by Giles Terera
First published 2021
Giles Terera chronicles his path to becoming Aaron Burr in Hamilton's West End production. His story begins with that first audition in New York and follows him through months of research, preparation, and rehearsals before the London opening in December 2017. Terera kept detailed notes throughout this process, documenting both the practical work of building a performance and the emotional journey of inhabiting this complex character. He explores the iconic songs and scenes from an actor's perspective, revealing how the production comes together behind the scenes. The book captures the collaboration in rehearsal rooms, the quiet moments of backstage reflection, and the breakthrough discoveries that shaped his award winning portrayal. Terera draws connections between his own life experiences and the choices he made as Burr, showing how personal history feeds into creating a character. The journal format gives readers direct access to his thoughts and feelings as he navigated this career defining role. Lin-Manuel Miranda contributes a foreword praising Terera's detailed approach to his craft.
Genres: autobiography, biography-memoir, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: behind-the-scenes, personal-journey
Setting: New York, London
Period: 2017
182 pages · Kindle Edition · Nick Hern Books