MUSICAL NUMBERS

"Sit Down, John"
"Piddle, Twiddle And Resolve"
"Till Then"
"The Lees Of Old Virginia"
"But, Mr. Adams"
"Yours, Yours, Yours"
"He Plays The Violin"
"Cool, Cool. Considerate"
"Momma Look Sharp"
"The Egg"
"Molasses To Rum"
"Is Anybody There"

Principals:
John Hancock- - VTI *
Benjamin Franklin- - Baritone
Martha Jefferson- - Mezzo
Thomas Jefferson- - Baritone
John Adams- - Tenor
Abagail Adams- - Soprano
Edward Rutledge- - High Baritone
Richard Henry Lee- - High Baritone
Robert Livingston- - Tenor
Roger Sherman- - Tenor
Chorus and Smaller Roles: 19M, all have specific single characters that are essential to the production

*Vocal Type Inter Changeable, this primarily refers to those who only sing in trios, quartets, or chorus where the character is not altered by a change in vocal type

SYNOPSIS

On a hot day in May of 1776, the Continental Congress urges John Adams to stop making speeches about independence (SIT DOWN JOHN- M Chorus). John, the congressman from Massachusetts, in his fiery manner, refuses to give up his belief for independence and comments on the inability of his colleagues to make decisions on anything requiring action (PIDDLE, TWIDDLE AND RESOLVE- L to M Solo). In the midst of Adam’s fuming, Abagail Adams appears; she is speaking to him through her letters from their Braintree home. Abby is interested in having John home, but he feels too committed to the creation of a new country to give up. They express their love, though miles apart (TILL THEN- Sc to M/F Duet).
Outside the Congress John approaches Ben Franklin, who is getting his portrait painted, on the matter of getting Congress to discuss independence. Franklin, in his urbane fashion, explains to John that the members of Congress will not listen to him since he is "obnoxious and disliked" and from New England, but perhaps they would pay heed to someone else, Virginia’s Richard Henry Lee for instance. Lee enters, and Franklin entices him to return home to convince his constituents to formally declare independence. Lee, ever the endearing, egotistical aristocrat, agrees as he comments on his prestigious lineage and certain success (THE LEES OF OLD VIRGINIA- Sc to M Trio).
In the chambers, it is now early June. McNair, the chamber custodian, is greeted by the newly appointed delegate from Georgia, Dr. Lyman Hall. Hall is coerced by the conservatives to oppose independence. He is, however, somewhat unsettled in making this decision. Hancock takes his place at the president’s desk and the meeting begins but is interrupted by Lee who bursts in with the news that Virginia has sided with independence. A tally is taken and the topic of independence debated. Hancock, appoints a declaration committee composed of Adams, Franklin, Sherman, Livingston and Jefferson and recesses the Congress. The five men try to avoid writing the document as they pass a quill from man to man (BUT, MR. ADAMS- L to Small M Chorus). Jefferson, who desires to return home to his new wife, is forced to accept the task of writing the declaration.
In his room, the angry Jefferson curses the tenacious Adams and begins writing, but is unable to concentrate. Adams sends for Jefferson’s wife, Martha, in hopes that after he has seen her he will get on with his writing. This act forces Adams to realize how much he misses his own wife and in his imagination he addresses her (YOURS, YOURS, YOURS- Sc to M/F Duet).
Outside of Jefferson’s apartment, Franklin and Adams greet Martha who tells them about herself and her quiet husband (HE PLAYS THE VIOLIN- Sc to 2M/F Trio). When Adams and Martha waltz together Franklin is astonished to find that the staid Adams, can actually dance.
The time progresses to June 22. The Conservatives are convinced the fight against the British is futile but Adams takes Chase, a conservative from Maryland, to see the American militia in action. If Chase is impressed he will change his vote. Dickinson and the Conservatives are pleased by the sudden quiet caused by the absence of Adams and the other radicals (COOL CONSIDERATE MEN- M Chorus).
After the Conservatives leave, McNair, the Leather Apron and a courier from Washington’s headquarters are left alone in Congress. The courier tells them of the tragedies of the war (MAMA LOOK SHARP- Sc to M Trio, Tenor essential).
During the reading of the newly written Declaration, Franklin, Adams and Jefferson are in the anteroom, pacing in anticipation. They parallel it with an egg and the birth of a new nation and choose, after some debate, the eagle as the country’s representative bird (THE EGG- Sc to M Trio).
After all deletions and alterations are agreed upon except the freedom of slaves. Rutledge, a wealthy, South Carolina slave owner, accuses both the North and the South of needing slaves for economic reasons (MOLASSES TO RUM- L to M Solo). The southern delegates refuse to vote for independence if the slavery clause remains and the meeting ends a shambles. John sends McKean to bring back a cancer-ridden and dying Caesar Rodney from Delaware in case there is a chance. The others leave, convinced the proposal will fail, but Adams will not give up. He asks Abagail, in his imagination, for advice; however, his thoughts are interrupted by a shipment of gunpowder ingredients Abagail has sent from Braintree. He happily thanks her (YOURS, YOURS, YOURS [REPRISE]- Sc to M/F Duet).
A dispatch from George Washington arrives. Its message touches John, who wonders if anyone else in Congress cares about America’s need for independence (IS ANYBODY THERE?- M Solo). Near the end of John’s questioning, Lyman Hall of Georgia enters the dark Chamber and announces that he is voting with Adams.
July 4th dawns and everyone returns, including Caesar Rodney. Since one "Nay" vote will defeat the motion, there is tension in the room. Rodney shifts Delaware’s vote to yes and Maryland’s Chase, after seeing the Continental soldiers on the battlefield, votes "Yea." New York, as usual, votes to abstain. The issue finally comes down to Rutledge of South Carolina, who forces Jefferson to remove the passage about freedom for slaves. Franklin sways Wilson, from Pennsylvania, to change his vote to yes in order for this meek man to maintain his anonymity. The Declaration is signed by all and the play ends with actors frozen as in the Pine Savage Engraving of the historic event.

CHARACTERS

President
John Hancock
New Hampshire
Dr. Josiah Bartlett
Massachusetts
John Adams
Rhode Island
Stephen Hopkins
Connecticut
Roger Sherman
New York
Lewis Morris
Robert Livingston
New Jersey
Jonathan Witherspoon
Pennsylvania
Benjamin Franklin
John Dickinson
James Wilson
Delaware
Caesar Rodney
Col. Thomas McKean
George Read
Maryland
Samuel Chase
Virginia
Richard Henry Lee
Thomas Jefferson
North Carolina
Joseph Hewes
South Carolina
Edward Rutledge
Georgia
Dr. Lyman Hall
Other
Charles Thomson, clerk
Andrew McNair, custodian
A Leather Apron
Courier
Abigail Adams
Martha Jefferson

Painter

NOTES ON THE PRODUCTION

& synopsis from Musical Notes Revisited

1776 won three 1969 Tony Awards for Best Musical, Director and Featured Actor (Ron Holgate).
The show was an unexpected success at a time when audiences needed to renew belief in their country. It chalked up a long run and is often revived in larger stock companies.
The show is usually performed on a set that is a replica of the Continental Congress with slatted screens pushed in front for the smaller scenes. The costumes are lavish, period 1776. The representatives to Congress were wealthy men and their financial status needs to be demonstrated through the fabric of the costumes.
The play requires four excellent actors for Adams, Franklin, Lee and Rutledge and two superb singers; a tenor for "Mama Look Sharp" and a high baritone for Rutledge. The most difficult moments in the show occur when Abagail, who is in Braintree, and Adams, in Philadelphia, have scenes. Under no circumstances should their scenes be given a Readers Theatre treatment where each actor focuses at a spot on a wall behind the audience. The scenes must be portrayed as if the two were actually in the same room, they should relate honestly as if in conversation. The distance is established by the fact that they never touch but yearn to physically relate; this adds to the dramatic impact of their scene/songs.