During a recent appearance on “Watch What Happens Live,” Anthony Ramos, known for his role in “Hamilton,” shared a humorous yet tense moment when he spotted Madonna in the audience during one of his performances. The 33-year-old actor recalled, “The most terrifying was Madonna with her iPad in her face,” as he described her engrossed in her device rather than the performance.
Ramos’s portrayal of John Laurens and Philip Hamilton in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s award-winning Broadway show helped launch his successful career. He went on to star in the film adaptation of Miranda’s “In the Heights” and has recently appeared in projects such as “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” and “Twisters.”
A notable point of the conversation was Ramos’s reflection on Madonna’s previous encounter with the cast of “Hamilton.” In 2015, Miranda himself had to intervene when Madonna attended a performance and was reportedly using her phone throughout the show. This led Miranda to request that she not be allowed backstage following her poor theater etiquette, as confirmed by Playbill.
The significance of “Hamilton” extends beyond its star power; the musical has become a monumental cultural phenomenon since its Broadway debut in 2015, achieving 16 Tony nominations and securing 11 wins, including Best Musical. The original Broadway cast even reunited recently during the 78th Annual Tony Awards to commemorate the show’s 10th anniversary.
This mix of both a lighthearted anecdote and a nod to the impact of “Hamilton” shows how the musical continues to resonate with audiences while making waves in the entertainment industry. Ramos’s journey, from stage star to film lead, exemplifies the opportunities arising from such landmark productions.