Actor Tituss Burgess is no stranger to rap and theater: after all, his character in the Netflix comedy series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is known for his original rap song and accompanying homemade music video entitled “Peeno Noir.” So it’s not such a stretch that Burgess (in character as Unbreakable‘s Titus Andromedon) would put together an audition tape for Hamilton, looking to fill the shoes of superstar writer and actor Lin-Manuel Miranda and play the title role when the Tony winner takes his leave from the blockbuster show.
Burgess, in an old-fashioned overcoat and white wig, opens the tape with a disclaimer.
“Now, I’ve not actually been able to get tickets to Hamilton and no audition materials were made available to me… but I think I get it,” he says. He then holds up a ten dollar bill and launches into operatic song. “One day this is gonna be me, looking up from a sea of green!” he sings, before transitioning to his hip-hop side and freestyling a far-too-literal “rap.”
Titus Andromedon may be a diamond in the rough just like Hamilton himself—and we appreciate that he’s throwing away his shot—but let’s just say that the role will probably not be headed his way.
More Must-Reads From TIME
- The 100 Most Influential People of 2024
- The Revolution of Yulia Navalnaya
- 6 Compliments That Land Every Time
- What's the Deal With the Bitcoin Halving?
- If You're Dating Right Now , You're Brave: Column
- The AI That Could Heal a Divided Internet
- Fallout Is a Brilliant Model for the Future of Video Game Adaptations
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Write to Raisa Bruner at raisa.bruner@time.com