Leslie Odom, Jr. Returns to Broadway’s Hamilton (Exclusive Photos)

Leslie Odom, Jr. was back in the room where it happens on Tuesday, Sept. 9, as he returned to the Broadway production of Hamilton.

A decade after his debut in the hit Lin-Manuel Miranda musical, the Oscar-nominated actor stepped back on stage at New York City’s Richard Rodgers Theatre to kick off a limited 12-week reprise run in the show.

PEOPLE has exclusive backstage photos of Odom, Jr.’s milestone evening, snapped by photographer and author Jenny Anderson. The behind-the-scenes shots captured the 44-year-old star in various moments throughout his pre-show routine, from quiet time in his dressing room to huddles with his costars.

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Once again, Odom, Jr. is playing Aaron Burr, the role that he created in Hamilton. His performance the first time around not only shot him to superstardom, but also earned Odom, Jr. a Tony Award (for Leading Actor in a Musical) and a Grammy Award (for being a principal soloist on the show’s original cast recording).

He also received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role in a Limited Series or Movie, thanks to the filmed live stage version of Hamilton that released on Disney+ back in July 2020. (In honor of the show’s 10th anniversary, the film can also currently be seen in movie theaters nationwide and in Puerto Rico).

Sadly, Odom, Jr.’s performance this time around won’t be eligible for any mainstream awards — though he’s already winning the box office, with many of his performances sold out.

That certainly was the case on Tuesday night, where an eager audience packed the house.

Among the crowd were a sea of stars including rap royalty Queen Latifah, Frozen favorite Josh Gad, former View cohost Star Jones and Law & Order: SVU star Mariska Hargitay and her 14-year-old daughter, Amaya.

Kentucky governor Andy Beshear was there, too, as were Hamilton producers Jeffrey Seller and Sander Jacobs. Spotted in the mix as well was Ron Chernow, who authored the biography on Alexander Hamilton that inspired Miranda’s musical.

All were on their feet for Odom, Jr. multiple times throughout the night, beginning right up at the top of the show when Latifah led the standing ovation for his entrance. He later received a mid-show ovation after “Room Where It Happens,” his Act 2 showstopper.

No doubt, the love struck a chord with Odom, Jr., who was all smiles during his curtain call.

“Returning to Hamilton is a deeply meaningful homecoming,” he said in a statement shared with PEOPLE back in April, when his casting was announced. “I’m so grateful for the chance to step back into the room—especially during this anniversary moment — and to revisit this brilliant piece that forever changed my life and the lives of so many.”

Hamilton, directed by Thomas Kail, began performances on Broadway in July 2015 It officially opened that August.

The sung-through show — which tells the story of America’s birth through a modern lens set to a score of hip-hop, R&B, pop and traditional show tunes — became an instant sensation upon its debut, ushering in a whole new generation of musical theater fans.

Not only did the show win 11 Tony Awards (including Best Musical) and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, but it also made household names of many of its original cast including Phillipa Soo, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Christopher Jackson, Jasmine Cephas Jones, Okieriete Onaodowan, Ariana DeBose and Javier Muñoz,

Odom, Jr., who also played Burr during its workshops and Off-Broadway run, made his final bow in the musical in July 2016.

Since his time in Hamilton, Odom, Jr. has returned to Broadway stage once more — in the acclaimed 2023 revival of Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch by Ossie Davis. He earned a Tony nomination for his performance in the production, which was captured for part of PBS’ Great Performances.

On screen, the actor received two Academy Award nominations for his portrayal of Sam Cooke in One Night in Miami, directed by Regina King. He’s starred in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, The Many Saints of Newark, Harriet, and has been seen on the small screen in Abbott Elementary, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, Central Park and more.

As a singer, Odom, Jr. has also released five albums — his most recent being 2023’s When a Crooner Dies — and dropped a memoir, Failing Up: How to Take Risks, Aim Higher, and Never Stop Learning, which is out now in paperback.

Fans can catch Odom, Jr. in Hamilton through Nov. 23.

But he won’t stop there. From Nov. 28 through Dec. 23, Odom, Jr. will be heading out on an 18-city Christmas tour, with stops in Baltimore, Orlando, Kansas City, Atlanta, Dallas, Austin and more.

And while the children Odom, Jr. shares with wife Nicolette Robinson — daughter Lucille Ruby, 8, and son Able Phineas, 4 — will be able to watch their dad on tour sing covers of holiday classics, he’s more excited for them to finally see him in Hamilton.

“My kids weren’t even born when we did Hamilton, so the fact that these kid s are going to come to see it this time…” Odom, Jr. said on the Today show in April. “That’s been the surprise.”

Tickets for Hamilton are now on sale.