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"Hamilton," the show that delivers an American history lesson in rap, has sparked a musical revolution, as evidenced by its unprecedented 16 Tony Award nominations. No matter how many awards the musical claims at Sunday's ceremony, Utah native Thayne Jasperson is part of the story.

Jasperson, a Provo native, has been along on the journey as "Hamilton" became a cultural phenomenon. He performed in workshops and readings as creator Lin-Manuel Miranda shaped the show, and performed as an ensemble member in the sold-out off-Broadway debut run in February 2015. He continued with the show when it transferred to Broadway's Richard Rodgers Theatre in August.

"When I did the first workshop for 'Hamilton,' right away I was like, 'This music is dope,'" Jasperson said. "At the audition they said, 'You don't have to rap,' and I was like, 'No, no, I wanna rap,' even though it was the first time I'd ever rapped."

Jasperson's movements are included in Andy Blankenbuehler's choreography, and he performed on the Grammy Award-winning cast recording released last fall. "Andy would see something I was doing and say 'Keep that,' " Jasperson said. "Being on the original cast recording and knowing that my version is there for every future cast to do is amazing."

"Hamilton" continues Jasperson's impressive Broadway run, despite his late start entering show business. "I've lucked out," he said. "With all the Broadway shows I've been in, I've always been part of the original cast. I was in the original cast of 'Newsies' when it opened on Broadway, and the original cast of the U.S. production of 'Matilda.' "

Jasperson, along with Southern Utah University graduate and Pioneer Theatre alum Keala Settle, is part of the battalion of Utah-reared or trained talent currently working in Tony-nominated shows.

Onstage every night as Samuel Seabury, a British loyalist, Jasperson loses his rap battle with Miranda's Hamilton. To mark Jasperson's birthday last year, in a "Ham4Ham" pre-show performance outside the theater, Jasperson and Miranda switched roles. "My dog speaks more eloquently," a smiling Jasperson triumphantly raps in a YouTube video. "Don't modulate the key and not debate with me."

Modulating his personal keys • Jasperson, born in Evanston, Wyo., spent his teen years in Springville. After graduation, he began taking dance classes.

His career got a jumpstart when he was accepted into Derryl Yeager's Odyssey Dance Theatre, and he went on to perform with the group for six years, where he also began choreographing. "When I got into ODT and was around a lot of professionally trained dancers, it really upped my game," he said.

Another breakthrough occurred when Yeager cast him in the lead role of Ren McCormick in the 2009 production of "Footloose" at Tuacahn Ampitheater.

"When Derryl asked me to play Ren, it changed everything for me," he said. "Getting the lead there really helped me know that I didn't just like dancing, I also liked singing and acting. It helped me project into the future and guided me in the direction of musical theater."

"His training was on his feet," said Tim Threlfall, a Brigham Young University theater professor who also worked with Jasperson at Tuachan. "He's extremely talented and is a hard worker. He started training as a dancer, but he developed so much as an actor and a singer; otherwise he wouldn't have landed the parts he has, because these days to get ensemble roles you also have to cover a lead."

Jasperson also danced in another pop-culture hit, "High School Musical"; director Kenny Ortega and choreographer Bonnie Story cast him as a featured dancer in the sequel.

Jasperson's "talent is exceptional, but it's his work ethic that singles him out," said Story, who also cast him as a featured dancer in her 2008 MTV movie "American Mall."

Also in 2008, he became a finalist on Season 4 of the Fox TV reality show "So You Think You Can Dance" and danced in the show's national tour.

I first noticed Jasperson's work in a 2007 ODT "Shut Up and Dance" concert, observing in my Salt Lake Tribune review how he attacked the movement in Mia Michaels' "Shed My Skin," clearly interpreting the work's humor and depth.

When I saw him dance during "Newsies" on Broadway in 2012, my eye was drawn to him in ensemble numbers because of the clarity of his movement, a calm but fiery quality that allows him to beautifully interpret the intention of the choreography.

'Hear ye, hear ye!' • "Hamilton" is sold out through January, with a new block of tickets to be released to the public in concert with Sunday's Tony Awards show.

Yet the show, created by Miranda, a former high-school teacher, regularly offers $10 performances for public-school students. "It's really important to expose students to political theater that makes them think and want to learn about their history," Jasperson said. "But it is equally important to me that kids know that it is fine to sing and dance — and if you love doing that, don't let anybody tell you it's not cool."

Jasperson said he didn't start dancing until after high school because "I was so worried about being cool. Now I tell kids: 'Don't let anyone tell you that you can't be a certain way or do certain things you like.' "

The cast of "Hamilton" is like one big happy family, he said, recounting how he got endless flak from Miranda when Vice President Joe Biden came backstage to wish him a happy birthday with a big hug.

Jasperson appears happy to keep embracing history. —

Utahns at the Tonys

Broadway performers turn out for the Tony Award telecast at 7 p.m. Sunday, June 12, on CBS Ch. 2.

Three local theater professionals vote for the annual awards, presented by The American Theatre Wing : Pioneer Theatre Company artistic director Karen Azenberg, as well as MagicSpace Entertainment's John Ballard and Steve Boulay, who present the Broadway at the Eccles season.

Alumni of Utah's professional theater productions make up the largest share of Utah's bragging rights to Tony-nominated talent.

Pioneer Theatre Company

Alex Brightman, who played Henry in 2011's "Next to Normal," is nominated for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for "School of Rock."

Lizzie Klumperer, who played Marion in 2015's "The Music Man," performs in "Bright Star."

Benjamin Eakeley, who played Joe Gillis in 2011's "Sunset Boulevard," is in "She Loves Me."

Anthony Ramos, who played Sonny in the 2012 production of Lin-Manuel Miranda's other megahit, "In the Heights," performs as John Laurens and Philip Hamilton in "Hamilton."

Richard Gatta, from the ensemble of 2014's "Sweet Charity," is in "Bright Star."

Paul Castree, who played Flint in 2013's "Something's Afoot," is in "Disaster!"

Keala Settle, who played Mrs. Fezziwig in 2012's "A Christmas Carol," is in "Waitress."

Utah Shakespeare Festival

Stephen Karam, who performed as an actor at the festival's 2002 season, wrote the drama "The Humans," which is nominated for Best New Play.

Tuacahn Amphitheatre

Thayne Jasperson, who performed as Ren in 2009's "Footloose," is in "Hamilton."

Jesse Swimm, who performed as Bert in 2013's "Mary Poppins," is in "School of Rock."

Crystal Kellogg, who performed as Sandy in 2011's Grease," is in "School of Rock."

More • Jasperson and castmates react to "Hamilton's" Tony nominations in this Instagram video: https://www.instagram.com/p/BFANQDARPBZ

Ellen Fagg Weist