Meet Hamilton's happy first lady - and her revolutionary sisters: BAZ BAMINGBOYE reveals who will take the lead roles when the acclaimed musical hits London

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After a tough audition Rachelle Ann Go was told she will play Eliza Schuyler in Hamilton

Rachelle Ann Go has won a revolutionary role — playing the wife of Alexander Hamilton, one of America’s Founding Fathers, in the London production of acclaimed Broadway musical Hamilton.

The actress, who appeared in the recent West End revival of Miss Saigon and played Fantine in Les Miserables, will portray Eliza Schuyler Hamilton: described as a woman of immense warmth.

‘When I listened to the songs, and read about her and how she handled everything, I thought: “I want to be like her — and I want to be in Hamilton!’ Rachelle told me over breakfast in New York.

Following tough auditions in front of director Tommy Kail, producers Jeffrey Seller and Cameron Mackintosh — not to mention Lin-Manuel Miranda, the theatrical polymath who wrote the book (adapting it from Ron Chernow’s biography), music, lyrics and played the title role — Rachelle was told she’d been picked to be in the year’s most anticipated show, which begins previews at the Victoria Palace on November 21.

An initial 150,000 tickets went on sale last week and sold within hours. Another 150,000 will be made available from noon on Monday. As was first revealed here, tickets will be sold in a paperless system to thwart touts.

Rachelle is in Manhattan, preparing to reprise her role as brothel dancer Gigi in Miss Saigon (along with Jon Jon Briones, Eva Noblezada and Alistair Brammer, her co-stars from the Prince Edward in London), which previews from March 1 at the Broadway Theatre. She told me she saw Miranda at an audition, but was overcome by nerves. ‘I was like, “Hi!” and the next words were “Can I have a photo with you?!”’ Which I’m so embarrassed about.

‘I was sick that day — and even now I don’t know how I managed to find my singing voice. I thought that would be the last time I’d see Lin-Manuel — and anyone else connected to Hamilton. So you can imagine how I cried when they rang and told me I was going to play Eliza,’ she told me.

Tarinn Callender (left) will play Hercules Mulligan and politician James Madison and Jason Pennycooke (right) will play both the Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jeffersonstar in Hamilton when it hits the west end next November

Giles Terera (left) will play Aaron Burr and Cleve September (right) will play both soldier statesman John Laurens and Hamilton’s son, Philip in Hamilton

Rachelle, who was born in the Philippines, was a pop singer in Manila when she decided to try for a role in Miss Saigon. She joined the West End production, then moved to Les Miserables.

She told me she had always been nervous about auditioning. ‘I can sing, but I never trained. I started singing at nine, and never stopped. But I will have lessons to improve my voice, and acting, while I’m in New York.’

Alexander Hamilton was born on the Caribbean island of Nevis, though he spent most of his childhood on St Croix. At 17, he moved to the U.S. to study, and soon became military assistant to George Washington.

The fact that both Hamilton and Miranda came from immigrant backgrounds sparked the idea that the musical should be cast primarily with a diverse cast.

Cameron Mackintosh said the show’s creative team were adamant the UK Hamilton should be diverse, too.

Christine Allado, who was in the London cast of Miranda’s earlier show In The Heights, and understudied the part of Imelda Marcos in Here Lies Love at the National, has the dual role of Eliza’s sister, Peggy, and Maria Reynolds, Hamilton’s mistress. Rachel John, so good as Nicki Marron in The Bodyguard at the Dominion, will play Angelica — the other Schuyler sister.

Rachel John will play Angelica in Hamilton

Jason Pennycooke (Memphis; Sammy Davis Jr in The Rat Pack) will play the Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson, one of Hamilton’s bitter rivals.

Giles Terera (The Book Of Mormon; and Caliban in The Tempest at the National Theatre) takes the role of Aaron Burr, who fought a duel with Hamilton.

Newcomer Tarinn Callender, freshly graduated from Arts Ed, will play soldier Hercules Mulligan and politician James Madison.

Cleve September will also do double duty: as soldier statesman John Laurens and Hamilton’s son, Philip. And Obioma Ugoala (Smokey Robinson in Motown: The Musical in London) will play George Washington.

But the title role, which Miranda (quite rightly) wrote for himself, has yet to be cast.

Miranda, who’s working in London on Mary Poppins Returns, won’t be available until some time in 2018.

The show’s also short of a king — George III. I’m told that casting directors have seen a couple of actors they like for the role, but want to mull it over for a while, given that rehearsals don’t start until September.

Mackintosh told me the creative group were impressed with the people who got through to the final auditions. ‘Absolutely thrilled with the level of standard, and the discoveries we made,’ he told me.

He added that Miranda ‘does have a real desire to do Hamilton in London. It’s still unfinished business for him. It’s the part of a lifetime.’

Watch out for... 

Sharon D. Clarke who has been rehearsing the musical The Life is worth keeping your eye out for

Sharon D. Clarke (pictured), who has been rehearsing the musical The Life, written by Cy Coleman and Ira Gasman. The Olivier award-winning actress, who appeared at the National Theatre last year in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, plays Sonja in the tale of New York street-walkers and pimps.

Clarke’s big show-stopping number is The Oldest Profession. The Life is being directed by Michael Blakemore, who directed the original production on Broadway two decades ago.

The company includes Cornell S. John, T’Shan Williams, Joanna Woodward, John Addison and David Albury. It will run at the Southwark Playhouse from March 25.

Meera Syal, Shvorne Marks, Lashana Lynch and Gershwyn Eustache Jnr, who have been cast by playwright Debbie Tucker Green in her new play, a profoundly affectionate, passionate devotion to someone (-noun), which runs at the Royal Court’s Jerwood Theatre Upstairs from February 28. The play observes three couples and their love lives.

Eve Best, Anthony Head, Helen George and Edward Bluemel, who have been cast in director Trevor Nunn’s production of Terence Rattigan’s Love In Idleness, which will run at the Menier Chocolate Factory from March 9. I’m looking forward to seeing powerhouse actress Ms Best on stage again.

Sharon D. Clarke (pictured right), who has been rehearsing the musical The Life, written by Cy Coleman and Ira Gasman. The Olivier award-winning actress, who appeared at the National Theatre last year in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, plays Sonja in the tale of New York street-walkers and pimps.

Clarke’s big show-stopping number is The Oldest Profession. The Life is being directed by Michael Blakemore, who directed the original production on Broadway two decades ago.

The company includes Cornell S. John, T’Shan Williams, Joanna Woodward, John Addison and David Albury. It will run at the Southwark Playhouse from March 25.

Meera Syal, Shvorne Marks, Lashana Lynch and Gershwyn Eustache Jnr, who have been cast by playwright Debbie Tucker Green in her new play, a profoundly affectionate, passionate devotion to someone (-noun), which runs at the Royal Court’s Jerwood Theatre Upstairs from February 28. The play observes three couples and their love lives.

Eve Best, Anthony Head, Helen George and Edward Bluemel, who have been cast in director Trevor Nunn’s production of Terence Rattigan’s Love In Idleness, which will run at the Menier Chocolate Factory from March 9. I’m looking forward to seeing powerhouse actress Ms Best on stage again.