CHESHIRE, Conn. (WFSB) – Cheshire native Lauren Celentano will join โคthe cast of Broadway’s Hamilton as an ensemble member and understudy for Peggy Schuyler and Mariahโข Reynolds, it wasโฃ announced today. Celentanoโค is set too make her debut in the role on November 24.
The actress,โค a โgraduate of Sacred Heart Academy in Hamden, has been preparing for this chance for years. “I’ve been singing Hamilton songs in my car forโ 10 years,” Celentano said. “Hamilton is in its own league.Everybody knows Hamilton – even people who aren’t into โtheater.”
Celentano’s path to Broadway included dance training at Dance Unlimited in hamden and a win on a dance competition show in Italy.โข She subsequently toured nationally with โข A โคBronx Tale and made her Broadway debut in Moulin rouge, followed by Death Becomes Her.
A serendipitous encounter with Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda backstage at Death Becomes Her may have played a role in her casting.”I put it on my Instagram story. He saw it, followed me andโข I was like, ‘Oh โคmy gosh.’ That was โin May, and in June I got the email from Hamilton, so I don’t know if there was any correlation, but the timing was odd,” Celentano recounted. Sheโ had auditioned for Hamilton multiple times prior to receiving the offer.
Celentanoโฃ recently completed her run inโ Deathโ Becomes Her two weeks ago and is currently in rehearsals. “Iโฃ finished about two weeks ago,โค andโค now I’m in rehearsals for Hamilton. Oh my gosh – theโ life of a Broadway star. I’m very blessed to have worked continuously, and I’m very grateful,” she said.
Acknowledging the challenges โคahead, Celentano expressed โa mix of excitement and pressure. “It’sโค such โan iconic show; it โfeels different, and I feel a lot of pressure as I just wont to do a good job,” she โstated.
Celentano is also scheduledโฃ to appear โin a โCapitol One commercialโฃ airing during the upcoming holiday season. She attributes her success to a combination of factors. “It’s a little luck, a little talent and a little being in the right place at the right time.โค When those things come together, it effectively works,” Celentano said.
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