Q&A with “Hamilton” Star and Central Florida’s Own Eddie Ortega
One of the biggest musicals of all time is making its way back to Tampa this fall. “Hamilton,” the Tony Award-winning musical from writer and composer Lin-Manuel Miranda, tells the story of Alexander Hamilton and his involvement in the American Revolution and early politics of the United States. But this isn’t your typical history lesson.
“Hamilton” uses a diverse cast of characters portraying the founding fathers, along with a soundtrack that combines hip-hop, rap, pop and soul with traditional showtunes.
Orlando native Eddie Ortega has been performing in “Hamilton” since 2023 and will be taking his shot on stage at the Straz Center from Oct. 21-Nov. 8. Ortega, who grew up in Orlando and graduated from Florida State University, pulls double duty in the show as Hercules Mulligan and James Madison.
We had the chance to catch up with Eddie before the show comes to town to discuss what it's like to be part of the show, how the politics of the past influence today’s culture and why “Hamilton” has a deep connection to his own personal theater journey.
TBPM: “Hamilton” has been on stage for 11 years. Why do you think that it continues to remain so popular and resonate with audiences?
EO: The story of Hamilton himself is still relevant. I mean, you can look at what's happening in today’s world, and not much has changed. In comparison to other civilizations, I think it just makes a whole bunch of sense that we're not that different from where our country was 250 years ago. You have civilizations like China that have been around much longer and gone through many different eras than the U.S. has.
And obviously, a lot of younger viewers enjoy the show primarily just because it's not your typical take on history. So, it's fresher; it's younger. A lot of the younger generation enjoys this type of music.
TBPM: What's it like playing two different characters during every show?
EO: Well, the benefit is that you're not flipping back and forth, per se. You get one act as Mulligan and one whole act as Madison. So, it's not super difficult at this point. At first, finding the distinguishing factors between the two, obviously, the history of their lives being so different, helps. I think the physicality of it all is the difficult part. Physically, as Madison does, the way I have him stand, his gait is different than Mulligan.
TBPM: What kind of conversations do you hope the show will spark for younger viewers when they go to see it?
EO: It's different for each kid. For little black and brown kids, I hope that they see themselves on stage. And the ones who want to pursue this for a career or have ever had a thought that they couldn't, I can relate because I didn't have that as much growing up. I started late … So, if I were a kid, I think I would start sooner.
Just appreciating the art of musical theater because some of it (musical theater) is not everyone’s cup of tea, but realizing that music is universal, and even musical theater, it’s not just one kind of genre of music. Hopefully, that inspires the writers in them to write music like that, too.
But in general, I hope it's a fun way that kids get to learn history.
TBPM: How do you feel knowing that teachers are using Hamilton's music to inspire and to teach kids about history?
EO: Teachers’ jobs are hard. I mean, the older I got, the more I realized it. I already appreciated my teachers growing up. But then I was like, ‘Wow, I REALLY appreciate you all, because you're not only trying to teach me; you're trying to teach 25 others who are not like me — some easier to teach, some harder to teach.’
Being that they have to find a way to engage all of us, I love that that's kind of a method that they're using in general. I'm all for it. I'm happy. It makes me a little bit prouder to be in the production and in the show.
TBPM: How does performing a story about American history feel in today's cultural climate?
EO: The revolution can be tied to the protests that have been going on, or especially those that have sparked. There have been riots over the last decade or so. And I think that can be tied to revolution, people wanting change, and people feeling like they have to take matters into their own hands to get that. But on top of that, the bipartisanship that the second act covers where we split between the Democratic Republicans and the Federalists.
There's a lot of bipartisanship today; it's even stronger than it was. And it feels like the country is split 50-50 sometimes, maybe not sometimes, all the time. And you can see it from the newsrooms, the conversations you have with people out in the open. You wear a certain colored hat, or whatever it may be, and all of a sudden, it's sparking someone's brain, whether they like that person or not.
There are a lot of similarities. I think what I hope that the show does is kind of show that that's not the world that we want to continue to live in. But we also understand, and the Founding Fathers kind of talk about that a little bit in the show, that the goal is to move away from it. We know it's a lot of work, but if everyone's kind of willing to do a little bit of work themselves, it'll be easier.
TBPM: Diversity among the cast is a unique element in “Hamilton.” Why do you think that’s such an important part of the show?
EO: The beautiful thing is that this is what makes this country so great. And I'm glad that it gets to be presented and uplifted in this show. I think that has an impact.
I think, for people who don't grow up seeing a lot of people who look like me, it gives some insight, even a little bit, in whatever way that is to them, because I can't articulate for them. But I know it does something because I get to see a bunch of them after the show, when I'm signing autographs. So, I think it's incredibly important.
I'm super glad that the show made that a big point. I'm proud that one, it gives black and brown bodies more jobs and a great job in musical theater, when some shows don't exactly always highlight our stories. And this isn't even our story, but we're telling an American story, because we are American.
But also, I hope this inspires more shows to do the same in the future.
TBPM: Who was your biggest inspiration growing up that inspired you to go into the theater industry?
EO: Lin-Manuel Miranda. I didn't do any musicals until my senior year of high school. And the first show I did was “In the Heights,” and the role I played was Usnavi.
And I was just blown away with that process. I had a bunch of people around me who encouraged me to audition for a show. And I was like, ‘I don't even know how to do that.’
Then, when I got the lead role, I was just like, wait, this guy's Dominican. I love the story. My mom grew up in Brooklyn in Bushwick. And it felt like there was a connection to that story, especially being the son of two immigrants. I was super inspired by Usnavi’s story and his wanting to go back home and not wanting to forget his roots. So that had a big impact on me.
And it became more about the art than just the pride of who I am and growing up and being able to express that on stage. But it was Lin. I mean, his writing was incredible. I connected with his stories. I became obsessed with his cut songs from the shows, I became obsessed with the new work that he did after that.
He did the opening number for “Hamilton” for the Obamas, I remember. I think I was in high school when that came out. And I remember just rewatching that and thinking, ‘People are laughing in the audience in this video. But this is really good.’ And obviously, a few years later, the album drops and the show’s out there.
We talk about Lin a lot, but he's the reason that I'm doing what I do.
TBPM: Have you ever met Lin?
EO: Yes! In Chicago. I think he was promoting something. But he got into a room with us, and he just sat in front of us, and no one knew what to say. Some people started asking questions. And that was before he announced “The Warriors” because it was 2023. He said he was working on a show but couldn’t say what it was, but that it was based on a movie. And so, it was exciting to hear that.
I will meet him again one day, I'm sure. If you want to know what I would ask him then, I would just say, ‘What drives you to have to do so many projects? But never leave your identity.’ I feel like I know his identity in everything he writes. And I do think that's important. I like that as an artist.
His drive is crazy. I mean, he did “Hamilton.” And then after that, he did Disney movies, TV shows, and non-Disney movies. I love everything he does.
Where and When to See Hamilton in Tampa:
- When: Oct. 21-Nov. 8, 2026
- Where: Straz Center, 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa, FL 33602
- Tickets: strazcenter.org
*Originally published in the July 2026 issue of Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine. | Photos provided by Straz Center for the Performing Arts.