‘Hamilton’ at Bass Hall has cast members with Fort Worth ties. ‘I am so excited!’

“Hamilton” has made a triumphant return to the Metroplex. After concluding its run in Dallas on June 9, it returns to Bass Performance Hall, June 11-23, as part of Performing Arts Fort Worth’s Broadway at the Bass Series presented by PNC Bank.

While the return of the show that became a legend in a short time has many excited, for three members of the cast it is also a homecoming.

John Devereaux, a 2012 graduate from TCU, is a standby. Lili Froehlich is a universal dance resident and 2009 graduate of the Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts, while Eean Cochran graduated from Grapevine Faith Christian School in 2010 and is a “swing,” or someone who understudies multiple roles.

COMING HOME

For Froehlich, performing at Bass Hall professionally is a first and something she’s looked forward to for some time. She was with “Hamilton” when it played in Dallas at Fair Park back in 2019.

“I am so excited, and it is very full circle for me!” she said. “It is incredibly special to be back home, I am able to see friends from childhood that I haven’t seen in a while, and friends from high school that I do not get to see regularly. I am getting to spend time with family both in Dallas and Fort Worth, which is invaluable as someone who lives so far away in New York City.”

Devereaux was with “Hamilton” at Dallas Music Hall in 2021 and Bass Hall in 2022. He also performed with the “Rent” 20th anniversary tour in 2016.

“One of the staff in the theater department at TCU is actually one of our local dressers, so it’s great to see her every day in the building,” he said.

Cochran’s family lived in several parts of the Metroplex as he was growing up, so this return home is covering a lot of reunion ground for him — and he’s loving it. He also performed at Fair Park as his only previous time to do the show locally.

“I am very excited to rejoin this company for this leg of their tour,” he said. “I come home to visit my family very often, since I have a niece and twin nephews, as well as my immediate family that I am very close with. I have been able to soak up family time, so my heart is happy.

“To be back with the show is a double blessing. To do what I love in the city I fell in love with, it is amazing, especially reconnecting with friends and those from my alma mater in the city, and at the show.”

Cochran’s first professional show was “Hairspray” at Casa Mañana in 2011.

“That show taught me so much about the journey I was beginning,” he said.

WHAT THEY DO IN THE SHOW

As a standby, Devereaux has to be ready at all times to cover for multiple lead roles when the person who regularly does that role is unavailable. He is a standby for George Washington, King George III, Lafayette/Jefferson, and Mulligan/Madison.

Cochran’s role of a swing requires him to learn and perform multiple ensemble tracks at any given moment during the production’s run. As a male swing, he must know all six male ensemble roles, or “tracks.”

“I also added two principal tracks to understudy during my run with the show. So I know and am ready to perform a total of eight roles at any time,” Cochran said.

Froehlich began her “Hamilton” journey seven years ago as a swing and dance captain of this tour. She is now the dance supervisor, which means she oversees and maintains every bit of movement and choreography, whether it be from the principles or the ensemble.

“This involves teaching the show to new cast members and cleaning the show with the current cast members,” she said. “And I still get to perform sometimes in case of emergency.”

RETURNING TO THEIR ROOTS

Froehlich grew up performing at theaters throughout the area, predominantly at Casa Mañana, Bass Hall and the Lyric Stage. She said it taught her many of the attributes she now employs in her professional career.

“My time there taught me how to do theater and how to behave professionally at a very young age. I have taken that with me everywhere I go, whether that be on the road with ‘Hamilton’ or in a Broadway show.

“We are so lucky to have a wonderful arts scene and community here in DFW, which has given many of us the tools to do theater and dance professionally as adults,” she said. “I am so thankful to every teacher, director, choreographer and mentor that I had as a youth in this area.”

Devereaux, originally from Houston, said performing at TCU gave him the opportunity to observe the Fort Worth veterans and how they carry themselves.

“I’m a visual learner, so being able to watch these professionals gave me the chance to create my own presence in the theater world of what I would and would not accept, how I behave on and off stage, and just the things that you might miss being young and doe-eyed in this very…let’s say ‘energetic’ industry,” he said.

BEING A PART OF HISTORY

“Hamilton” covers the life of founding father Alexander Hamilton and his involvement in the American Revolution. It casts non-white actors as the founding fathers and other historical figures.

The story is told via singing and rapping. It took the musical theater world by storm when it debuted on Broadway in 2015.

The show’s writer, director, choreographer and star, Lin-Manuel Miranda, described his creation as being about “American then, as told by America now.”

“This show has absolutely changed my life,” Froehlich said. “When I was a young performer in my early 20s, I was on a tour of ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ and I heard rumblings of this new show called ‘Hamilton’ that was changing the game of musical theater. I immediately knew I wanted to be a part of it someday.”

A couple of years after its opening on Broadway, she got the chance. The Philip Tour was launching in North America and she was cast as the dance captain/swing.

“It is important to showcase people of color telling a story that they otherwise have not gotten to tell — to put a stamp of their own on this country’s narrative, especially after so much inhumanity and injustice geared towards them,” she said. “As a white woman, I am honored to work with and perform with such a diverse company. That is the most important and beautiful part of the job, and of this show for me — the beautiful company of people that I get to work with. We come together to tell a story of an immigrant that helped lay much of this country’s foundation.

“Though our foundation is flawed, we slowly lay more bricks to build and rebuild a better future, and I think we do that together as a company telling this story.”

Like many, Devereaux went through the days of being a struggling actor. He said becoming a part of “Hamilton” provided him with the opportunity to finally perform his art and make a comfortable living.

“I express gratitude every day for the opportunity to live my purpose through this specific show. I feel aligned and in flow at this point in my life,” he said. “As for the messages in the show, there are so many that resonate with me: ambition, legacy, family, the cost of success, knowing when it’s time to leave, duty and obligation … after being in the show for five years, there are just far too many to name.”

Cochran is living out his dream with the third company performing the show. He said he reflects on his childhood often, reminding himself that little Eean would be amazed with the life he gets to live and the show he’s a part of.

“My first Broadway show was created by many that are involved in creating ‘Hamilton.’ To work alongside those many artists is confirmation that I am where I’m supposed to be,” he said. “The message of the show is simple to me, that we as a people need each other, as resources, as lessons, as those who motivate us, to make changes in the world daily, no matter who you are or where you come from.”

METROPLEX ARTS SCENE

“Attending TCU, I was able to experience all the theater Fort Worth had to offer at the time: Jubilee Theater, Bass Hall, Circle Theatre, Hip Pocket, etc.,” Devereaux said. “I saw the variety of theater available to me and what unique qualities and advantages each space has.”

Devereaux’s time at TCU has been commemorated with a mural in Times Square as part of TCU’s 150th anniversary celebration last year. The only time he has gotten to seen it was when it was unveiled.

“I’m actually not sure if it’s still up or not,” he said with a laugh. “Since I’ve been traveling on tour with ‘Hamilton’ for five years, I haven’t had the opportunity to go back to NYC since the promotional material we filmed about the mural.”

Froehlich stressed the importance of continuing to support arts locally.

“It is imperative that the arts receive ample funding so that people can grow up to excel in the arts as I have been able to,” she said. “You don’t even have to have a career in the arts directly to benefit from creativity and artistic experience.

“The arts help humans to think outside of the box, to problem solve, to have compassion for others,” Froehlich said. “It creates well-rounded and thoughtful individuals, which leads to a happier and more productive work force. There is not a negative attribute to sharing the arts with humanity.”

Cochran said with each trip back to the Metroplex, he becomes more excited with how the theater scene has grown.

“I like to stay connected, and thankfully have worked with many people I know in the area who are working to build the theater scene even more,” he said. “I am confident that this area and the creatives that live here are a part of my growth and continue to work with young and professional actors to bring Broadway to DFW and to create more local opportunities for the actors.

“I really enjoy when my friends from NYC come to work here and are so in love with the scene and people here.”