1776: The Musical

The musical 1776 dramatizes the intense political struggles, fiery debates, and personal compromises of the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia as they attempt to vote for independence from Great Britain. It is the summer of 1776 in Philadelphia, and the Continental Congress is deadlocked over whether to sever ties with the British monarchy. John Adams of Massachusetts pushes relentlessly for independence, making himself unpopular and considered "obnoxious and disliked" by his fellow delegates. Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania advises Adams to have someone else propose the resolution so it stands a better chance, leading Richard Henry Lee of Virginia to bring forth the motion.
Congress appoints a "Committee of Five"—Adams, Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston—to draft a declaration. Adams persuades a reluctant Thomas Jefferson to write the actual text of the Declaration of Independence, while Jefferson longs to return briefly to his wife, Martha. A major crisis arises over a clause condemning slavery. To keep the Southern colonies from walking out and to secure a unanimous vote, a devastated Adams and Franklin agree to let Jefferson remove the passage.
Through strategic maneuvering, impassioned speeches, and the grim reality of General George Washington’s retreating troops, Adams wins over the remaining holdouts.
The Congress votes to approve independence, and John Hancock is the first to boldly sign the document as the Liberty Bell tolls.

JOHN HANCOCK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David Jeffers
JOSIAH BARTLETT (New Hampshire)/MARTHA JEFFERSON . .Nora Parente
& Molly Walsh
JOHN ADAMS (Massachusetts). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kevin Dean
STEPHEN HOPKINS (Rhode Island). . . . . . . . . . . . Bruno Buckler
ROGER SHERMAN (Connecticut) . . . . . . . . . . . .Corbin Bowman
ROBERT LIVINGSTON (New York). . . . . . . . . . . . Xander Bennett
REV. JOHN WITHERSPOON (New Jersey). . . . . . .Nicole Wolfe
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN (Pennsylvania). . . . . . . . . Joseph Powell
JOHN DICKINSON (Pennsylvania). . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ben Garrand
JAMES WILSON (Pennsylvania). . . . . . . . . . . . . Penelope Carroll
CAESAR RODNEY (Delaware). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jeanne Russell
COL. THOMAS MCKEAN (Delaware). . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jim Carter
GEORGE READ (Delaware) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kattie Leep
SAMUEL CHASE (Maryland). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Eric Balcerzak
RICHARD HENRY LEE (Virginia). . . . . . . . . . Rachel Fitzsimmons
THOMAS JEFFERSON (Virginia). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charles Faires
JOSEPH HEWES (North Carolina). . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brett Clawson
EDWARD RUTLEDGE (South Carolina). . . . . . . . . Kobie Hullihen
DR. LYMAN HALL (Georgia). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kurt Weitz
CHARLES THOMSON. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sal Vasta
ANDREW MCNAIR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Noah Clawson
ABIGAIL ADAMS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Melanie Griffy & Dolly Spice
COURIER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Spencer Gutierrez