A few minutes into our interview, two of the Schuyler sisters share a knowing look. They pick up their phones and text their Schuyler sisters group chat, titled “Three Brujas,” a nod to their mutual love of Hocus Pocus.
“I bet the interview time slipped her mind,” one of them says.
“But we got her,” replies the other, as they both move in sync to rally their third sister into our Zoom interview.
Stephanie Umoh (Angelica), Morgan Anita Wood (Eliza), and Cherry Torres (Peggy) are the three women whose names will be forever imprinted in the history books as the Schuyler sisters for Hamilton’s 10th anniversary, carving out their own narrative in the Tony-winning musical’s legacy.
Being a part of the juggernaut’s legacy is not lost on Umoh, Wood, and Torres. All three of them started their Hamilton journey in national tours in late 2018, before joining the Broadway company in the summer of 2024. They all admit, though, that it took them a while before they immersed themselves in the Hamilton hype. While the musical was making its Broadway premiere a decade ago, the three women were in different phases of their lives: Wood was studying musical theater in college, Umoh was auditioning for the Falsettos revival, and Torres was performing on a cruise ship. As each one of them listened to the cast album, they all fell in love with the music. Umoh and Torres were even told by friends that they could see them one day playing their respective parts.
Though the Founding Fathers and Sons of Liberty are in the spotlight for most of the show, it’s the sisterhood that is center stage for this trio. It’s evident that Umoh, Wood, and Torres deeply and genuinely care for each other. They’ve bestowed nicknames on each other (Wood calls Torres “Cher-Bear”), they’ve taken trips together, and they know that a closed dressing room door means that sister needs a little extra alone time before a performance. Much like Angelica sings in “Satisfied” and “The Reynolds Pamphlet,” these three Schuylers know their own sisters like they know their own minds.
“What I think works so well with this dynamic is that we speak each other’s languages at this point,” says Wood. “We are all sunshiney people and default to that, and at one point I remember grabbing Cherry’s hand backstage and saying, ‘You do not have to do that for me. I appreciate it so much, but I don’t want you to feel like you have to present in this way if you’re really not feeling that way.’”
“I don’t have sisters,” adds Torres, an older sister to a brother in real life. “There is an aspect of joy connecting in that way and just sisterly love that is magical and special.”
Their bond also translates to their onstage performances, with Umoh and Wood imbuing Angelica and Eliza’s second act reunion in “Take a Break” with their own authentic enthusiasm. With excited squeals and an eager hug, it does truly feel like they haven’t seen each other in years like their characters had, even though the actors may have only been apart for two days.
A key part of the trio’s sisterly connection is finding moments to check in with each other at three specific milestones during the show. First is at the top of the show, with all three women deciding to hold hands with each other as they sing “Me? I loved him” in “Alexander Hamilton.” Torres and Wood then touch base with each other at the beginning of the Act One finale, “Non-Stop.” Just before the show wraps up, Umoh and Wood offer each other an affectionate glance from their alcoves as a silent check-in while they sing. Wood gets choked up as she acknowledges that they only have a few more weeks before Umoh plays her final performance on September 7.
“I knew I was going to get emotional!” Wood exclaims.
Umoh starts wiping away her own tears as she reflects on what she has learned during her time playing the eldest Schuyler sister. Between performing in the national tour and Broadway, Umoh has played Angelica for seven years.
“I have grown up with Angelica,” Umoh says. “A lot of my lessons have mostly happened offstage. I had a horrible loss of my father. I’ve learned a lot about strength, and how to go on stage and play this role after losing someone very important to me. It’s been really hard. I don’t even know how I did it, but I did it with the help of my sisters, who held my hand and created a foundation for me that I could fall on if I needed.”
“Can I say something about Stephanie Umoh?” Torres tenderly interjects. “This woman came back from the biggest tragedy and singlehandedly carried the entire company. We call her ‘The Cruise Director,’ because this woman will bring joy to every season. She’ll decorate the hallways for holidays. She’ll organize events. She set up Café Umoh with her cappuccino maker in her room, and every two-show day she has us over, makes us lattes, and we’ll decompress and chat.”
Torres also starts to get teary-eyed. I wish I could pass tissues through the screen.
“The examples go far beyond what I think she realizes,” Torres continues. “She is the leader, she is the person who extends herself to every single person who has gone through something. I just don’t even know how she’s done it.”
Umoh believes that her sisters and the show gave her a purpose as she navigated that challenging time, and she wanted to bring joy to those around her. As one of the company’s vets, who has been performing on Broadway since 2009, Umoh has stepped up to be a leader, to set an example, and to build a community backstage. She is well aware of how special it is to be performing in a Broadway show that has run for 10 years, and to be a part of the anniversary cast.
“There aren’t many shows that make it past a year these days. To make it to 10 years on Broadway is incredible. It’s truly incredible. It’s a blessing,” Umoh says. “I’m trying to remember [the 10th anniversary performance] is a celebration to take the pressure off. It’s a little intimidating to have the original cast there, but I know the audience will be full of love.”
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Umoh was right: After the anniversary performance, the current Schuyler sisters got to connect with their predecessors, original cast members Renée Elise Goldsberry, Philippa Soo, and Jasmine Cephas Jones. Their support of Umoh, Wood, and Torres proved the Schuyler sisterhood extends across years and casts.
Both Wood and Torres have felt a similar pressure stepping into these beloved roles. The dismantling of their imposter syndrome has happened with the help of their sisters.
“Starting off as a swing and covering so many roles, I genuinely didn’t think that I would ever get to play a sister,” Torres says. “I’m so happy that I get to step into these roles with Morgan and Stephanie. There are moments in ‘The Schuyler Sisters’ when we look out into the audience, and it hits me, and I think, ‘Oh my god, this is really happening.’”
Wood agrees. “Every single day I’m living inside one of my biggest dreams,” she says. “I’m trying to be more and more present every day. Cherry and Stephanie honestly help me do that, because they make my job so fun, so much easier, and truly a joy. They are the strongest women in this world in every capacity. They inspire my Eliza, knowing that she had her sisters to lift her up too.”
