Speculation and excitement are running high among the UAE's theatre buffs, as acclaimed musical Hamilton looks to be the next international tour to hit the country's stage.
On Friday, Proactiv Entertainment, the production company behind The Lion King musical tour in Abu Dhabi last November, posted a short teaser on Instagram with the caption: “History is happening".
The play on words, musical style and visuals caught the eyes and ears of musical theatre fans, who immediately recognised them as referring to the popular musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda.
If fans are correct, Hamilton, which is having its Asian premiere in the Philippines in September, will soon also be coming to Etihad Arena. The Yas Island venue also shared the same clip on its Instagram page.
No confirmations have been made, but Proactiv said an official announcement will be made on Tuesday.
The musical is currently on an international tour that includes runs in Manila and Auckland, with “additional cities to be announced soon,” according to its website.
Miranda, who also played the titular role in the original Broadway premiere in 2015, announced the Philippines tour himself in March.
Why is Hamilton so popular?
The musical is based on the 2004 book by Ron Chernow, Alexander Hamilton. It tells the story of the life of the titular American founding father, from his days at King's College in New York in 1776 to becoming the first US treasury secretary and his eventual death in 1804.
It also features other notable figures from American history, including Aaron Burr, Marquis de Lafayette and George Washington.
Miranda, who wrote the music, lyrics and the book for the musical, worked on the project over a seven-year period, initially as a concept album. In 2009, the American hitmaker performed the song Alexander Hamilton at a White House poetry and music event hosted by Barack and Michelle Obama.
Accompanied by Alex Lacamoire, a co-arranger of the show's score, Miranda performed the catchy tune Alexander Hamilton, which seven years later, became the opening number of the groundbreaking musical.
The Broadway premiere in 2015 was a resounding critical and commercial success, marking the beginning of its stage dominance. At the 70th Tony Awards, Hamilton received a record-breaking 16 nominations, taking home 11 trophies, including Best Musical. It also won the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
Its West End production in London opened in 2017, which won seven Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical.
Much of the success of Miranda's Hamilton is in its revitalising music, which allowed mainstream show tunes to thrive on a theatrical stage.
But Hamilton's hip-hop influence is what really makes it standout. The traditional, almost exclusionary, sound of Broadway has been infused with the accessibility of rap, as well as other mainstream genres. This eclectic blend of music has allowed Miranda, who also wrote the music for Disney's Moana and Encanto, to connect several generations through the work.
Miranda's lyricism also hit the mark, being both relevant and ambitiously accurate. Given its historical source material, the musical was able to scrupulously convey its poignant message.
All this would not have been as exceptional if not for an equally salient casting. Non-white actors were cast in the show's principal roles — an intentional move that is “essential to the storytelling of Hamilton,” its producers said in a 2016 report by The Atlantic.
Reflecting current political discourse in the US on race and immigration, Alexander Hamilton's journey from an immigrant to a crucial member of the American government is central to the theme of the musical, and this is displayed in the casting and the songs throughout.
Timeless themes of love, loss and ambition are also prominent in the show, making it enjoyable even to those who are not necessarily into its political messaging.
If you go
Flying
Despite the extreme distance, flying to Fairbanks is relatively simple, requiring just one transfer in Seattle, which can be reached directly from Dubai with Emirates for Dh6,800 return.
Touring
Gondwana Ecotours’ seven-day Polar Bear Adventure starts in Fairbanks in central Alaska before visiting Kaktovik and Utqiarvik on the North Slope. Polar bear viewing is highly likely in Kaktovik, with up to five two-hour boat tours included. Prices start from Dh11,500 per person, with all local flights, meals and accommodation included; gondwanaecotours.com
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
RESULTS
Main card
Bantamweight 56.4kg: Mehdi Eljamari (MAR) beat Abrorbek Madiminbekov (UZB), Split points decision
Super heavyweight 94 kg: Adnan Mohammad (IRN) beat Mohammed Ajaraam (MAR), Split points decision
Lightweight 60kg: Zakaria Eljamari (UAE) beat Faridoon Alik Zai (AFG), RSC round 3
Light heavyweight 81.4kg: Taha Marrouni (MAR) beat Mahmood Amin (EGY), Unanimous points decision
Light welterweight 64.5kg: Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK) beat Nouredine Samir (UAE), Unanimous points decision
Light heavyweight 81.4kg: Ilyass Habibali (UAE) beat Haroun Baka (ALG), KO second round
SCORES IN BRIEF
Lahore Qalandars 186 for 4 in 19.4 overs
(Sohail 100,Phil Salt 37 not out, Bilal Irshad 30, Josh Poysden 2-26)
bt Yorkshire Vikings 184 for 5 in 20 overs
(Jonathan Tattersall 36, Harry Brook 37, Gary Ballance 33, Adam Lyth 32, Shaheen Afridi 2-36).
If you go
The Flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Johannesburg from Dubai and Abu Dhabi respectively. Economy return tickets cost from Dh2,650, including taxes.
The trip
Worldwide Motorhoming Holidays (worldwidemotorhomingholidays.co.uk) operates fly-drive motorhome holidays in eight destinations, including South Africa. Its 14-day Kruger and the Battlefields itinerary starts from Dh17,500, including campgrounds, excursions, unit hire and flights. Bobo Campers has a range of RVs for hire, including the 4-berth Discoverer 4 from Dh600 per day.
Biog
Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara
He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada
Father of two sons, grandfather of six
Plays golf once a week
Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family
Walks for an hour every morning
Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India
2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business
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Engine: 80 kWh four-wheel-drive
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 402bhp
Torque: 760Nm
Price: From Dh280,000
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
