Minneapolis students perform for cast of 'Hamilton'

MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) - The Tony Award-winning Broadway musical "Hamilton" is wowing audiences at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Minneapolis.

While fans line up to catch the show, on Tuesday, some of the cast members got to sit back and relax in the audience while students performed instead. 

Students from the Lundstrum Performing Arts School presented the opening number “Alexander Hamilton,” in front of a packed house at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.

“I’ve performed before in front of many people, but this is like an actual dream come true, actually being able to see the people I’ve seen perform,” said student performer Minika Warden. 

“It was amazing," student performer Willow Hartman said. "I couldn’t believe that the cast members from the real Hamilton show were here and it was just out of this world." 

Hamilton cast members did not have to travel far for the student performance. The Minneapolis Fed is only about a mile down Hennepin from the Orpheum Theatre. 

“Especially a performance of your own show, especially done by kids in high school, it was really heartwarming and really cool to see how they interpret it and do it in their own style,” said Kyle Scatliffe, who plays the role of Thomas Jefferson. 

“We talked to them before they went on and I asked them if they were nervous. And they said they were a little nervous. And I told them that nerves are good. I’m nervous every night before I go on stage, and then I just use that nervous energy to do what I do,” said Ta’Rea Campbell, who plays the role of Angelica Schuyler.

The audience was also filled with other students from the FAIR School and Patrick Henry High School. Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari was the emcee. 

“Can you imagine if we had a play about math like this, or a play about science like this?" Campbell said. "The possibilities are endless when you change the narrative just a little bit to reach a wider audience. With the way that you present musical theater, you can reach a lot of people." 

After the performance, the students and cast members faced off for a Hamilton-themed quiz bowl. 
The Minneapolis Fed is also hosting a competition for students to win tickets to Hamilton, inspired by Alexander Hamilton’s bold economic ideas. Students are asked to create public social media posts sharing their ideas for improving the local economy. 

For more information, visit minneapolisfed.org.