Love Blossoms on Broadway This Valentine’s Day
This Valentine’s Day, the glow of love will be shining down on the Great White Way.
Hannah Cruz and Edred Utomi, a husband-and-wife duo, will be performing in neighboring Broadway shows on West 46th Street, allowing for brief moments to connect, despite both having two performances on February 14th.
“We’ll probably sneak in a hug between shows, which sounds nice,” Cruz shared.
She added, “But we usually celebrate on Monday. Every year, we debate about who plans it, and since I organized it last year, it’s Edred’s turn this time.”
Utomi playfully responded, “I can’t spill the details; I want it to be a surprise.”
At 34, Utomi is portraying Alexander Hamilton in the hit musical “Hamilton” at the Richard Rodgers Theatre. Meanwhile, 33-year-old Cruz takes on the role of Svetlana in “Chess” at the Imperial Theatre, where she plays the wife of Lea Michele’s unfaithful character.
“Hamilton” starts earlier than “Chess,” but Utomi finds a silver lining. He can greet fans at the stage door and still make it back to their apartment in Battery Park.
“Since my show starts at 7 and Hannah’s second show kicks off at 7:30, it kind of balances out. I get 30 minutes to sign autographs,” he explained.
Cruz mentioned, “There are plenty of couples on Broadway, but what’s unique about us is that we’re literally next to each other. I guess the only thing better would be being in the same show.”
Their romantic journey began in 2018 when they met during the first national tour of “Hamilton.” At that time, Utomi portrayed Hamilton, while Cruz played his wife, Eliza.
They noticed their chemistry quickly, especially since their characters had to kiss on stage multiple times per performance.
“I definitely felt it. He might be a bit shy to admit it, but I will,” Cruz laughed, reflecting on their early connection. However, at that moment, she was in a relationship.
“I wasn’t trying to step on any toes,” Utomi recalled, highlighting his San Diego upbringing.
Fast forward to 2020, Cruz ended her previous relationship, and during the pandemic, the two grew even closer, connecting virtually over video games until the early hours.
“I had a family game night over Zoom and invited her,” Utomi said, reminiscing about how their bond deepened.
In August 2021, they officially became a couple after Utomi visited Cruz for a costume fitting.
Utomi described that moment: “I thought, ‘What’s our direction here?'”
Cruz recalled their dinner together, where he asserted, “If we’re dating, it’s serious, so you need to decide now if you’re ready.”
She humorously responded, “Wait, we’ve barely been together for six months! Let’s not rush it.” Utomi then quipped, “I’m trying to find a partner for life here.”
They tied the knot in Hawaii in 2024, choosing Maui as it was their first vacation together as a couple.
Utomi proposed during the final night of the “Hamilton” tour with their families in attendance.
“That night was meant for him, being so selfless,” Cruz said happily.
Recently, the couple created a video where they waved to each other from their respective theaters, which went viral, gathering over two million views on social media.
In the comments, “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda teased, “There’s a secret tunnel connecting the two theaters. I’ll show you next time!”
And he followed through.
“He stopped by my dressing room, sharing all the details,” Utomi noted.
While they haven’t used it yet, Utomi mentioned, “Apparently, it’s locked from the ‘Hamilton’ side. So when I try to head over to her theater, it won’t budge. But Hannah can come to me, though she hasn’t caught me during intermission yet. I plan to make use of that tunnel soon.”
