Hi, I'm Stage in Stages, Lynn Manuel Miranda, and you're listening to The Hamelcast.

Boots and cuts and boots and cuts.

Hi, friends. Welcome back to the Hamelcast. I'm Jillian, and I'm wrapping up my most recent series

with Tyler McKenzie. He was first on the podcast in 2017, and then again during a big group

recording in Vegas in 2018. And now he's here to have a full circle moment as he turns the page on this

life-changing chapter. This past June, Tyler wrapped up his eight-year run with Hamilton. He started on

Broadway, and then was an original member of the Philip Company, and while he was there, he went from a swing to a universal swing to a dance captain. There's been a lot to reflect on and talk about. Not to mention Tyler was a professor at Penn State during the COVID lockdown, so yeah, throw that whole thing into the mix. What Tyler did is incredible. It really is. I mean, talk about a journey.

Talk about growth. It was so cool having this conversation with Tyler, hearing about everything

he's learned and even hearing him come to some really big realizations in the moment, like as we

were talking. And look, Tyler acknowledges that this probably isn't the absolute, total,

complete, 100% end for him with Hamilton. But whether he's a vacation swing or

just has what he calls a visiting relationship, that last position, which was equally rewarding and

physically and emotionally and mentally taxing, yeah, that part is over. And it's a lot to deal with.

I mean, for eight years, Tyler had one of the best answers to the most dreaded question an artist can

get. What are you up to these days?

His answer was Hamilton.

What a flex.

So after eight years, he's leaving a steady, impressive, financially secure gig.

Yeah, that's scary.

But it's also exhilarating.

And that leads to questions like, what does life without Hamilton look like?

What's available to Tyler now?

...