CinemaBlend
Many actors will tell you that their most significant roles stay with them long after theyâre done with a project. Thatâs understandable because with acting, even when youâre playing someone else, you put your own emotions and a part of yourself into that role. Leslie Odom Jr. knew that all too well when it came to his portrayal of Aaron Burr in
Hamilton. In fact, he found it to be a challenge to let the role go once it was time to move on.
Hamilton has become a phenomenon since it debuted on Broadway in 2015 which is a rare feat for a piece of musical theater. In the years since, itâs become more accessible to fans thanks to its popular original cast recording and a Disney+ movie. However, by the time the film hit the streaming platform and created a new wave of interest, the entire original cast had moved on to other projects.
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Leslie Odom Jr. on How His Theme Song for One Night in Miami Echoes Sam Cooke for the Era of George Floyd
Chris Willman, provided by
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When Leslie Odom Jr. signed up to play Sam Cooke in “One Night in Miami,” he knew that he had a non-acting task awaiting him after shooting: director Regina King had already made it clear that whoever played the late, great soul singer was also who she wanted to co-write and perform an original end-credits theme. That task fell readily into the hands of Odom, who had already used his stardom from his stage role in “Hamilton” to launch a career as a singer-songwriter.