Walter Panas High Grad to Join Broadway Cast of Hamilton
During his high school years at Walter Panas, Anthony Lee Medina was a featured performer in most of the productions of Panas Players.
After graduating in 2007, Medina, 27, continued to pursue his acting passion and landed some roles on stage and on the small screen. However, about a month ago, Medina learned he had earned a coveted spot in the hottest show currently on Broadway.
Starting in early March, Medina will play a dual role in Hamilton. He said last week he expects to be part of the cast during his initial run as John Laurens/Philip Hamilton (Alexander Hamilton’s son) for at least six months, but more likely a year.
“It’s been a nice Christmas so far. I’m very happy,” Medina said during an exclusive interview. “Hamilton was kind of the end all, be all. It’s crazy.”
Medina said he actually had three auditions for a production of Hamilton on the west coast that he wasn’t chosen for, but instead was notified he had made the cut for the Broadway show.
“I dropped my phone and cracked it,” Medina recalled of his reaction to hearing the good news. “I audition a lot for everything, but that would be the best job I could get. It’s nice icing on the cake.”
Medina started acting professionally at the age of 19, appearing for two years in the first national tour of Spring Awakening. He later appeared In the Heights at Theater Under the Stars and in The Public Theater’s The Capeman at The Delacorte.
His television credits include The CW’s “Carrie Diaries,” CBS’ “Blue Bloods,” HBO’s “High Maintenance,” and the Golden Globe nominated “Flesh and Bone” on STARZ.
“I’ve had a lot of theater in my life,” said Medina, who during his time at Panas he also appeared in productions at the Westchester Broadway Theatre and Random Farm Theater. “My experience in film and television have been incredible. The process is totally different.”
Despite his success, Medina, who lives in Washington Heights, said he has also experienced the ups and downs of being a struggling actor.
“There was a lot of doubt, a lot of rejections,” he said. “You have to have thick skin. You have to fight to the end. It’s really believing in yourself and your abilities. I work my butt off and I’m really lucky. I have had a really good support system. Suddenly there are a lot of avenues opening up that could change what I do.”
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