On Wednesday night, Stephens Auditorium quickly filled up with Iowa State students and community members alike for Leslie Odom Jr.’s lecture “Hamilton and the Road to Success: In Words and Music.”

The stage was set for a live band, complete with a piano, drum set, microphones and a podium for Odom to stand at during the lecture itself.

Around 7:15 p.m. the lights dimmed and members of the Committee on Lectures and Student Union Board introduced the event by thanking the 24 sponsors and touching on some of Odom’s theatre and television experience, most notably his role as Aaron Burr in the acclaimed musical “Hamilton.” As soon as Odom’s name was said, the crowd erupted in cheers, and it was time to begin.

The band started things up as Odom took the stage and sang a confident rendition of the song “Falling Leaves”. While a nice, relaxed way to start the evening, Odom’s second song was a welcome change of pace, as he could be seen smiling and moving around the stage to a more upbeat tune and the pianist’s improv.

Once the song finished, Odom headed over to the podium. “Now comes the speaking part,” he said, which was met with laughter from the audience.

He referred to Hamilton only as “the show”, and jokingly asked if anyone had not heard the Broadway cast recording. When 5 or 6 people raised their hands, Odom laughed and repeatedly joked with them throughout the night, specifically when he made references to Hamilton or sang songs from the show.

The lecture began with the story of how he became familiar with Hamilton- he saw the production in its earliest form, called The Hamilton Mixtape, at a black box theater in Poughkeepsie, New York, and was hooked. He recalled the moment when he first heard the song “The Story of Tonight” and thought it powerful.

“I had never seen a song onstage by four men of color singing about brotherhood and friendship,” Odom said.

He then traced his beginnings as a performer back to his childhood in Philadelphia, when he played Martin Luther King Jr. in a Black History Month pageant when he was a kid.

“A ham was born,” Odom said of that pageant, and how he proudly and confidently delivered his lines. “Since kindergarten, I knew I could give speeches.”

Odom then talked about the first time he saw the musical Rent, which he described as “my Hamilton,” and performed the song “Without You” from Rent. When the song hit its highest point, the crowd erupted in cheers.

Odom then returned to the topic of Hamilton, and how building the character of Burr required him to use all of his training from his time at Carnegie Mellon University. However, the long process of character development paid off in the end.

He then talked about how leaving the show brought the opportunity for new experiences.

“I am, once again, a student,” Odom said of his place post-Hamilton.

He knows he is taking a risk — something he it’s totally comfortable with.

“Maybe the best is behind me. But maybe not,” he concluded, before the band returned to the stage for Odom to perform 3 songs from Hamilton.

He started his Hamilton set with the song “Wait For It,” followed by the sweeter, more melodic “Dear Theodosia,” and closed with “The Room Where It Happens,” which had the audience singing along the whole time. When he was finished, he was met with a standing ovation.

A short Q&A session wrapped up the evening, with questions submitted by the audience using the hashtag #AskLeslieISU. When asked how Hamilton changed his definition of success, he answered that it “was his wildest dream.”

When someone asked how he handled rejection, Odom offered some very sage advice for  the crowd.

“All of that stuff is there to fashion you and give you your colors,” Odom said.

One of the final questions asked was about his feelings for his impending new role as a father, and what he hopes for his child.

“Childhood is such a short trip,” Odom said. “Your parents guide you and then you go. I want to make that trip as joyous as possible.”

Leslie Odom Jr.’s talent, advice and ease in front of the crowd was well-received by the ISU community, and his presence made the evening’s trip incredibly joyous for all in attendance.