advertisement

'Hamilton' star got her start on Libertyville High stage

As a kid growing up in Libertyville, Phillipa Soo's stage was a coffee table in her family's living room. She'd stand on top of it wearing a pink tutu, singing Aretha Franklin songs.

"The audience loved it - my stuffed animals, and my mother," she said laughing.

Her stage and her audience has gotten considerably larger since then. Soo stars as Eliza Hamilton, wife of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, in the monster hit Broadway musical, "Hamilton." Tickets to the New York show - a hip-hop version of Alexander Hamilton's life - are almost impossible to get. Celebrities such as Beyoncé, Jimmy Fallon, Amy Schumer, Meryl Streep and the Obamas are frequently in the audience.

One of most common questions Soo gets is "Can you get me tickets?"

"Yeah, a lot of people ask. I want to share ('Hamilton') with as many people as possible, but it's hard to promise tickets," she said.

Soo and the cast performed at the Grammy Awards last month, and won Best Musical Theater Album. Now there's buzz that "Hamilton" and Soo could win Tony Awards in June. Nominations will be announced in May.

"If that were to happen, I'd be so honored and amazed. But even the fact that this is a potential possibility is amazing in itself. I feel so humbled by the whole experience," Soo said.

Libertyville native Phillipa Soo, left, in the blue dress, performs in "Hamilton" at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York City. Photo courtesy of Joan Marcus

It all began at Libertyville High School, where Soo was known as "Pippa" and performed in shows such as "Oklahoma," "Guys and Dolls" and "Cats," and at the All-State Theater Festival. A photo of Soo now hangs outside the high school's auditorium.

Choir teacher Jeff Brown said Soo's talent was immediately obvious.

"It's rare that you get a student coming through that is talented in multiple areas. What set Pippa apart is that she was extremely talented in lots of things - dancing, singing and acting," Brown said.

Besides that, he added, she was a nice kid - humble, friendly to everyone and more mature than most of her classmates.

Soo went to The Juilliard School in New York and, two months after graduation, landed her first role in an off-Broadway production of "Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812." That's where she was spotted by some of the "Hamilton" creators, who envisioned her in the role of Eliza Hamilton.

"Hamilton" has been a hit, in part, because of its ethnically diverse cast, acclaimed soundtrack and strong characters. Soo, who is half Chinese, said learning about Eliza Hamilton made her appreciate what a fascinating, strong woman she was, even founding New York's first orphanage. Smithsonian magazine recently suggested that Eliza Hamilton should be the subject of her own play.

"She could be," Soo said. "There's certainly a whole other chapter of her life, after Hamilton's death, where she accomplished so much."

The play's success has made for a wild ride for Soo, who now appears on TV, red carpets and has a legion of fans.

"It's been amazing. It's been out of this world, actually," she said. "In my wildest dreams, I would have never imagined being in this place, at this point in my life."

The cast of the hit Broadway musical "Hamilton" includes Libertyville native Phillipa Soo, who plays Alexander Hamilton's wife, Eliza. Photo courtesy of Joan Marcus

The 25-year-old's future looks bright. Living in New York and recently engaged to actor Steven Pasquale (who proposed with a pretty ruby ring), she hasn't made any post-Hamilton plans just yet.

Soo recognizes that she witnessed something extraordinary working with "Hamilton" creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, and hopes to re-create that magic again one day.

"I just want to continue to create good work, and tell stories well," she said. "The creative process was very fulfilling for me, and I want to keep finding myself in those rooms where the collaboration is just as exciting as the finished product."

Soo may be humble about her success, but Brown sees big things in her future.

"She's not done. She is just getting started," he said. "I would be surprised if you don't see her next in Hollywood, and movies. And if she wins (a Tony Award) ... then it's just the beginning."

• Dann Gire and Jamie Sotonoff are always looking for people from the suburbs who are now in showbiz. If you know of someone who would make an interesting feature, email them at dgire@dailyherald.com and jsotonoff@dailyherald.com

Libertyville native Phillipa Soo, who stars as Eliza Hamilton in the hit Broadway show, “Hamilton,” says her favorite song from the Grammy Award-winning soundtrack changes all the time. Currently, it’s “Wait for It.”

“We’re all on stage, and there’s not a lot of movement happening,” she said. “We’re all together, and we get to step back and take a little breath.”

Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.