Edred Utomi
{{Short description|American stage actor and singer}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Edred Utomi
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1991|10|1}}
| alma_mater = University of San Diego
| occupation = {{hlist|Actor}}
| years_active = 2013–present
| known_for = Portraying Alexander Hamilton
| notable_works = {{Plainlist|
}}
}}
Edred Utomi (born October 1, 1991) is an American stage actor known for playing Alexander Hamilton in the Angelica National Tour of Hamilton,{{cite web|last=Lopez|first=Rich|date=November 19, 2021|title=Review: 'Hamilton' rises up; 'Cats' not so much|work=Dallas Voice|url=https://dallasvoice.com/review-hamilton-rises-up-cats-not-so-much/|access-date=April 20, 2022}} Fritz in the West Coast premiere of The House Theatre of Chicago's The Nutcracker and the role of Peter in My Mañana Comes.
Life and career
Utomi was born to Nigerian immigrants.{{cite news|last=Pantas|first=George|date=December 19, 2019|title=Immigrant son Edred Utomi stars in the lead role in the Broadway National Tour of 'Hamilton' at Chrysler Hall|work=The Flagship & Military Newspapers of Virginia|url=https://www.militarynews.com/norfolk-navy-flagship/immigrant-son-edred-utomi-stars-in-the-lead-role-in-the-broadway-national-tour-of/article_a9b571a2-20ee-11ea-bf5a-ef0d69599307.html|access-date=September 7, 2021}} He was raised in Las Vegas before relocating to attend University of San Diego.{{cite news|last=Kragen|first=Pam|date=April 16, 2020|title=With tour on hold, 'Hamilton' star plans musical happy hour|work=The San Diego Union-Tribune|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/theater/story/2020-04-16/with-tour-on-hold-hamilton-star-plans-musical-happy-hour|access-date=September 7, 2021}}{{Cite web |title=We talked to the actor playing ‘Hamilton’ ahead of the show’s return to Tampa |url=https://www.tampabay.com/life-culture/arts/stage/2022/12/22/we-talked-actor-playing-hamilton-ahead-shows-return-tampa/ |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2021-09-30 |title=Teachers inspire Las Vegas grad to get role of Hamilton in hit show |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/entertainment/arts-culture/teachers-inspire-las-vegas-grad-to-get-role-of-hamilton-in-hit-show-2450613/ |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=Las Vegas Review-Journal |language=en-US}} Utomi graduated with a communications degree before pursuing a career in musical theater.{{cite web|last=Wooster|first=Annabelle|date=October 21, 2021|title="Hamilton" Touring Company Actor Visits Wauwatosa West|work=The Tosa Compass|url=https://thetosacompass.com/11058/featured/hamilton-touring-company-actor-visits-wauwatosa-west/|access-date=March 21, 2022}}
Beginning his career in 2013, immediately after graduating from USD, Utomi has performed in U.S. regional theatre productions. Before being cast as Alexander Hamilton, he performed in plays throughout Southern California including Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical and A Midsummer Night's Dream.{{cite news|last=Hebert|first=James|date=April 18, 2018|title=His name is Edred Utomi — but you can call this San Diego-sprung actor Alexander Hamilton|work=Chicago Tribune|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/sd-et-theater-utomi-20180416-story.html|access-date=September 7, 2021}}
Utomi expressed that Miranda's previous musical In The Heights motivated him to pursue a career in musical theatre.{{cite news|last=Rennert|first=Jim|date=March 15, 2020|title='Hamilton' stars see the 'we' embodied in hit musical|work=The Florida Times-Union|url=https://www.jacksonville.com/story/entertainment/arts/2020/03/15/hamilton-stars-see-we-embodied-in-hit-musical/112246236/|access-date=September 7, 2021}} He was cast as Alexander Hamilton a year after taking on the understudy roles of the titular character, as well as Thomas Jefferson, Aaron Burr and George Washington.{{cite news|last=Doss|first=Laine|date=February 12, 2020|title=Edred Utomi Leads Hamilton's Miami Turn at the Arsht Center|work=Miami New Times|url=https://www.miaminewtimes.com/arts/interview-with-actor-edred-utomi-of-hamilton-us-tour-11474348|access-date=September 7, 2021}} Utomi was attached to the role of Alexander Hamilton indefinitely in January 2019.{{cite news|last=Karel|first=Janna|date=September 30, 2021|title= Teachers inspire Las Vegas grad to get role of Hamilton in hit show|work=Las Vegas Review-Journal|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/entertainment/arts-culture/teachers-inspire-las-vegas-grad-to-get-role-of-hamilton-in-hit-show-2450613/|access-date=February 12, 2022}}{{clarify|date=July 2022}}
Stage credits
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IBDB name|517887}}
- {{IMDb name|7307464}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Utomi, Edred}}
Category:21st-century American male actors
Category:American male musical theatre actors
Category:Male actors from San Diego
Category:University of San Diego alumni
Category:American people of Nigerian descent