Actors portraying John Adams and Benjamin Franklin each hold one hand of a woman in a yellow dress and sing.
Brooks Ashmanskas as John Adams, Erin Kruse as Martha Jefferson and Christopher Bloch as Benjamin Franklin in the Ford’s Theatre production of 1776, directed by Peter Flynn. Photo by Carol Rosegg.

1776

date March 9, 2012 — May 19, 2012

With quick-witted dialogue and a playful score, 1776 dramatizes the impassioned debates of Philadelphia’s Second Continental Congress. As George Washington sends updates from the military front, patriots John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson attempt to persuade the 13 colonies to separate from British rule. Motivated by a series of abuses from King George, America’s first politicians forge a new democracy by composing the Declaration of Independence. Based on the letters and memoirs of America’s founding fathers, this classic, Tony Award-winning musical showcases the principles, pride and determination that influenced the birth of our nation.

Artistic Team

Book by Peter Stone
Based on a concept Sherman Edwards
Director Peter Flynn
Choreographer Michael Bobbitt
Music direction Jay Crowder

Cast

Silhouette of a human head on black.

James Konicek

John Hancock

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Peter Boyer

Dr. Josiah Bartlett

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Brooks Ashmanskas

John Adams

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Floyd King

Stephen Hopkins

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Rick Hammerly

Roger Sherman

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Dan Manning

Robert Livingston

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Matthew A. Anderson

Lewis Morris

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Thomas Adrian Simpson

Reverend John Witherspoon

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Robert Cuccioli

John Dickinson

Headshot for actor Christopher Bloch.

Christopher Bloch

Benjamin Franklin

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Bobby Smith

James Wilson

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Richard Pelzman

Colonel Thomas McKean

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Chris Sizemore

George Read

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Buzz Mauro

Caesar Rodney

Headshot for actor Michael Bunce.

Michael Bunce

Samuel Chase

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William Diggle

Thomas Jefferson

Headshot for Stephen Schmidt.

Stephen F. Schmidt

Richard Henry Lee

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Patrick A’Hearn

Joseph Hewes

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Gregory Maheu

Edward Rutledge

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Steven Carpenter

Dr. Lyman Hall

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Tom Story

Charles Thomson

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Drew Eshelman

Andrew McNair

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Matthew John Kacergis

A Leather Apron/Painter

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Sam Ludwig

Courier

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Kate Fisher

Abigail Adams

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Erin Kruse

Martha Jefferson

Musicians

Keyboard I/Conductor George Fulginiti-Shakar
Keyboard II Alex Tang
Violin Doug Dubé
Bass Dan Hall
Reeds George Hummel
Trumpet/Flugelhorn Craig Taylor
Trombone Gus Mitchell
Percussion Danny Villanueva

From the Gallery

Actors portraying John Adams and Benjamin Franklin each hold one hand of a woman in a yellow dress and sing.

Brooks Ashmanskas as John Adams, Erin Kruse as Martha Jefferson and Christopher Bloch as Benjamin Franklin in the Ford’s Theatre production of “1776,” directed by Peter Flynn. Photo by Carol Rosegg.

A man in an 18th century suit holds a cane and speaks. Behind him people sit at desks and listen.

Robert Cuccioli as John Dickinson with (background L to R) Drew Eshelman as Andrew McNair and James Konicek as John Hancock in the Ford’s Theatre production of “1776,” directed by Peter Flynn. Photo by Carol Rosegg.

A woman in a yellow dress leans through an open window and smiles.

Erin Kruse as Martha Jefferson in the Ford’s Theatre production of “1776,” directed by Peter Flynn. Photo by Carol Rosegg.

Actors portraying John Adams and Benjamin Franklin sit and listen to a man in a green coat and suit speaks. Behind them men sit at desks and watch.

(At Right) Gregory Maheu as Edward Rutledge addresses the Continental Congress in the Ford’s Theatre production of “1776,” directed by Peter Flynn. Photo by Carol Rosegg.