#492: Leslie Odom, Jr. // Hamilton Broadway's Original Aaron Burr

It feels very fitting that after ten years and speaking to dozens of actors who have played Aaron Burr, the very last one to grace the podcast is Hamilton Broadway's original (inimitable!) Leslie Odom, Jr. We didn't have a long time, but let me tell you... we had a GREAT time.

This episode is funny, it's moving, it's layered, it's healing, it's so much of why Leslie Odom, Jr. is such a fascinating person to talk to. He tells me about how his beautiful cover of Tonight, Tonight" by the Smashing Pumpkins came to be, his experience with Purlie Victorious, how much he loved pushing the nerd bar to a ten with Owen Tillerman in Central Park, and how playing the legendary Sam Cooke in One Night in Miami... meant the world to him.

Aaron Burr is surrounded by ghosts and Leslie Odom, Jr. is no different because when it comes to his monumental return to Hamilton ten years after his Tony Award winning run originating Aaron Burr, the ghosts are everywhere: from his fellow original cast members to his younger self (omg wait until you get to that part, you're going to lose your mind). Coming back to Hamilton after a decade was his idea and Leslie is bringing ten years of therapy, regret, loss, grief, joy and everything in between to the stage of the Rodgers. Luckily for all of us, Hamilton is a show that can handle whatever he's bringing to the room that day. And even though he's playing Burr with more frustration this time around, he promises - promises! - that every single night he's trying his very best not to kill Alexander at the end of this thing.

From his favorite Burr line to the importance of listening to your soul and why he promises to never, ever waste our time, Leslie Odom, Jr., lays it all out on the table.

Leslie Odom, Jr. - An Offering: Live at Speakeasy Studios

Leslie Odom, Jr - "Tonight, Tonight" (Smashing Pumpkins cover)

Leslie Odom, Jr. on Spotify

"Havin' a Plan" from Central Park

One Night In Miami… (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Purlie Victorious

See Leslie Live!

Leslie Odom, Jr. on Instagram

Leslie Odom, Jr. on Facebook

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