Warriors musical Broadway cast: Hamilton's Jasmine Cephas Jones leads Miranda's new show

Warriors, the new musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Eisa Davis, has announced its initial Broadway cast, and a familiar face from Hamilton is at the heart of it. Jasmine Cephas Jones, who created the roles of Peggy Schuyler and Maria Reynolds in the original Broadway company of Miranda's hit, will play Swan, the leader of the gang.

The production begins previews at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in New York on 9 March 2027, with an official opening night on 8 April 2027.

The cast in full

The company announced so far is led by Jaci Calderon as Fox, Aneesa Folds as Cleon, Amber Gray as Ajax, Julia Harriman as Mercy, Sasha Hutchings as Cowgirl, Gizel Jiménez as Rembrandt, Jasmine Cephas Jones as Swan, Kenita R. Miller as Cochise, Sasha Allen as Cyrus, Casey Likes as Luther and Donald Webber Jr. as Masai. Further casting is to be announced.

Folds, Gray, Harriman, Hutchings, Jiménez, Jones and Miller all return to the characters they voiced on the 2024 concept album. Calderon takes over Fox from Phillipa Soo, while Allen and Webber step into roles first sung by Lauryn Hill and Colman Domingo. Likes, who sang the role of Jesse on the album, now plays the villainous Luther.

A reunion for Hamilton fans

UK audiences who have seen Hamilton at the Victoria Palace Theatre will spot plenty of links. As well as Jones, Sasha Hutchings was a member of the original Broadway ensemble of Hamilton and understudied Peggy and Maria Reynolds. Behind the scenes, co-director and choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler won a Tony Award for his choreography on the show, and the producers include Thomas Kail, who directed it, and Jeffrey Seller, who produced it, alongside Miranda and his father, Luis A. Miranda Jr.

Other names will be familiar from West End and Broadway musicals. Amber Gray is known for playing Persephone in Hadestown, Casey Likes played Marty McFly on Broadway in Back to the Future and led Almost Famous, and Donald Webber Jr. is recognisable from the television series Severance.

The London production of Hamilton recently extended its West End run until October 2027, so there is still plenty of time to see Miranda's best known work on this side of the Atlantic before Warriors arrives on Broadway.

What is the story?

The musical is based on the 1979 Paramount Pictures film The Warriors, directed by Walter Hill, and the 1965 novel by Sol Yurick. When a gang from Coney Island is framed for the murder of Cyrus, a respected leader, at a summit in the Bronx, its members must race across New York through one night to get home and prove their innocence.

The biggest change from the film is that the Warriors are now an all female gang. The show's makers describe the piece as a story of loyalty, friendship, strength and survival, and of the search for peace in a dangerous city.

Where did the musical begin?

It started life as a concept album, released on 18 October 2024. Executive produced by the rapper Nas and produced by Mike Elizondo, the album also featured Ms. Lauryn Hill, Busta Rhymes, Marc Anthony, Billy Porter, Ghostface Killah, RZA, Colman Domingo and Cam'ron.

In a joint statement, Miranda and Davis said: "It's a New York story to the bone, with music steeped in all the genres that were born and revolutionised here, from hip-hop to salsa to ska and metal and everything in between." They added: "This is the sound of something being born."

Who is in the creative team?

Miranda and Davis wrote the book, music and lyrics together. The production is directed by Jenny Koons, with co-direction and choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler. Scenic design is by David Korins, costume design by Dede Ayite, lighting design by Natasha Katz, sound design by Jason Crystal and projection design by Hana S. Kim. Fight direction is by Drew Leary, and wig, hair and make-up design is by Nikiya Mathis.

Kurt Crowley is music supervisor, and the orchestrations are by Crowley, Scott Wasserman and Mike Elizondo. Casting is by Sujotta Pace of C12 Casting and Telsey and Co.

When does it open?

Previews begin on 9 March 2027, with the official opening on 8 April 2027. General sale for the Broadway run opened on 22 October 2026. There is no news yet of a London or UK production.