I first became aware of 1776 when I was 10 years old. My sister and her best friend had become groupies, seeing the show several times and wearing the grooves out of the original cast album. I dare say I knew all the songs by heart long before I really knew who Adams, Franklin and Jefferson were. That was not only the beginning of my American History lessons though, because my first lesson in Roman History came when my sister explained the relevance of Adams' lyric regarding crossing the Rubicon.

Luckily for me, 1776 was a great first musical to get hooked on. The music is engaging and the story is so entertaining and thought-provoking, it's no wonder that it won so many Tony Awards during its two Broadway runs. It can certainly be the basis of further discussion of a wide variety of subjects. We hope that younger members of our audiences will be intrigued to read more about these famous men of Philadelphia and thus develop a greater appreciation for what our nation stands for.

The history that is presented herein is quite factual. And while there were certain liberties taken with the play for dramatic reasons it is really quite historically accurate. For instance, while none of George Washington's communiques were actually written as they are presented in the play, the words you'll hear are indeed written by Washington and culled together from his many dispatches and speeches. The lyrics and dialogue between John and Abigail Adams were taken directly from their many letters to each other.

I am thrilled to present 1776 as the first main-stage production of our 31st Season, and since we've got a great line-up scheduled for you we hope you'll be here with us for the entire year. Our discount Flex Passes can help make regular theatre-going a very reasonable thing too with savings of up to 25% off our already low prices so check with our Box Office for details. (You can apply the cost of today's ticket to any of our discount programs.)

For now, sit back and enjoy your time in Philadelphia, summer, 1776!

September 17 - October 9, 2021
Kweskin Theatre
Thursday, Friday & Saturday nights at 8:00pm
Sunday afternoons at 2:00pm

Book by
PETER STONE

Music and Lyrics by
SHERMAN EDWARDS

Based on a concept by
SHERMAN EDWARDS

Set Design
JAMIE LAJOIE
(Based on an original design by Peter Barbieri, Jr.)

Production Stage Manager
JAN URSONE

Assistant Stage Managers
SARA DEFELICE, CAROL FOLEY, LAURIE LOGAN

Ben Franklin Hair Design
MEG KANE

1776 is presented by special arrangement with
Music Theatre International, NY, NY, 
www.mtishows.com

ACT I

FOR GOD’S SAKE, JOHN, SIT DOWN . . . . ADAMS & THE CONGRESS

PIDDLE . . . . ADAMS

TILL THEN . . . . ADAMS  & ABIGAIL

THE LEES OF OLD VIRGINIA . . . . LEE,  FRANKLIN & ADAMS

BUT, MR. ADAMS . . . . ADAMS,  FRANKLIN, JEFFERSON, SHERMAN & LIVINGSTON

YOURS, YOURS, YOURS . . . . ADAMS  & ABIGAIL

HE PLAYS THE VIOLIN . . . . MARTHA, FRANKLIN & ADAMS

COOL, COOL CONSIDERATE MEN. . . . DICKINSON & THE CONSERVATIVES

MOMMA, LOOK SHARP COURIER, LEATHERAPRON & MCNAIR

There will be a 15-minute intermission.

ACT II

THE EGG . . . . FRAN KLIN, ADAMS & JEFFERSON

MOLASSES  TO RUM . . . . RUTLEDGE

COMPLIMENTS . . . . ABIGAIL

IS ANYBODY THERE? . . . ADAMS,  FRANKLIN, JEFFERSON & THOMSON

Witness the birth of a nation as our forefathers struggle to craft the Declaration of Independence in this Tony Award-winning BEST MUSICAL. 1776 is funny, insightful and compelling story-telling with a striking score. 1776 puts a human face on the pages of history as we see the men behind the national icons: proud, frightened, uncertain, irritable, charming, often petty and ultimately noble figures, determined to do the right thing for a fledgling nation. A terrific and fun history lesson for the whole family set to music!

James Chiles – Caesar Rodney

Clint Clifford – Lyman Hall

Victoria Clougher – Martha Jefferson

Bruce Crilly – John Dickinson

Tommy DeSalvo** – Lewis Morris

Scott Ferrara – Samuel Chase

Jim Foley – Thomas McKean

Eli Foodman – A Leather Apron

Phil Garfinkel – George Read

Jonathan Jacobson – Thomas Jefferson

Michael Jovovich – Edward Rutledge

Bill King – The Courier

Thomas Kramer – James Wilson

Jerry Kranz – Stephen Hopkins

Michael Kraus – Andrew McNair

Julie Loyd – Abigail Adams

Ben McCormack – Richard Henry Lee

Rick Harrington – Robert Livingston

Jim Muthersbaugh - Charles Thomson

Chris Nardi – Joseph Hewes

Bill Squier – John Hancock

Greg Suss – Roger Sherman

Dan Travers – Lewis Morris

Lou Ursone* – John Adams

Stephen Wolf – Josiah Bartlett

Christopher Woodside – Rev. Witherspoon

Michael Wright – Benjamin Franklin

*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States, appearing under a Special Appearance Contract.

** 10/1,10/2, 10/3

Lou Ursone - Producer

Gordon Casagrande - Director

Peter Randazzo - Music Director

Karen Casagrande - Choreographer 

Jamie LaJoie - Scenic Design
(Based on an original design by Peter Barbieri, Jr.)

Peter Petrino - Lighting Design

Terry Hanson - Costume Design

Jan Ursone - Production Stage Manager

Sara DeFelice, Carol Foley, Laurie Logan - Assistant Stage Managers

Meg Kane - Ben Franklin Hair Design