A group of Mercy Home’s young people recently had a very special “Hamilton” experience, thanks to our Associate Board member and tutor Matt Yanover and “Hamilton” cast member Akron Watson. After Matt connected us to Akron, he arranged for tickets to be donated so that our young people would have the opportunity to see the show.

The experience was made even more special when Akron, who plays Aaron Burr, was joined by fellow cast members Andrew Call, who plays King George, Tamar Greene, who plays George Washington, Jamaal Fields-Green, who plays Philip Hamilton and John Laurens, Auban Wise, who plays Peggy Schuyler and Maria Reynolds, and other ensemble members for a talkback after the show. Our kids had to opportunity to ask the cast members questions and chat with them.

Everyone had a great time at the show, and we are so thankful to Matt, Akron, and the cast of “Hamilton” for giving our kids such a special theater experience!

Thanks to a generous donor, our mentees and mentors from the Friends First Mentoring Program were also taken to the CIBC theater to see “Hamilton”. The trip to the world-renowned play was a gesture of appreciation to our mentors, and a cultural and historical opportunity for our mentees! The child were so excited, as some had never been to a Broadway show before.

After the play, the group was able to meet some of the leading cast members for a Q&A session where they received insight to the inner workings of theater.

“It is amazing that Friends First was able to provide this experience, not only to the kids, but to us as well. It was just awesome,” commented a mentor.

One of our mentees cried with excitement when meeting Miguel Cervantes, the lead for Alexander Hamilton.

It is always the main objective of Friends First is to support the mentors and mentees by enriching them with experiences that will nurture their friendships, and help our mentees expound on their horizons through culturally rewarding activities!