Thayne Jasperson still performing in Hamilton after 10 years as only original cast member

Broadway's Hamilton turned 10, and Thayne Jasperson is the only original cast member still performing in the show. Thayne Jasperson, now 45 years old, says he was never the type to stay in one show for long — he was “the year guy.” He worked in Newsies, Matilda, Finding Neverland, and the West Side Story tour, usually for about a year each.

Everything changed when he joined early workshops for a new Off-Broadway show about Alexander Hamilton, which would later become the hit musical Hamilton. Jasperson plays Bishop Samuel Seabury, a loyalist character who performs the comedic song Farmer Refuted. He says he knew from the start that Hamilton would be something special and that he had to be a part of it, as per the report People.

Why Thayne Jasperson never left Hamilton

At first, he thought he would leave after a year, but kept staying because of big events — first the Tony Awards, then the Grammy Awards, then the Disney+ filming, and then the fans. He says, “I just couldn’t leave.” Jasperson joked that he told Lin-Manuel Miranda, “You wrote too good of a show… I can’t leave.”


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Miranda calls him “the ghost of the Richard Rodgers” Theatre, where Hamilton is performed. Jasperson says some of his favorite memories happened in the theater — like singing on the stairs with Eliza actress Phillipa Soo for fun. He remembers a group of them — including himself, Okieriete Onaodowan (James Madison), and others — riding longboards and skateboarding through downtown during breaks, as per the report by People.

Hamilton’s success and what it taught him

He says there were “a million amazing memories” from the early days of Hamilton. But not all changes were easy. The first difficult moment for him came when Hamilton became a worldwide phenomenon. He loved the early days, when it was just one cast, no videos online, and no one outside knew the words.

As more casts across the country joined and the show grew bigger, it felt different to him. Still, he says the growth is beautiful, because the story is relatable and powerful. Jasperson believes Hamilton remains strong even after 10 years because of its universal themes and emotional truth, as stated by People’s report.

He says the show makes people feel proud of how the U.S. separated from the UK and built its identity. The connection audiences feel to that story keeps them coming back to the theater. Jasperson also shares a personal story about moving to New York with a one-way ticket, putting his suitcase down in Times Square, and feeling deep inside that he had found his place.

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He says that moment told him, “This is where you’re meant to be.” He believes Hamilton taught him the value of self-belief and hope. “Hope in yourself is important,” he says. When asked what’s next, he says the future is open and he likes it that way — he wants to stay spontaneous, as per the reports.

He jokes, “You’re gonna be wheeling me out in a wheelchair. I’m gonna be 82, and they’ll be like, ‘Get off the stage!’” Right now, he wants to keep doing what feels right and follow his mission in life, whatever it may be. He ends by saying, “This is where I’m meant to be.” Tickets for Hamilton are still on sale at Broadway's Richard Rodgers Theatre, as mentioned in the report by People.

FAQs

Q1. Who is the only original Hamilton cast member still performing?
Thayne Jasperson is the only original cast member still performing in Hamilton after 10 years.

Q2. Why did Thayne Jasperson stay in Hamilton for so long?
He stayed because of major events like the Tonys, Grammys, Disney+ filming, and his deep love for the show.