By Jadyn Buccilli
Staff Writer
For a limited time, original Broadway cast member Christopher Jackson returns to “Hamilton” the musical, reprising his role of President George Washington through Jan. 3.
Jackson originated the role on Broadway, performing from the show's opening until Nov. 13, 2016, and starred in the filmed production available on Disney+.
While he is the only original cast member in “Hamilton”, he is not the only one who has returned. Last year, original cast member Leslie Odom Jr. reprised the role of Aaron Burr for a 12-week period.
Additionally, Thayne Jasperson has consecutively played the role of Samuel Seabury since the show’s opening. Unfortunately, Jasperson faced a serious injury while performing the opening number from act two of “Hamilton”, “What’d I Miss?,” and has been on a leave from the show since Jun. 10. Despite this, he hopes to return to the show once he recovers.
Jackson and the rest of the current Broadway cast of the musical put on a spectacular performance on Oct. 4 with plenty of moments to remember. Excitement was high amongst anticipating fans before the show even started, with a long line of people attempting to buy last minute tickets to experience the show.
The show started as usual, with the iconic song, “Alexander Hamilton.” The moment that Jackson stepped onto the stage to sing his first verse, the theater was full of cheering and applause.
Energy remained high for the next couple of songs, though the character of Washington was not present for a while. Eventually, he made his appearance during “Right Hand Man,” in which the audience erupted into loud cheers once again.
For the remainder of the first act, the applause was consistent with Jackson’s stage appearances and throughout some other moments as well. In the high-intensity number titled “Yorktown,” the characters of Alexander Hamilton, played by Christian Thompson, and Marquis de Lafayette, played by Simon Longnight, simultaneously say the iconic line, “Immigrants, we get the job done!” The line, having a higher significance due to the hostility towards immigrants in the United States, was met by screams and cheers that were just as loud as they were when Jackson walked onto the stage.
Shortly after this number, another character, King George III, played by Jarrod Spector, was met with applause and laughter after the comical number that lasted for almost a minute, “What Comes Next?” Spector proceeded to receive much more laughter and applause during other moments his character was present as well, capturing the petty and childish spirit of a tyrant perfectly.
After intermission, the show was back in full swing, introducing new characters such as Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, with Washington appearing frequently alongside much more applause.
The most monumental part of this show was the performance of “One Last Time,” in which Washington reveals he will not be running for president again. The conclusion of the number has Washington surrounded by the rest of the cast, singing out to them saying, “We’re gonna teach them how to say goodbye” and “History has its eyes on you.”
Jackson’s rendition of the song sounded nearly identical to the highly impressive original recording, which made this moment that much more special. The song ended with the crowd cheering immensely, and it is safe to say that there were not many dry eyes remaining in the audience.
The show becomes more emotional after this track, as other major events such as the death of Hamilton’s son Philip and the duel between Burr and Hamilton take place. The show’s final number, “Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story,” features all of the characters that were involved in Hamilton’s life, including Washington.
In this song, Washington delivers his words of wisdom that he originally sings in “History Has Its Eyes On You.” “Let me tell you what I wish I’d known when I was young and dreamed of glory,” Washington says. “You have no control who lives, who dies, who tells your story.”
After the emotional and thought provoking final number, the entire cast lined up to do a curtain call. However, the bows done this time were a little different. Once the entire group bowed, Thompson stepped forward, tearfully taking his final curtain call as the cast began to get on their knees and do a drumroll on the stage. The entire cast, including Jackson, embraced Thompson in a large group-hug before they all walked off as normal.
Thompson, who usually plays one of the male ensemble members, is an understudy for Hamilton and had done his final show this night. Thompson has been a part of the show since Sept. 9 2025, understudying for other various roles such as Burr, Lafayette, Jefferson and George III.
It was a highly heartwarming moment as the audience was able to see Thompson play the role of Hamilton “One Last Time,” and his high energy performance embodied the spirit of Hamilton’s ambitious personality.
From Thompson’s final performance in “Hamilton” and Jackson’s return to his role as Washington, this musical performance was an unforgettable night for the audience and cast members alike.
