Okieriete Onaodowan

With an imposing stage presence and unmistakeable voice, Okieriete Onaodowan was a very familiar performer to fans of the phenomenally popular Broadway musical "Hamilton," in which he played both Hercules Mulligan and James Madison in the show's original cast. Born in West Orange, New Jersey, Onaodowan was the son of Nigerian immigrants-a factor in his upbringing that would greatly inform his approach to the themes of "Hamilton." With his impressive stature, Onaodowan was a natural fit for his high school's football team, but when an injury left him unable to play, he became interested in theater. After graduating high school and experimenting with a short stint at the Mason Gross School of the Arts, Onaodowan landed a role playing Pontius Pilate in a 2011 off-Broadway production of "The Last Days of Judas Iscariot." Next came an even bigger opportunity, when he landed the role of Rock & Roll Boyfriend in the nationally touring cast of "American Idiot," before making his Broadway debut in the ensemble of "Cyrano de Bergerac." He would next charm audiences as Dipper Riley in Broadway's "Rocky" in 2014. Then the following year, Onaodowan began working with Lin-Manuel Miranda, helping to develop the roles in "Hamilton" that he would soon be known for. He would bring both Madison and Mulligan to life to tremendous acclaim when the show premiered off-Broadway and then on Broadway. By the end of 2016 however, Onaodowan was ready for his next challenge, replacing Josh Groban in the role of Pierre in the Broadway production of "Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812."