Michael Luwoye (; born December 19, 1990) is an American actor and singer of Nigerian descent, known for playing the title role in the Broadway musical Hamilton. In 2022, was nominated for the Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice Performance in a Preschool Animated Program for his role in Baby Shark's Big Show!.
Early life and education Michael Luwoye was born in Huntsville, Alabama, the youngest of four children born to immigrants from Nigeria who settled in Alabama in the 1980s. His mother was an engineer, and his father became the owner of a wholesale ice cream distribution business.
An artistic child, Luwoye drew and wrote journals, and learned to play guitar. He learned music theory and composition while attending Lee High School in Huntsville.
He became interested in theatre during his junior year at the University of Alabama. While in college, he played Queequeg in a stage adaptation of the novel Moby Dick, the title role in Othello, Hud in Hair, and Joe in Show Boat.
Luwoye received his B.A. from the University of Alabama in 2013, and moved to New York in September that year.
Acting career Regional and off-Broadway In regional theatre, Luwoye has performed in Cardboard Piano (Actors Theatre of Louisville, 2016), Marley (Center Stage, 2015), Witness Uganda (American Repertory Theater, 2014), Tick, Tick... Boom! (American Theater Group), and The Three Musketeers and Once on This Island (Flat Rock Playhouse).
Luwoye's off-Broadway stage debut was in the Second Stage Theater production of Invisible Thread, for which he received a 2016 Lucille Lortel Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical.
Hamilton In 2016, Luwoye auditioned for the role of Hercules Mulligan in the Broadway production of Hamilton, but unexpectedly was offered the title role. He began rehearsals June 14, 2016, and took over on August 2, 2016, as the alternate to Javier Muñoz for the role of Alexander Hamilton, following Lin-Manuel Miranda's departure from the show. Luwoye became the first black actor to take on the role of Hamilton.
He was also the understudy for the role of Aaron Burr, which he first performed two months later, on October 4, 2016. On November 16, 2016, Luwoye notably played Hamilton in the matinee before playing Burr in the evening performance.
Luwoye was given the title role in Hamiltons national touring company, beginning in March 2017 with a 21-week engagement in San Francisco, followed by 21 weeks in Los Angeles, concluding at the Pantages Theatre on December 30, 2017.
Luwoye returned to Broadway in the title role of Hamilton on January 16, 2018. His last performance was February 17, 2019.
Television In November 2017, Luwoye appeared in an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm called "The Shucker", in which he was shown playing the role of Alexander Hamilton in Hamilton. Additionally, he played Hades in an episode of The Magicians on SYFY.
In September 2018, he was signed for a guest voice role in the third season of Disney Junior's animated series The Lion Guard as Askari, the founder and leader of the original Lion Guard. In October 2018, Luwoye appeared in The Gifted as Erg.
In 2019, he was cast in a supporting role on NBC's Bluff City Law.
Theatre credits Year Production Role Venue Dates Category 2011 Moby Dick Queequeg Marian Gallaway TheatreFebruary 2011 Regional Big River Jim Marian Gallaway TheatreApril 2011 Regional Once on This Island Ton Ton Flat Rock PlayhouseJune 2011 Regional Hairspray Duane/Ensemble Flat Rock PlayhouseJuly 20 – August 14, 2011 Regional City of Angels Stone Allen Bales Theatre November 7–13, 2011 Regional 2012 Side Man Jonesy Marian Gallaway TheatreOctober 15–21, 2012 Regional Guys and Dolls Ensemble Flat Rock PlayhouseJuly 25 – August 19, 2012 Regional 2013 Othello Othello Marian Gallaway TheatreFebruary 2013 Regional Jubilee: Songs of and About Alabama Ensemble George C. Meyer Performing Arts CenterJune 2013 Regional The Three Musketeers Debris Flat Rock PlayhouseNovember 2013 Regional 2014 Empty House Sebastian New York International Fringe FestivalAugust 9–24, 2014 Regional Fable Richie New York Musical Theatre FestivalJuly 22–27, 2014 Regional Witness Uganda Jacob American Repertory TheaterFebruary 4, 2014 – March 16, 2014 Regional 2015 Marley Peter Tosh Center StageMay 6 – June 14, 2015 Regional Tick, Tick... Boom! Michael Union County Performing Arts CenterJanuary 28 – February 8, 2015 Regional Invisible Thread Jacob Second Stage TheaterOctober 21 – December 27, 2015 Off-Broadway 2016 Cardboard Piano Soldier / Paul Victor Joy Theatre March 25 – April 10, 2016 Regional Hamilton Alexander Hamilton (alt.) / Aaron Burr (understudy) Richard Rodgers TheatreAugust 2, 2016 – February 14, 2017 Broadway 2017 Alexander Hamilton Orpheum TheatreMarch 23 – August 5, 2017 National TourPantages Theatre August 11 – December 30, 2017 2018 Richard Rodgers TheatreJanuary 16, 2018 – February 16, 2019 Broadway 2022 Mandela Nelson Mandela Young Vic Theatre November 30, 2022 - February 4, 2023 London
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