When he graduated with a Fine Arts degree from UC Irvine years ago, Alex Dreschke could hardly have imagined he would return to SoCal with a role in HAMILTON, one of the most engaging musicals of our time.
For Americans who may not have paid sufficient attention during their American history classes, HAMILTON brings history to life with de-wigged characters, rapping lyrics, and nuggets of knowledge, delivered in a unique way by period characters that look like modern America.
As a founding father, Alexander Hamilton’s story is an early one of the unfolding American dream. He overcomes dubious birth ancestry in the Caribbean, a sex scandal, and other challenges to become one of the country’s more famous founders.
Hamilton’s golden buzzer was accepting an offer to serve as General George Washington’s aide-de-camp during the Revolutionary War.
UC Irvine grad Alex Dreschke “deeply grateful” to return to the area with a role in HAMILTON.
After winning Washington’s confidence with a keen intellect, Hamilton served Washington throughout the war and was selected twelve years later by President Washington to serve as Secretary of the Treasury. The rest, as they say, is history.
The show’s creator, Lin-Manuel Miranda has said in interviews that the idea for a modern take on Hamilton came to him after reading Ron Chernow’s biography of Hamilton.
The show opened to a record run on Broadway and continues to sell out theaters as touring companies perform HAMILTON across the country.
For Dreschke, it’s been a long journey to the HAMILTON stage and when the play opens in Costa Mesa, he said it will be a bit of homecoming for him.
Since attending UCI, Dreschke has developed into a major theatrical player, with acclaimed roles in “Charlie & The Chocolate Company,” “A Bronx Tale,” and others before landing the role in HAMILTON.
So as his star rises on Broadway, his current role in HAMILTON brings him back to where it all began.
“It’s a full-circle moment for me,” said Dreschke in an interview this week.
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