Kendyl Sayuri Yokoyama plays the female lead, Eliza Hamilton, in “Hamilton: An American Musical,” which is currently on tour in Southern California.
The show’s final performances this weekend at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa are sold out. The next stop is the San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave., San Diego, from May 6 to 15. Showtimes are 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 1 and 7 p.m. Sunday. Info: https://sandiegotheatres.org/
“Hamilton” will be performed from May 20 to June 1 at Reynolds Hall at The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Ave., Las Vegas. For information on this and other stops on the tour, visit: https://hamiltonmusical.com/us-tour/tickets/
“Hamilton” is the epic saga that follows the rise of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton as he fights for honor, love, and a legacy that would shape the course of a nation. Set to a score by Lin-Manuel Miranda that blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B, and Broadway, “Hamilton” has had a profound impact on culture, politics, and education. In addition to its 11 Tony Awards, it has been honored by the Grammys, the Pulitzer Prize, the Olivier Awards and the Kennedy Center.
Eliza’s songs include “Helpless,” “Satisfied,” “That Would Be Enough,” “Take a Break,” “Burn,” and “Best of Wives and Best of Women.” Phillipa Soo played the role on Broadway.
Yokoyama attended The Boston Conservatory at Berklee. Some of her other theatre credits include “Beauty and the Beast” (Belle), “Aladdin” (Princess Jasmine), “A Chorus Line” (Connie), and “Allegiance” (Peggy). Her other credits include the 90th Oscars, where she performed alongside Keala Settle in “This Is Me” from “The Greatest Showman,” and the films “Kai,” “Surprise,” and “Declan’s Secret,” in which she played the lead roles.
“I started out in ‘Hamilton’ as a dance swing in 2018 at 19 years old where I covered all the ensemble women, including Peggy/Maria,” said Yokoyama. “Then post-pandemic, I transitioned from a dance swing to a singer swing and eventually became the standby for the Angelica company, where I now cover all the Schuyler sisters. ’Hamilton’ has allowed me to exercise all my skills and grow not only professionally, but personally as well.
“I’m very passionate about sharing the history of the Japanese Americans who fought in the 442nd Regiment (the most highly decorated unit) in WWII, and the Japanese American incarceration. Being on the road has allowed me to visit some of these incarceration camps, including the one that imprisoned my Jiichan (grandfather) and his family. They were forcibly removed from their business and home and imprisoned in Jerome, Arkansas.
“It was an extremely surreal experience to stand on the same ground where my grandfather and his family stood and endured seemingly impossible circumstances. What used to be rows of small uninsulated barracks that they called home, watch towers, and barbed wire fences are now erased with nothing left but a monument and a sign on the side of the road to remember it by. This is the case for most other camp sites.
“Over 125,000 Japanese Americans and persons of Japanese descent were incarcerated in the most desolate places throughout the country. After many years of imprisonment, Japanese Americans were finally released only to find that their businesses and homes were gone. Their strength and values helped them rebuild their lives for themselves and for their descendants.
“Asian American stories continue to be erased from history, and I’m proud to be a part of this show that allows me to have a platform to share my personal history and educate people of the legacy that my ancestors left behind.”