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Zach Berg , zberg@press-citizen.com Published 10:37 a.m. CT March 28, 2017 | Updated 1:09 p.m. CT March 28, 2017

Leslie Odom Jr. performs for guests at Hancher Auditorium on Monday, March 27, 2017. Odom starred as Aaron Burr in the Broadway production of "Hamilton."(Photo: David Scrivner/Iowa City Press-Citizen)Buy Photo

Leslie Odom Jr., the singer who won last year's Best Actor in a Musical Tony for his role as Aaron Burr in "Hamilton," put on a show for Iowa City on Monday night.

The marquee star of this year's University of Iowa Lecture Committee's series of spring speakers, Odom did much more than lecture when he took the stage of Hancher Auditorium to a nearly filled auditorium built for 1,800 people.

He sang songs from his self-titled album, talked about how education got him to Broadway and addressed the controversy of the "Hamilton" cast addressing Vice President-elect Mike Pence from the stage after he had left the show.He even sang threesongs from the Broadway smash "Hamilton" that launched him into stardom.

Odom was met withraucous cheers and two standing ovations.

Leslie Odom Jr. performs for guests at Hancher Auditorium on Monday, March 27, 2017. Odom starred as Aaron Burr in the Broadway production of "Hamilton."(Photo: David Scrivner/Iowa City Press-Citizen)

"There's no me in 'Hamilton,' no Burr in 'Hamilton,' and thus no awards or fun speaking opportunities in Iowawithout the genius of Lin-Manuel Miranda," Odom said of the show's creator and the actor who played the titular role in the production that mixesrap and show tunes to tell the story of the original U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and Founding Father Alexander Hamilton.

"Lin gave us a perfect piece of text, a perfect work of drama. It had everything: pathos and drama, joy and humor," Odom said.

RELATED: When 'Hamilton' is coming to Des Moines

During the final portion of the night, Odomwas read audience questions bySarah Tortora, chair of the UI Lecture Committee.He was asked what political statements the show makes in today's political environment.

With the question, Odom tackled the November 2016 incident when Pence attended a "Hamilton" production in New York City. Pence was addressed by Brandon Dixon, who played Vice President Aaron Burr after Odom left the show, during a curtain call.

'Hamilton' actor Brandon Victor Dixon delivered a message to US Vice President-elect Mike Pence calling on him to "uphold American values." AP

The event drew much ire from then-President-elect Donald Trump, who tweeted the following day that the "Hamilton" cast "was very rude last night to a very good man" and that they had "harassed" Pence.

"I honestly don't think I would have (given the speech) and here's why:Because I think 'Hamilton,' I think that three-hour experience is all you have to say, Odom said Monday night.I believe, truly, that if the material is performed with the generosity of spirit that it was intended to be perform with, there's no curtain call speech needed, there's nothing left to say."

"What I hate more than anything is for the show to become a partisan show, for the show to become something only one kind of person would see, because it is so beautiful and that is not the spirit in which it was created," Odom said.

Leslie Odom Jr. performs for guests at Hancher Auditorium on Monday, March 27, 2017. Odom starred as Aaron Burr in the Broadway production of "Hamilton."(Photo: David Scrivner/Iowa City Press-Citizen)

Most of the evening was lighthearted and introspective as Odom weaved back and forth between singing songs from "Hamilton" and "Rent,"the first Broadway show he performed in, at the age of 17. From "Hamilton," he sang the show's jazzy showstopper "The Room Where it Happened" and its sorrowful ballad "Wait for it."

"I think this is the place to be tonight, isn't it," Chuck Swanson, Hancher Auditorium's executive director, said before Odomand his band started to play.

When Odomwasn't singing in front of his five-member supporting band, he moved to stage right where a simple podium stood and told about his rise to Broadway stardom. How in a kindergarten Black History Month production in which he played Martin Luther King Jr., he bounded onto the staged and shouted his lines without any fright.

He talked of his days at Carnegie Mellon University as a theater major, and how he had to spend an entire semester studying a black howler monkey named Quinton at the Pittsburgh Zoo for a project where he had to turn animal characteristics into human traits for a production.

Leslie Odom Jr. performs for guests at Hancher Auditorium on Monday, March 27, 2017. Odom starred as Aaron Burr in the Broadway production of "Hamilton."(Photo: David Scrivner/Iowa City Press-Citizen)

For an audience made up largely of University of Iowa students, Odomeven gave them advice when it comes to following their dreams post college.

"There's going to come a moment where you have to reckon with why on earth you've chosen this path. That's true for anything worth having, by the way," Odom said."I have come up with the answer: Its about connection. That's why I do it, that's why I love it. I am addicted to the connection with the audience, I am addicted to the people I'm on stage with. It's a very special presence that I can feel from doing this."

But it was the stories about "Hamilton" itself, the stories that partially explained why a Broadway show with a multiracial cast performing as the Founding Fathers went from an idea to a phenomena that sold millions of records and won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, that got the audience most excited.

Sarah Tortora, chair of the University of Iowa Lecture Committee, introduces Leslie Odom Jr. at Hancher Auditorium on Monday, March 27, 2017. Odom starred as Aaron Burr in the Broadway production of "Hamilton."(Photo: David Scrivner/Iowa City Press-Citizen)

Odom recalled seeing a sung production of "Hamilton" in its earliest stages in a theater of 150 seats inPoughkeepsie, N.Y., in 2013, three years before it came to Broadway. He remembered by the fourth song called "The Story of Tonight" that he had fallen for the musical.

"I had never seen four men of color, on a stage, singing a song about brotherhood and friendship in my life. For me, that was the revolution," Odomsaid.

"I just hope ('Hamilton') reminds you of where we've come from and where we are and the potential for where we can go. That's all I hope it does."

Reach Zach Berg at 319-887-5412, zberg@press-citizen.com, or follow him on Twitter at @ZacharyBerg.

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'Hamilton' star sings, talks Mike Pence in Iowa City - Iowa City Press Citizen

Vice President visiting Little Rock to discuss the American Healthcare Act

THV11 Digital , KTHV 8:43 AM. CDT March 24, 2017

CREDIT: Getty Images (Photo: Mark Wilson, 2017 Getty Images)

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) Vice-President of the United States Mike Pence will visit Arkansas Friday.

Mr. Pence will meet with local small business owners to discuss the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and its impact on Arkansans.

"I think he's here to listen to Arkansans and their concerns about health care and also educate Arkansans on what he believes will be the end product of our new health care," said Doyle Webb, Chairman of the Republican Party of Arkansas.

The Heath Care Listening Session will begin at 2:30 p.m. at the Little Rock Tours and Travels office. Doors will open at 12:00 p.m. It is open to anyone, you just have to go through security. If you attend, park at Horace Mann Middle School. Shuttles will begin picking up people from that location at noon.

Mr. Pences visit to the Natural State comes as Congress debates the Republicans plan to repeal and replace theACA, informally referred to asObamacare.

"The new act that comes out will leave more flexibility for the states. The needs of Arkansans are different than the needs of Californians. It's not one size fits all," said Webb.

Arkansas Senator Tom Cottonhas been a vocal opponent of the Republican plan, otherwise known as the American Health Care Act.

Democratic Party of Arkansas Chairman Vincent Insalaco released the following statement Thursday afternoon ahead of Vice President Mike Pence's trip to Little Rock:

"On the day that the U.S. House of Representatives may be voting to take away health insurance from over 300,000 Arkansans, thousands of President Trump's own supporters are wondering if they will continue to have coverage. In Vice President Pence's home state of Indiana, thousands are pleading with him to not allow this legislation to pass.

When President Trump and Vice President Pence were campaigning, they promised people they would be able to keep their health insurance, that they would have a plan to defeat ISIS in 30 days, and that Mexico would be paying for a wall. Of course, we know now that they are keeping none of these promises, and indeed the Trump administration is facing the potential of investigation for serious crimes committed against our nation fewer than 100 days into his presidency.

It is the most vulnerable among us who will pay the steepest price of this administration's irresponsible policies. Here in Arkansas, 300,000 of our neighbors face the imminent threat of losing healthcare coverage. We hope Governor Hutchinson will remind Vice President Pence of this fact during his visit to our state."

2017 KTHV-TV

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Vice-President Mike Pence set to visit Arkansas as the healthcare debate intensifies - THV11.com

UPDATE 3/26/17 @ 10:15 p.m. TEAYS VALLEY, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- When a world leader's platform is in the middle of a warehouse, there's usually a good story tucked close by.

Vice President Mike Pence spent almost all his Saturday trip to the mountain state on the campus of Teays Valley business, Foster Supply

"And let me thank our hosts today, Ronald Reagan Foster and Nancy Reagan Foster. I just said a little bit ago, they're my second favorite Ron and Nancy's I've ever met." Vice President Mike Pence said.

Owners Ron and Nancy hosted one of the most powerful men in the world and say he was a gracious guest.

"He's so personable, and he remembered our names, remembered our employees, remembered what business we do, so it was remarkable. Wouldn't you agree?" Nancy Reagan Foster said.

The focus of the visit was small businesses like Ron's, which started in 1981, with the help of his twin sons. The legacy is still going strong.

He said, "We're transitioning into the next generation, and the United States of America has just transitioned from one presidency to another, and I think small business is gonna have a voice."

Brothers Ron and Geoff are also owners and run different divisions of the company.

"The round table discussion was very valuable and just to see it was really interesting, just seeing that the current administration in Trump and Pence are very, very interested in small business," said Ron.

"He talked to us about certain issues and then came down here and actually remembered those issues, talked about them, mentioned them in his speech," said Geoff.

Parts of a round table discussion spilled over into the occasional joke from the podium

The Vice President joked, "I just heard that you have a wall division here at Fosters. Maybe we need to talk."

A family business now hoping the Vice President remembers the notes he took in West Virginia.

"Hello West Virginia! It is great to be back, if only just to say thanks," he addresses the crowd after walking onto a small stage inside a Foster Supply warehouse.

Foster Supply hosted two events for Vice President Pence, a campaign-style speech with an audience of an estimated 150 people and a more intimate roundtable discussion with approximately a dozen small business owners.

"President Donald Trump is gonna be the best friend American small business will ever have," Pence told the crowd.

In the larger setting, SBA Administrator Linda McMahon helped rally the crowd.

"I've been bankrupt. I've had my house auctioned off, my car repossessed in the driveway, pregnant with my second child at the time, so i get it," she said. "And that's what President Trump wants to do -- proper taxes, proper regulatory environment, making sure that we are providing our small businesses with the tools that we need to start, to grow and to be successful."

Tim Burns, the CEO of Grassmasters, LLC, a landscaping business located in Scott Depot, was one of the few selected to shake hands with the VP and one of a dozen to participate in the roundtable discussion

"Everybody really had a chance to go around and talk about their business, problems they face," he says. "Meeting Vice President Pence was definitely an honor, and he was very open to what we had to say, and I feel like it was a very good conversation."

Not much from the sit-down conversation made its way to the stage. Instead, Pence preached a message to the crowd that the Trump administration has not forgotten West Virginians.

"West Virginia voted overwhelmingly to make Donald Trump the 45th President of the United States, and we will never forget it," Pence said.

Predictably, the conversation also moved to building a wall, healthcare and coal.

"Right after we dropped our hands on January 20th, it was official, the war on coal is over, and a new era of American Energy has begun."

A day after legislation was pulled off the House floor that would have unraveled former President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, Pence told a gathering Saturday in Scott Depot, West Virginia, that "we will end the Obamacare nightmare and give the American people the world class health care that they deserve."

He told a few hundred people at construction materials firm Foster Supply that Friday's setback was a victory for the status quo in Washington, D.C., "but I promise you that victory won't last very long."

Earlier, Pence and U.S. Small Business Administrator leader Linda McMahon held a private discussion with a dozen business owners about the challenges they face.

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UPDATE: Owners of Putnam County business talk about Pence's visit - WSAZ-TV

Vice President Mike Pence said Saturday that congressional Democrats wont be able to savor very long the survival of Obamacare, after Trump administration and House Republican leaders lost a bid to repeal and replace the law.

Nancy Pelosi, the leader of the Democrats, actually said yesterday was a victory for the American people, Mr. Pence told an audience in Charleston, West Virginia. That victory wont last very long. We will end the Obamacare nightmare and give the American people the health care they deserve.

President Trump and House Speaker Paul D. Ryan canceled a House vote Friday on legislation to replace and repeal Obamacare after they couldnt muster enough support from conservative lawmakers and some moderate Republicans. Democrats were united against the measure.

Mr. Trump spent much of Saturday at his Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia. He said after the high-profile loss that Obamacare will soon fail on its own due to rising costs and dwindling options for consumers.

The vice president said he was inspired by Mr. Trumps determination to keep his promise to the American people on health care.

You saw his resolve, Mr. Pence said.

He said the administration will turn next to cutting taxes, including lowering the corporate tax rate to 15 percent from the current 35 percent.

We want to cut taxes for every American, he said.

Referring to Senate Democrats decision to try to filibuster the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch, Mr. Pence also said Saturday that the nominee will be confirmed one way or another. He said the administration is counting on the support of West Virginias senators, Democrat Joe Manchin III and Republican Shelley Moore Capito.

If we can get the help of Joe Manchin and with the help of Shelley Moore Capito, Judge Neil Gorsuch will soon be Justice Neil Gorsuch, Mr. Pence said.

See original here:
Pence: Democrats' victory on health care 'won't last long' - Washington Times

In the fight to replace Obamacare, Vice President Mike Pence decided to pay the Freedom Caucus a visit. But it's who's missing that has everyone talking. Nathan Rousseau Smith (@fantasticmrnate) explains. Buzz60

Vice President Mike Pence is expected attend an NCAA South Regionals game at FedExForum.(Photo: Nick Thomas/The Blade via AP)

WASHINGTON Vice President Mike Pence wont be attending an NCAA basketball game in Memphis on Friday after all.

Pences office confirmed that he is postponing trips to Memphis and Little Rock, Arkansas, to stay in Washington and work with President Donald Trump as the House prepares to vote on a GOP plan to replace the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare.

The House is scheduled to vote on the legislation later Friday.

Pence had planned to attend NCAA South Regionals in Memphis. The former Indiana governor has ties to one of the four teams that is playing in Memphis for a bid in the Elite Eight.

Pence's wife, Karen, attended Butler. In a 2013 profile story, a reporter for The Indianapolis Star wrote: "She smiles as she quotes him saying that until Butler made it to the Final Four, 'Our kids didn't know I was making an alumni reference when I called mom a bulldog.' "

Butler made it to the Final Four in 2010 and 2011, both times losing in the championship game. The Bulldogs play North Carolina in the Sweet Sixteen at 6:09 p.m. Friday at FedExForum.

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Vice president Mike Pence cancels Memphis trip to NCAA tournament - The Commercial Appeal