You have 16 chances to see a national touring production of “Hamilton” in Alabama. Don’t throw away your shot, theater fans, if you want to catch a performance of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tony-winning musical during its run in Birmingham.

Making a few plans will help you to avoid frustration — with tickets, parking and the like — if you’re venturing to the BJCC Concert Hall downtown. Also, your enjoyment of the show can be enhanced if you know some specifics about the musical, its creator, the songs, the history and more.

We’re here to help with all that, offering a “Hamilton” primer with practical info and background on the theater blockbuster. Here’s what you need to know before you go.

WHEN AND WHERE

“Hamilton” will be performed by a national touring cast, Jan. 24-Feb. 4 at the BJCC Concert Hall, which is part of the BJCC campus at 2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. North. The show’s run here is part of the Broadway in Birmingham series presented by the American Theatre Guild.

SHOW DATES

Here’s the full list of performance dates and times.

• Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023: 7:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023: 7:30 p.m.
• Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023: 7:30 p.m.
• Friday, Jan. 27, 2023: 8 p.m.
• Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023: 2 p.m.
• Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023: 8 p.m.
• Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023: 1 p.m.
• Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023: 7 p.m.
• Monday, Jan. 30, 2023: 7:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023: 7:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023: 7:30 p.m.
• Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023: 1:30 p.m.
• Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023: 7:30 p.m.
• Friday, Feb. 3, 2023: 8 p.m.
• Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023: 2 p.m.
• Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023: 8 p.m.

TICKETS

Single tickets for performances of “Hamilton” are on sale via Ticketmaster, priced at $49-$229 for standard tickets. When we checked Ticketmaster on Monday, Jan. 22, some performances were listed as sold out. Some weekend performances had scattered single seats available. Multiple seats were available at standard prices via Ticketmaster for six performances on Monday, Jan. 30, through Friday, Feb. 3.

TICKET LOTTERY

A limited number of $10 tickets for each performance of “Hamilton” is available through a digital lottery that started on Jan. 13. The lottery has closed for the first eight shows, Tuesday, Jan. 24, through Sunday, Jan. 29. However, a second lottery remains open for performances during the second eight shows, Monday, Jan. 30, through Saturday, Feb. 4. That lottery closes at 12 p.m. CT on Thursday, Jan. 26. To enter the lottery, download the “Hamilton” app, available via Apple’s App store and Google Play. More details on the lottery can be found here.

LOGISTICS AND PARKING

The BJCC Concert Hall, which seats about 3,000 people, is off 11th Avenue North, between 19th and 22nd streets North. See the map below info for context, and the locations of nearby parking lots and decks. (Parking fee for most of these is $20, the BJCC website says.) There’s street parking, as well, but you might have to walk a few blocks to the venue. The concert hall is designated as No. 2 on the map, between the BJCC Theatre and East Exhibit Hall.

Passes for Premier Parking in the BJCC’s gold lot, 2130 11th Ave, North, are $30 via Ticketmaster. Some days were sold out when we checked on Monday afternoon, Jan. 23, while others remain on sale.

GETTING IN

Doors open one hour before the showtime listed on the tickets. The ticket office at the BJCC Concert Hall opens two hours before showtime. Bring a photo ID and the card used to purchase your tickets, if you’re picking up hard-copy tickets at the will-call window. The BJCC recommends putting mobile tickets in your Ticketmaster wallet for quicker access on scene.

HOW LONG YOU’LL BE THERE

Performances of “Hamilton” run for two hours and 45 minutes, according to the Theatre Guild.

STASH THOSE PHONES

Taking photos and video during performances of “Hamilton” is not permitted.

BHAM CAST

Creator Miranda, who played the main character on Broadway, isn’t performing in the national tour, and audiences in Birmingham won’t see actors from the original cast. Three different casts perform on national tours of “Hamilton”; each cast is named for a character in the show.

Birmingham will see the Angelica cast, which features Edred Utomi as Alexander Hamilton, Josh Tower as Aaron Burr, Stephanie Umoh as Angelica Schuyler, Alysha Deslorieux as Eliza Hamilton, David Park as the Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson, Carvens Lissaint as George Washington, Jon Viktor Corpuz as John Laurens/Philip Hamilton and Peter Matthew Smith as King George III.

IF YOU’RE GOING ON JAN. 25

“The BJCC campus will host two sold-out shows on Wednesday, Jan. 25, including one of our ‘Hamilton’ shows,” the BJCC website says. “We urge all attendees to plan an early arrival to avoid anticipated long entry lines to all parking areas and entry doors. Allow extra time to proceed through security screenings and purchase concessions and merchandise. Patrons not in their seats by show time will be held outside the portal doors until a break in the show.” Parking lots open at 3 p.m. on Jan. 25, the BJCC website says.

GOOD TO KNOW

The BJCC has listed its security policies here, including prohibited items and search and screening policies.

HAMILTON WHO?

The musical focuses on the life of founding father Alexander Hamilton, his career during the American Revolutionary War and his political and philosophical feud with a rival and contemporary, Aaron Burr. The musical also tells of Hamilton’s relationship with his wife, Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton, and her sister, Angelica Schuyler Church.

“Hamilton” is based on Ron Chernow’s biography of the founding father, who was known for his intellectual prowess and outspoken nature. Hamilton was a prolific and influential writer who created tracts on many subjects, helped draft the U.S. Constitution, and served as the first Secretary of the Treasury in George Washington’s cabinet. He also was the founder and chief architect of the American financial system.

NOTE: If Hamilton’s capsule biography sounds rather dry and musty, don’t fret. The musical “Hamilton” is known for bringing his story to vivid life, with a fast pace, catchy songs and colorful characters. There’s action and conflict aplenty, along with romance and tragedy.

MUSIC STYLE

Miranda’s groundbreaking score fuses hip-hop with R&B, pop, soul and styles of traditional show tunes. Some of the most famous songs from the musical include “Alexander Hamilton” (the dramatic opening song), “My Shot” (a propulsive mission statement from the show’s hero), “Helpless” (Eliza Schulyer spots her beloved for the first time), “What’d I Miss” (Thomas Jefferson romps upon his return to the U.S. from France), “The Schuyler Sisters“ (a primer on ”ANGELICA! ELIZA! And Peggy”), “The Room Where It Happens” (Aaron Burr burns with ambition) and “Satisfied” (a bittersweet ballad about love, loss and loyalty).

KUDOS

“Hamilton” won 11 Tony Awards, a Grammy, a Pulitzer Prize and many other awards. The musical debuted on Broadway in 2015 and continues to run at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York.

STREAMING

A movie version of “Hamilton,” featuring Miranda as the main character and the rest of the original Broadway cast, is streaming on Disney+. If you want to prep for a live performance, or get a feeling for the story and the songs, this is a good place to start.

ALABAMA TIES

Did you know that “Hamilton” has at least two connections to our state? Huntsville native Michael Luwoye played the title role on Broadway and on a national tour, 2016-2019. (On Nov. 16, 2016, Luwoye portrayed Hamilton at a matinee and took on the role of Aaron Burr for the evening show, all on the same day.) Also, Birmingham’s Jordan Fisher took over the dual role of John Laurens/Philip Hamilton on Broadway in 2016-2017.