Phillipa Soo, star of Broadway smash Hamilton and burgeoning 26-year-old ingénue, will assume the lead part of Amélie Poulain in the stage adaptation of Amélie next spring. The musical is based on the 2001 French romantic comedy film of the same name from director Jean-Pierre Jeunet.
As we previously reported, Soo will be departing from her Hamilton role as Eliza Schuyler Hamilton this summer. Hamilton writer, creator and lead, Lin-Manuel Miranda, will also take leave of the production at the same time. Miranda will resume his portrayal of Alexander Hamilton for the musical's West End transfer to the Victoria Palace Theatre next season.
For her part in Hamilton, Soo was nominated at last Sunday's Tony Awards for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical, losing out to The Color Purple's Cynthia Erivo. The New York Daily News sums up Soo's fast-rising star:
"Soo ... is one of Broadway's hottest properties right now. The Julliard grad first caught musical lovers' attention in 2013 with a small recurring role on NBC's Smash, which was about creative types trying to get their shows to Broadway. That same year she gained acclaim for her role in Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812. Hamilton officially marked Soo's arrival as a star that has risen."
Apart from Soo's defeat at the Tonys, Hamilton made a grand showing at the ceremony, picking up 11 awards out of its record-breaking 16 nominations. By only one accolade, it just barely missed tying with the Tony wins record held by 2001's The Producers. Mel Brooks' meta-musical checked off 12 of its 16 noms that year.
One point of contention among musical fans this season has been the near-impossibility of scoring tickets for Hamilton due to its extraordinary success. With seats sold out far in advance, Soo told DuJour magazine of fielding ticket inquiries from friends and family:
"I've had a lot of ticket requests, but in fact it has made me closer with my own family and my loved ones as well as people that I haven't talked to in a while [who] have come to see the show. Though it can be overwhelming!"
Below, watch Soo chat about her fame on NBC's Today.
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