilton to come back to DeVos Performance Hall as soon as the touring production’s schedule allows.
Other Grand Rapids Theaters
At 2,400 seats, the DeVos Performance Hall is by far the largest theater in Grand Rapids suitable for major touring productions like Hamilton. There are a few other venues that host Broadway shows on a smaller scale:
- Circle Theatre – 370 seats
- Civic Theatre – 1,500 seats
- Van Singel Fine Arts Center (by GVSU) – 400 seats
But Hamilton would almost certainly only play DeVos Hall given its huge scale and technical/staging requirements.
East Lansing
East Lansing is another Michigan city lucky enough to have gotten a Hamilton tour stop. The show played a limited 2-week engagement at the Wharton Center from May 7-19, 2019 as part of the 2018-2019 Broadway at Wharton Center season.
During its East Lansing run, audience members praised Hamilton as a brilliant, moving and unforgettable theater experience. As MSU’s performing arts centerpiece, the Wharton Center was a fantastic venue for the show too.
It remains to be seen when Hamilton might return to East Lansing, but its extremely well received 2019 run makes it very likely the show will be back at the Wharton Center in the coming years. The Wharton team is probably doing all they can to slot it into their upcoming season schedules.
Other East Lansing Theaters
At around 1,500 seats, the Wharton Center is far and away the largest, most modern performance venue in East Lansing. The only other options are small community theaters like:
- East Lansing Hannah Community Center Theatre – 150 seats
- MSU Auditorium – 608 seats
So like Grand Rapids, Hamilton would certainly play the Wharton if it returns to East Lansing as expected.
Flint
Flint audiences got a taste of Hamilton when it toured to the Whiting Auditorium for 2 weeks from July 9-21, 2019. The Whiting brought the show to town as part of its 2019-2020 Broadway season.
During its Flint run, Hamilton played to several sold out, rowdy crowds that enthusiastically embraced the show’s hip-hop energy and portrayal of history. It was a big hit that left many theatergoers hoping for a return visit.
As a notable regional cultural center about an hour outside Detroit, the Whiting attracts most major Broadway touring shows to Flint. So while Hamilton’s next appearance is still TBD, there’s a strong chance it will be back given the demand during its 2019 engagement.
Other Flint Theaters
With 1,500 seats, the Whiting easily the largest theater in Flint. Only a couple other smaller venues host touring shows periodically:
- Capitol Theatre – 1,500 seats
- Flint Youth Theatre – 180 seats
So the Whiting Auditorium remains the sole option for Hamilton in Flint when it comes around again.
Ann Arbor
The hip liberal college town of Ann Arbor seemed like a perfect fit for a Hamilton production, but surprisingly it has yet to tour there. The show has played many comparable sized Midwest cities nearby, just not Ann Arbor yet.
However, its absence likely won’t last forever. Ann Arbor’s Michigan Theater and Power Center are excellent venues that tend to book major Broadway shows eventually. So while there’s no tangible Hamilton to Ann Arbor news yet, local fans remain hopeful the show will arrive in the coming years.
Ann Arbor Theaters
These two Ann Arbor venues have the capacity and amenities to host a Hamilton tour:
- Michigan Theater – 1,700 seats
- Power Center – 1,400 seats
Hopefully one of them will get the chance to present the show sometime soon.
Kalamazoo
Hamilton has not come to Kalamazoo during its national tours yet either. The city’s Miller Auditorium, which seats around 3,500 people, would be an excellent local venue for the show. Miller Auditorium attracts many big Broadway musicals and other touring productions.
There’s no indication right now that Hamilton plans to visit Kalamazoo, but its proven track record of success in similar mid-sized Michigan cities makes it seem promising. Kalamazoo theater fans should keep their eyes open for any Hamilton news in Miller Auditorium’s upcoming seasons.
Other Kalamazoo Theaters
Along with Miller Auditorium, a couple smaller theaters also host touring shows periodically:
- Kalamazoo State Theatre – 1,500 seats
- Farwell Auditorium – 350 seats
But realistically, only the Miller has the capacity and tech capabilities required to present Hamilton.
Saginaw
Hamilton has not yet paid a visit to Saginaw either. The city’s main large-scale venue is the Huntington Event Park, which can seat around 2,500 people in its theater configuration.
Huntington Event Park tends to book some Broadway musicals, concerts, and other touring events. So while Hamilton coming to Saginaw is probably a longer shot, it can’t be ruled out completely.
Local fans may have to wait a bit longer than other Michigan cities, but Hamilton could potentially find its way to Huntington Event Park someday.
Other Saginaw Theaters
Along with Huntington Event Park, Saginaw has a couple smaller theaters:
- Temple Theatre – 240 seats
- Pit & Balcony Community Theatre – 165 seats
These venues don’t have the capacity for Hamilton, so Huntington remains the only possibility.
Jackson
There’s no indication yet that Hamilton plans to come Jackson anytime soon. But the city’s Michigan Theatre of Jackson could theoretically host the show.
At around 1,200 seats, the theater is on the smaller side for Hamilton’s technical requirements and production scale. However its excellent acoustics and classic aesthetic could provide a nice backdrop for the performance.
Jackson sits about halfway between Detroit and Lansing, so a Hamilton run there would conveniently serve both regions. While still hypothetical, a future Michigan Theatre of Jackson engagement seems within reason.
Other Jackson Theaters
Aside from the Michigan Theatre, Jackson has few other options to host a major production like Hamilton:
- Ella Sharp Museum Auditorium – 350 seats
- Potter Center – 400 seats
The Michigan’s 1,200 capacity makes it the only realistic (albeit perhaps not ideal) choice.
Summary of Hamilton in Michigan
In summary, Hamilton has already completed great runs in Detroit, Grand Rapids, East Lansing, and Flint during its national tours. Ann Arbor, Kalamazoo, Saginaw and Jackson remain possibilities but have no definitive plans yet.
Here is a quick overview of where Hamilton has played in Michigan and where it could play in the future:
City | Theater | Has played? |
---|---|---|
Detroit | Fisher Theatre | Yes (2019) |
Grand Rapids | DeVos Performance Hall | Yes (2020) |
East Lansing | Wharton Center | Yes (2019) |
Flint | Whiting Auditorium | Yes (2019) |
Ann Arbor | Michigan Theater or Power Center | No |
Kalamazoo | Miller Auditorium | No |
Saginaw | Huntington Event Park | No |
Jackson | Michigan Theatre | No |
Michigan has proven to be Hamilton-crazy, with excited sellout crowds greeting the show in every city so far. While another tour could be 2 or 3 years away, expect Hamilton to continue making its way to more Michigan cities over time. Keep an eye on those major theater schedules for any Hamilton announcements!