Laugh Lines with Kim & Penn Holderness

Broadway, Hearing Loss & Joy: An Interview with Alex Lacamoire

Episode Date: September 30, 2025

Overview

In this special Broadway edition of Laugh Lines, Kim and Penn Holderness welcome acclaimed music director, arranger, and orchestrator Alex Lacamoire—the Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award-winning genius behind Hamilton, In the Heights, Dear Evan Hansen, and more. This heartfelt and joy-filled episode explores Alex's creative process, the challenges of hearing loss, the power of intentional friendship in adulthood, and the musical magic that brings people together. The conversation also includes delightful moments with Alex's wife, life coach Ileana Ferreiras, insights on aging, joyful sing-alongs, and an impromptu game of Broadway lyric trivia.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Challenge and Beauty of Making Friends as Adults

• Kim and Penn discuss how hard it is to make friends intentionally as you age, touching on their own journey to befriending Alex and Ileana ([03:00]).
  • Kim: "Making friends as an adult is very hard... You have to be really intentional about it." ([04:21])
  • Penn: "It was like a five-year-old walking up to another five-year-old and saying, we're going to be friends." ([04:48])
• They emphasize the importance and effort of nurturing adult friendships.

2. Friendship Origin Story: The Holdernesses & Lacamores

• Alex recollects how Ileana introduced him to the Holderness Family’s videos during the pandemic.
• Alex: "I reached out to you on Instagram, but I didn’t hear back... I definitely dropped the Hamilton card." ([18:23 - 19:48])
• Penn describes thinking it was a prank when Alex finally emailed, signing off, “by the way, Alex Lacamoire.” ([20:09])

3. Spotlight on Alex Lacamoire

a. Early Life, Passion for Music, and The Gift of a Piano ([36:06 - 40:20])

• Alex’s early musical affinity, including receiving his first upright piano as a gift from his cousin.
  • Alex: "There was no way that I was going to let anything get in the way of that gift. Like, you needed that in your life." ([35:59 - 36:06])
  • Explains that music was always non-negotiable for him—his path was set from childhood.

b. Hearing Loss & Creativity ([21:01 - 24:38])

• Diagnosed with significant sensorineural hearing loss at four, Alex describes adapting, using hearing aids, and eventually hiding them due to childhood embarrassment.
• Alex: "Music is something that my hearing loss never affected... I'm just gonna hear it at a softer volume than you. I might not hear the hi-hat and triangle the way you would, but I'm still feeling the music in the same way." ([21:18])
• Leans on others for fine frequencies but mostly trusts his instincts and references popular music as his North Star in production quality.

c. What Does a Broadway Music Director/Arranger/Orchestrator Actually Do? ([24:38 - 26:42])

• Alex: “Music director…casting actors, teaching the music to actors, conducting the show, rehearsing. Arranger…helping transitions, endings for songs, underscoring, vocal arrangements. Orchestrator… detail work. I want the violins to do this, the acoustic guitar here—but not a steel string, a nylon acoustic.”
• He loves being a “musical doula”—helping birth and shape songs. ([27:00])

d. Hamilton Backstage: Arranging, Orchestrating, and Synesthesia ([27:50 - 34:06])

• Receives early demos from Lin Manuel Miranda, describing the excitement and “synesthesia”—seeing colors in keys.
  • Alex: “Somewhere I will, like, envision my fingers on a keyboard...I could probably play you the drum groove. I wasn’t listening to the drum specifically, but...it was making an impact on me.” ([28:43])
• Talks about his unique contributions, especially to string arrangements in "Washington On Your Side" ([29:55]):
  • Alex: "It's so hip hop base. I couldn't quite get it...you want it to be tense. Very staccato, very crisp and curt."

e. Orchestrating the Emotional Finale of Hamilton ([32:28 - 34:06])

• His favorite moment: orchestrating "Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story."
  • Alex: “I wanted it to feel as peaceful as possible, because the show ends with a sigh. How do I try to make the orchestration have a sigh as well?”
• Shares pride at completing the score after eight months of painstaking work.

f. The White House Performance & Serendipity ([34:18 - 35:42])

• Recalls accompanying Lin-Manuel Miranda for the first public performance of a Hamilton song in the Obama White House, before the show was written.

g. Broadway as a Community & Craft

• Broadway demands “excellent food every single night” ([40:52]), referencing the need for fresh, live performance energy.

h. Emotional Connection & Service Mentality ([42:07 - 44:43])

• Kim: “You are so happy to create for other people...and to see other people reach [their goals].”
• Alex: “If someone says, Alex, play a song on the piano, I freeze...but if someone wants to sing a song and they need a pianist, sign me up. If I can be of service, I’m there.” ([43:57 - 44:43])

4. Music, Color, and Feeling: Exploring Synesthesia in Practice ([46:29 - 48:09])

• Alex demonstrates how different keys evoke specific colors and feelings—B-flat is “brown and warm,” B major is sharper, more yellow-orange; C major evokes blue.
• Penn and Alex bond over having learned the same 80s pop songs growing up.

5. Sing-Alongs, Games, and Musical Improv

• Impromptu performances of “It’s Not Easy Being Green,” “Rainbow Connection,” and Broadway classics, blending humor and affection ([48:54 - 54:06]).
• Kim hosts a “Finish the Broadway Lyrics” quiz among the crew.

6. Affirmation & Original Song Dedication ([54:22 - 55:43])

• Penn (in 32 seconds) concocts a song about Alex’s achievements, humility, and synesthetic musical gifts:
  • “He sees music as true colors, and that’s why he’s my bro. So don’t be afraid to see music as true colors…”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Choosing Music Despite Hearing Loss:
  "Music is something that my hearing loss never affected. How I related to music on an emotional level..." —Alex ([21:18])

• On Orchestrating Hamilton’s Finale:
  "I just remember being inspired and thinking to myself—I’m going to try to make this as story driven as possible, try to have it feel as peaceful as possible, because the show ends with a sigh. How do I try to make the orchestration have a sigh as well?" —Alex ([33:13])

• On Synesthesia:
  "Have you heard the thing that certain key signatures have, like, certain colors attached to them? Like E-flat major is way warmer than D major. D major is sharp and brittle. B major is just very cooling." —Alex ([31:55])

• On Being of Service:
  "If I’m there to accompany someone or be a part of a thing…if I can be of service, I’m there." —Alex ([44:43])

• On Intentional Friendship:
  "It was like a five-year-old walking up to another five-year-old and saying, we're going to be friends. And it was the coolest experience ever.” —Kim ([04:48])

• On Humility:
  "He's one of the most talented humans...but he's also one of the most humble." —Kim ([08:55])

• Musical Improvisation:
  Penn and Alex’s riffing, sing-alongs, and spontaneous creation of a song for Alex, blending Broadway and pop cultures.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:00 — The Holdernesses on the challenge and magic of adult friendships
• 06:18 — Alex’s bio: awards and story of hearing loss
• 07:01 — Introduction of Ileana Ferreiras, Alex’s wife and life coach
• 18:23 — How Alex and the Holdernesses became friends
• 21:01 — Alex describes his hearing loss and relationship to music
• 24:38 — What does a music director, arranger, and orchestrator actually do?
• 27:50 — Alex on receiving demos from Lin-Manuel Miranda and the creative process
• 29:55 — Unique string arrangements for Hamilton
• 32:28 — Orchestrating “Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story”
• 34:18 — Performing at the Obama White House
• 36:06 — Early musical development and education
• 40:52 — The demands and rewards of Broadway
• 42:07 — Emotional connections in creating music
• 46:44 — Demonstrating music-color synesthesia on piano
• 48:54 — “Rainbow Connection” sing-along
• 50:14 — Broadway lyric trivia game
• 54:22 — Original song for Alex Lacamoire

Tone & Atmosphere

• Warm, playful, and uplifting
• A blend of reverence for musical genius and humility, with a sense of joy and camaraderie
• Emphasizes the intersection of creativity, service, and friendship in aging well and living generously

Conclusion

In this Broadway-filled, laughter-packed episode of Laugh Lines, listeners are treated to an intimate portrait of Alex Lacamoire—his musical magic, indomitable spirit, and the central role of kindness and collaboration. His story is a testament to resilience, creativity, and the enduring power of music (and friendship) to lift all boats. Whether you’re a casual listener or a Broadway superfan, you’ll leave humming a tune and feeling inspired.