This edition of On The Road features the handsome and talented Chaundre Hall-Broomfield! Dre is a Newburgh, NY, native and earned a BFA in acting from Purchase College. He’s currently traveling around the country with Hamilton's Angelica tour! Dre plays the roles of Hercules Mulligan and James Madison, so when his company was in Washington, D.C., I absolutely had to get a picture of him next to the Madison statue in the Library of Congress! I love how Dre's personality shines through all of these images. I hope you enjoy getting to know my new friend as much as I have!

How long have you been a performer?

It’s hard to say exactly, I grew up in the church and singing with the choir and playing with the band was really my start, so performing has always kind of always been in/with me.

What was the first show you ever saw that changed your life?

A show called Joe Turner’s Come and Gone by August Wilson. It was done by the fourth year actors at SUNY Purchase in the BFA conservatory program. I was a freshman in the program at the time. It changed the way I viewed theatre and the power theatre can have on the masses.

What is your favorite show you’ve ever worked on?

Seven Guitars by August Wilson. Obviously I have a thing for August Wilson. His plays are some of the most transformational and moving pieces of literature I’ve ever experienced.

What has been your most memorable moment on tour so far?

There was a technical difficulty recently where the house lights didn’t go down but the show started. So all the way up until Alexander Hamilton’s first entrance in the first number we all could very clearly see the entire audience. On that particular day I was very tired. Didn’t feel motivated. But as soon as I walked out for that first line, I saw hundreds of faces beaming with joy and in that moment I was reminded of WHY I do what I do. Sometimes it can feel like we are performing to a void of darkness. It was a blessing to have that wall removed for that short bit of time.

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Do you have any special rituals or moments that happen backstage before or during the show each night?

At places every night after everyone has gotten their costumes on, we circle up together, breath together and pray together. Helps to start the show from a unified place and to remind ourselves that this show is a UNIFIED piece at ALL times.

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What are some items you absolutely can't live without backstage?

Some kind of musical object whether it be my beats pill to listen to music while I can or my new little instrument, the melodica. Practicing that currently actually lol

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What is your favorite thing about your job?

The fact that I’ve been doing it for 7 months and am still finding new things everyday as well as the fact that I’m surrounded by people who not only are masters at what they do BUT are also just kind and giving people.

I know you might be biased but do you have a favorite founding father?

Wow, I’ve never really thought about it to be honest. I appreciate and am grateful for all their contributions and attitudes. But you know James Madison will always be the bro!

What is your favorite fun fact about James Madison?

Lol. He was historically known to be chronically ill. Although no historian can pin point what exactly he was ill with. Ironically, he lived longer than any of the other founding fathers!

Do you think Mulligan and Madison have any similar qualities?

Both are grounded. When I think of these guys I think heavy. Also I think they both are smart and wise but still know how to have a little fun here and there.

Did your time visiting historic landmarks in Washington DC deepen the relationship you have with the characters you play?

ABSOLUTELY. It helped to humanize them as opposed to thinking about hem as ideas and stories. These were actual people that stood where I stood. You know?

What is your favorite number to perform in your show?

As you can probably tell from the earlier responses I LOVE PLAYS. Juicy plays that allow an actor to ACT and I find that the scene I enjoy most in the play is Washington on your side. Three dudes just talking and thinking together.

What is your favorite part about telling this story every night?

Challenging myself to find new things and go deeper every night. This material is genius and so full of information and opportunities. I’d be doing myself and the audience a disservice to not fully explore it every night.

What is it about this job that makes you come back each day?

The same thing as I said before. The endless opportunities this play provides to find new things. Keeps it fresh.

Did your education help prepare you for being in Hamilton or did you have to research your role?

I definitely had to research my role. I knew a minimal amount of information about the subject matter. What kind of research did you do? Google and Wikipedia lol but not just about my characters about the time, the people, the culture. I tried to immerse myself in the world that was 1776.

What is the best advice you've ever been given?

Trust in God first and everything else will follow. And he hasn’t failed yet.

What piece of advice would you give your 18 year old self?

Keep being you. But not for others, but be you FOR you. It’ll get you farther than this world will have you think.

What advice would you give to a young person who wants to pursue a career in the arts?

1. Get training. To have a time and space where you can break down your craft without the pressure of an audience is priceless.

2. Find your voice as an artist. Yes great artists steal. But no great artists mimic. Don’t judge your own artistic voice for the sake of being like any other artist. You will be at your best as an artist when you are unapologetically yourself.