'Hamilton' among premieres in Van Wezel's 2023-24 lineup

Hold on to your tricorn hats! "Hamilton" is coming to Sarasota.

The smash Broadway musical about the passionate life of the nation's first secretary of the Treasury is one of seven premieres happening during the Van Wezel's 2023-24 season.

Even though it's been eight years since Lin-Manuel Miranda's sung-and-rapped musical made its debut, "Hamilton" hysteria is still going strong.

"Hamilton" was made into a film in 2020, but the silver screen version hasn't diminished demand for live performances of the 11-time Tony Award winning musical. 

The show, which won the Tony for best musical in 2016, will be on stage at the Van Wezel for two weeks, from March 26 to April 7, 2024. 

“I’m delighted to share the biggest and brightest Broadway season to date," said Mary Bensel, executive director of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, in a statement. "Headlining our season is the smash hit, mega musical 'Hamilton.' This show took Broadway by storm, and I'm thrilled to bring it to Sarasota for the first time."

When the Van Wezel got some pushback on its Facebook page for offering "Hamilton" tickets exclusively to season subscribers, the venue assured fans that single tickets will be made available at a later date.

The other premieres coming to the Van Wezel during its upcoming season are:

• "Pretty Woman —The Musical," featuring the hit song of the same name by Roy Orbison and Bill Dee, along with an original score. The tale of a high-end hooker immortalized by Julia Roberts on screen makes its Sarasota premiere Nov. 27-28.
• "The Cher Show," the story of the iconic singer with 35 chart-topping hits, six decades of stardom and "enough Bob Mackie gowns to cause a sequin shortage in New York City," according to the Van Wezel's statement. It will debut in Sarasota from Jan. 10-12.
• "Hadestown," an eight-time Tony Award winner that intertwines two mythic tales — that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of King Hades and his wife Persephone. It will run from Jan. 30 to Feb. 4.
• "Ain't Too Proud — The Life and Times of The Temptations," which won the Tony for best choreography. The Motown-themed musical will be on stage at the Van Wezel from Feb. 21-25.
• "Jagged Little Pill," based on the defiant life of Canadian singer Alanis Morisette, The new musical will be at the Van Wezel from Feb. 27-28.
• "Little Women," adapted from Louisa May Alcott's timeless book of the same name about four sisters coping with their father's absence during the Civil War. The March sisters come to life in Sarasota on March 7-8.

The world famous all-male comic ballet company Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo will appear at the Van Wezel on Jan. 14 for ages 18 and up.

For more information about the Van Wezel's upcoming season and its subscription packages, visit VanWezel.org.