Tony, Grammy, Olivier and Pulitzer Prize award winning hip-hop musical Hamilton’s much anticipated Australian production will officially open on 27 March at the Sydney Lyric Theatre.

Joining the cast as a swing is Greek-Australian performer Stefan Lagoulis, who previously appeared on stage for Disney Theatrical’s Aladdin.

Mr Lagoulis comes from a family where sport reigns supreme in the house, he chose to go against the grain to pave his own way in performance.

He has dedicated years to his craft, all of which has led up to each incredible opportunity to perform. Still, finding out he had been cast in one of the decade’s biggest musicals left him speechless.

“I thought about how I was going to react if I was lucky enough to receive that call and I thought I would be screaming or crying. But when I got the call I was in shock and I just went quiet and my agent was like ‘ummm hello?’ I couldn’t believe it,” Mr Lagoulis told Neos Kosmos. 

“When the cast was announced and it was the first time seeing it, I just sat there stunned and I was crying and I couldn’t believe that this is something that I’m part of.”

Stefan Lagoulis joins as a swing in Australia’s production of “Hamilton” Photo: Michael Cassel Group

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Director Thomas Kail, choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler and music supervisor Alex Lacamoire have been overseeing rehearsals through live video conferences.

The production’s opening is a much welcomed breath of fresh air for many Australians in the arts, after the industry was impacted by COVID lockdowns.

The time off from performing gave Mr Lagoulis time to reflect and approach his day-to-day with a new perspective.

“Coming back into a rehearsal process after a year off, I’ve realised that I needed to slow down a little bit and take everything in. Coming into this process after the year we had, you don’t want a minute of it to fly by. I was allowing myself to be present and really take it minute by minute, instead of thinking ‘oh tomorrow we have this and then in four weeks we’re here’,” Mr Lagoulis said.

The musical itself has received copious amounts of praise from across the globe, not only for its strong book, music and lyrics all written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, but for its intentionally diverse cast.

Despite the story following American founding father Alexander Hamilton and other white historical figures, the original cast in the United States was largely made up of African American, Latino and Asian actors.

In previous interviews Mr Miranda simply notes the cast “looks like America looks now” and the Australian cast follows suit in its own regard.

Victory Ndukwe during Hamilton rehearsals Photo: Lisa Maree Williams

It is this shift in the industry that Mr Lagoulis is so proud to be part of and hopes to continue showing the next generation of performers that everyone is welcome on stage.

“For me personally, I want to be part of the change of our industry, because I personally felt growing up there was a lack of representation and I didn’t see someone like me on stage. It’s really important for me to be someone that the next generation can look up to and for them to see themselves and to know they can do this and there are people like them on stage,” he said.

For Mr Lagoulis, Hamilton was one of the few musicals where he saw a cast that reflected the world he lives in, but perhaps most touching and the greatest indication of this sense of belonging was when the mother of one of his own dance student’s approached him.

“One of the little girls I teach, her mother said to me ‘my daughter is obsessed with the show and she said it’s because for the first time she can herself being the lead’. So for me, I think I’m most excited to share this and to show what our industry really looks like and what our industry really is,” he said.

“It [the show] challenges people to think and people to see difference on stage, for many people this will be the first time they see such a diverse cast.”

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Stefan Lagoulis on day one of “Hamilton” rehearsals Photo: Instagram via @stefann96

While the industry itself still has strides to make towards representation and inclusivity both in front and behind the scenes, Mr Lagoulis will continue doing his part in making that a reality through his own work.

The medium of performance is where he feels he is most at peace, in his own personal sanctuary.

“It’s been my safe place. It’s been the place where I feel most comfortable and the place where we all belong, where everybody belongs…It’s always nice to know that I’m going to go to the studio and it’s my time and my safe place, and no matter what happens it’s always safe,” Mr Lagoulis explained.

Mr Lagoulis’ passion, ambition and drive parallels that of the main character of the show and after rehearsing for weeks he is ready to help bring the story of Hamilton alive alongside his fellow cast members.

You can purchase tickets through Ticketmaster to be in the room where it happens. Tickets are currently on sale for shows through to September 2021, with eight performances to choose from each week.