July 3 - July 18
Director
David Halliwell
Musical Director
Andrew Gadwah
Music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards and a book by Peter Stone,
the Tony Award-winning musical 1776 is set in the summer of 1776,
when the nation stands on the brink of declaring independence,
but only if the founders can overcome their differences and unite.
The action follows John Adams of Massachusetts,
Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania and Thomas Jefferson of Virginia
as they strive to convince the members of the Second Continental Congress to vote for
independence from British rule by signing the Declaration of Independence.
1776 is a funny, insightful and compelling musical drama with a striking score and legendary book.
1776 Character Breakdown
Roles are open to all ethnicities and gender identities, ages 16 and up. Anyone auditioning for roles traditionally played by men should be prepared to portray male characters and be able to sing in the specified range or Alto/Tenor. For roles traditionally played by women, actors will portray female characters and sing Soprano or Mezzo-Soprano. The genders in the character descriptions refer to the gender of the character, not the actor.
John Adams
Delegate from Massachusetts. John is a dutiful husband and experienced lawyer. Opinionated, passionate, bold and a bit boisterous, he wears his age with pride. A strong orator with a magnetic quality who is the leading voice for separation from England and the Declaration of Independence.
Age: Plays 41
Vocal range top: F#4
Vocal range bottom: C3
Stephen Hopkins
Delegate from Rhode Island, he’s a supporter of Independence and a crusty old geezer who loves his rum.
Age: Plays late 60s, early 70s
Vocal range top: Eb4
Vocal range bottom: C3
John Hancock
President of the 1776 Continental Congress, John Hancock is the first to sign the Declaration of Independence and has the largest signature on the document. Commands attention and keeps Congress in order.
Age: Plays 40
Baritone
Roger Sherman
Delegate from Connecticut who favors independence and serves on the committee to write the Declaration. A coffee drinker with a penchant for hyperactivity, Sherman is a simple cobbler.
Age: Plays 55
Vocal range top: Bb4
Vocal range bottom: C3
Robert Livingston
Delegate from New York. Recently a father, Livingston's disposition has become one of humility and graciousness. He serves on the committee to write the Declaration.
Age: Plays 30
Vocal range top: F4
Vocal range bottom: Bb2
Lewis Morris
Lead delegate of New York who abstains from every vote…courteously.
Age: Plays 50
Vocal range: Baritone/Tenor
Benjamin Franklin
The delegate from Pennsylvania, Franklin is an energetic older man who is intelligent, well-traveled and pleasantly cunning. He is a highly experienced statesman, diplomat, inventor, writer, humorist and philosopher. He and Adams lead the charge for independence.
Age: Plays late 60s/early 70s
Vocal range top: Eb4
Vocal range bottom: Ab2
John Dickinson
Delegate from Pennsylvania. He is the primary adversary in the show, representing the conservative side of Congress - the wealthy landowners who oppose independence and don’t wish to break from Great Britain.
Age: Plays 44
Vocal range top: E4
Vocal range bottom: A2
James Wilson
A Pennsylvania delegate, James Wilson casts the final vote to approve the Declaration, not because of his own belief in the cause, but because he does not want to be remembered in history as “the man who prevented American independence.”
Age: Plays 33
Vocal range: Baritone/Tenor
Col. Thomas Mckean
Delegate from Delaware. McKean is Scottish, and very loud and vocal with his thick accent.
Age: Plays 42
Vocal range top: Eb4
Vocal range bottom: C3
Richard Henry Lee
Delegate from Virginia, Lee is selected to make the argument for independence to Congress. His flamboyancy and hyperconfident manner is intoxicating and borderline infuriating.
Age: Plays 45
Vocal range top: G4
Vocal range bottom: C3
Thomas Jefferson
Delegate from Virginia who is selected to pen the Declaration of Independence. Although he’s a man of few words, he commands attention. He is an architect, writer, farmer, scientist, statesman, lawyer and violin player who is very much in love with his wife.
Age: Plays 33
Vocal range top: G4
Vocal range bottom: C3
Edward Rutledge
Delegate from South Carolina who serves as an antagonist to Adams and represents the Southern delegation’s perspective. His views and arguments highlight the conflict over slavery and how that affects the fight for independence. He is a statesman and a lawyer.
Age: Plays 26
Vocal range top: A4
Vocal range bottom: C3
Dr. Lyman Hall
A Georgia delegate, a physician and a pastor, Dr. Lyman Hall initially sides with Dickinson but makes a different decision toward the end of the show.
Age: Plays 52
Vocal Range: Baritone/Tenor
Reverend John Witherspoon
A New Jersey delegate, the Reverend John Witherspoon, argues for, and wins, the inclusion of the Supreme Being in the Declaration. Supporter of independence and the Congressional Chaplain.
Age: Plays 30s-50s
Vocal Range: Baritone/Tenor
Caesar Rodney
A Delaware delegate, Caesar Rodney works hard for independence, despite the fact that he is suffering from skin cancer.
Age: Plays 48
Vocal Range: Baritone/Tenor
George Read
A Delaware delegate, George Read is opposed to independence and sides with Dickinson and always seconds the motions of opposition. Argues with members of his own delegation.
Age: Plays 43
Vocal Range: Baritone/Tenor
Samuel Chase
A Maryland delegate, Samuel Chase always seems to be eating. He initially sides with Dickinson.
Age: Plays 35
Vocal Range: Baritone/Tenor
Joseph Hewes
A North Carolina delegate, Joseph Hewes sides with Rutledge on the slavery issue, demanding the Declaration allow slavery.
Age: Plays 46
Vocal Range: Baritone/Tenor
Charles Thompson
The secretary of the Congress, Thompson is very efficient, reading the letters from General Washington, introducing each item up for a vote, and reading the minutes from the previous Congressional sessions.
Age: Plays 40
Vocal range: Baritone/Tenor
Andrew McNair
The custodian and bell-ringer who lights fires and candles, opens and closes windows, fills inkwells and keeps the meeting room clean, He supervises the Leather Apron apprentice and fetches mugs of rum for Stephen Hopkins of Rhode Island.
Age: Plays 50
Vocal Range: Baritone/Tenor
Courier
The message runner between General Washington's army and the Continental Congress. He has witnessed the hardships of war firsthand, although his innocent disposition and appearance may imply otherwise.
Age: 16 to 20
Vocal range top: Db4
Vocal range bottom: C3
Leather Apron
Young assistant to custodian Andrew McNair
Age: Plays 16-18
Vocal Range: Baritone/Tenor
Painter
Artist painting Ben Franklin’s portrait.
Abigail Adams
Loving wife to John Adams. Intelligent, quick-witted and talented with a pen, Abigail is John’s intellectual equal. Her maturity and strong support of John shines through in the letters they send to each other.
Age: Plays late 30s
Vocal range top: F5
Vocal range bottom: Db4
Martha Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson's young and beautiful wife. Her looks are striking, her dancing delightful, and her humor appealing. She doesn't shy away from a good time. Joy radiates from her.
Age: Plays 27
Vocal range top: D5
Vocal range bottom: Bb3
