Broadway came to the library last week when the cast members from the musical “Hamilton” paid a visit to Las Vegas-Clark County Library District’s (LVCCLD) Hip-Hop Storytime.
Hip-Hop Storytime host and LVCCLD Whitney Branch manager Billy Allen, aka Mr. Billy, welcomed cast members from the touring company of “Hamilton” to an extra-special edition of Hip-Hop Storytime on May 23. Performers Blaine Alden Krauss, who stars as Alexander Hamilton, and Kendyl Sayuri Yokoyama, who plays Eliza Hamilton, joined Allen onstage at Whitney Library to sing, dance, read picture books set to hip-hop music, and celebrate literacy and libraries.
Billy Allen (left) and Blaine Alden Krauss at Hip-Hop Storytime
“We just want to inspire kids in our community to develop a lifelong love of reading,” said Allen after the event. “The purpose of Hip-Hop Storytime is to develop that lifelong love of reading, mixing music, storytime, and having fun. Storytime ain’t just for the kids—it’s for the family, it’s for the caregivers, it’s for your siblings to have fun.”
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Hip-Hop Storytime is the brainchild of Allen, who created it as a fun way to engage children in reading through movement and rhythm. Capitalizing on his “Mr. Billy” character from his popular @3KingsVision Instagram and YouTube channels, Allen emphasizes the importance of creating positive reading experience for children and their families. “Mr. Billy” appears regularly at the library, and his is beloved for his passion for neighborhood outreach, engaging programming, and exceptional customer service. Allen is a recipient of the City of Las Vegas Compassionate City Award and was recently named the James Partridge Outstanding African American Information Professional by the Black Caucus of the American Library Association. He was also featured on Season 9 of the Netflix series “Queer Eye.”
“Hamilton” cast members Kendyl Sayuri Yokoyama (left) and Blaine Alden Krauss
A revolutionary story of passion, unstoppable ambition, and the dawn of a new nation, “Hamilton” is the epic saga that follows the rise of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton as he fights for honor, love and a legacy that would shape the course of a nation. Set to a score by Lin-Manuel Miranda that blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B, and Broadway showtunes, “Hamilton” has won 11 Tony Awards®, Grammys®, Olivier Awards, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and a special citation from the Kennedy Center Honors. “Hamilton” is playing The Smith Center for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas until June 1.
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Feature photo: Billy Allen, Blaine Alden Krauss, and Kendyl Sayuri Yokoyama at Hip-Hop Storytime at Whitney Library. Photos courtesy of Las Vegas-Clark County Library District.
