1776: The Musical (Touring) Tickets
Overall Rating
3.4
By Sam
Talented cast- Different concept
DPAC - Durham Performing Arts Center - Durham
I didn't know it was going to be an all female cast. They are very talented- just not what I thought the show was going to be.
By Jayne
Love the show, very diverse, historically interesting
DPAC - Durham Performing Arts Center - Durham
The acting and singing was outstanding. The historical presentation of the script was very accurate. Loved the show all the way around.
By Dianenc
Not Our Founding Fathers!
DPAC - Durham Performing Arts Center - Durham
The play was a mixture of good and not so good. I thought the singing was excellent and the material was not offensive. I found it odd that our “Founding Fathers” were all women. The story was good and mostly true to history. I do think they play was a bit long and would have been better with about 30 minutes less.
By Princess Pinky
very entertaining show
DPAC - Durham Performing Arts Center - Durham
I loved how I learned a lot about our country's history through this show.
By Sally
Very Disappointing
DPAC - Durham Performing Arts Center - Durham
I was really looking forward to this production but it clearly didn’t meet my expectations. The acting was mediocre though the few songs I heard were enjoyable. It couldn’t keep my attention and I left at the intermission.
By Ely
Strayed too far.
DPAC - Durham Performing Arts Center - Durham
Loved some of the updates, but on the whole it strayed too far from historical accuracy with an all female cast.
By topdri68
Great Performers, Poor Performance
DPAC - Durham Performing Arts Center - Durham
I was going to give this two stars but that seemed a little harsh. The performers were great but the overall 1776 performance was lacking and boring. Hard to keep up with the performance and what was going on.
By esg2
GreatShow!
DPAC - Durham Performing Arts Center - Durham
The show was great. The casting was phenomenal as was the staging. Overall I would see it again.
By Trace
Horrible
DPAC - Durham Performing Arts Center - Durham
Never have I ever left, and I left. The play was boring, confusing and way too feminist for me.
By BenFranklinInDisguise
An unexpected but masterful twist on an American classic
DPAC - Durham Performing Arts Center - Durham
As a preface, I have known 1776 since it first came to film, and I religiously watch it every July 4th (or thereabouts). Without boasting, I can honestly say that I know "every word, every letter" of each musical piece, and my family has even come to recognize the tunes when I'm singing around the house (especially the shower). I regard 1776 as one of those musicals not to be changed one iota. Period. Full stop. Now, regarding the show at DPAC, I did not know that the entire cast was non-male. My wife and I perused the playbill with some concern, and I could tell that my wife was becoming fearful of me walking out. As I'm a true believer of giving any change a chance, I sat through the first song as a lovely young lady belted out the parts of John Adams and then sang poignantly to Abigail . The passion she exuded was certainly reminiscent of William Daniels, and I no longer heard this very talented young lady...I heard John Adams. I was intrigued and turned to my wife with approval. She agreed. I often sing at home about the Lee's of old Virginia, and I was pleasantly surprised to see another cast member nail the piece with all the charm expected from a Southern aristocrat. While "He Plays the Violin" was originally sung by a female actress, the performer in the play added her own talent and took it up a notch or two. The two surprising pieces that really caught my attention were "Momma, Look Sharp" and "Molasses to Rum." I know the former as a very quiet and solemn piece that touches the soul, but the singer concluded the song with such fury that it sent shivers down my spine. Similarly, I was concerned that "Molasses" would be (pardon the pun) watered down, considering that the show was being performed in Durham, NC. Instead, I was given a glimpse into the inhuman suffering of slaves to accompany the words that spreads the guilt of slavery. This was a truly haunting piece that I simply won't forget. Last, and certainly not least, my all-time favorite song was "Is Anybody There." Daniels captured the spark behind this song. Brent Spiner tried but didn't quite get there. The John Adams actress I witnessed was phenomenal for most of the song. I only penalize her for the two times she deviated for artistic liberty (he has an incredible voice without a doubt) that diverted from the feeling behind the lyrics. Otherwise, she was beyond flawless. I also liked how they portrayed a brief history of the country in pictures (up to the present). This idea solidified the spirit behind 1776 and demonstrated that beliefs could become reality, if even some are not yet fully realized. Many kudos to the actress who played Ben Franklin. She nearly transformed him into a modern-day Whoopi Goldberg from The View! Overall, I was immensely pleased with this rendition of 1776, although I do not plan to ever surrender my copy of the original. This musical remains more of an existential journey that a simple history lesson. Creating something new and untested with only the COMMITMENT to make it work remains simply inspirational. How many of us today would take such risk to improve the lives of our neighbors around the world?
Details
What will it take to get two dozen powerfully passionate, exceedingly complicated, and all-too-human individuals to settle their differences, while they hold the very future of a nation in their hands? The Tony Award-winning Best Musical 1776 catapults to blazing new life in a thrillingly new production from directors Jeffrey L. Page (Violet) and Diane Paulus (Waitress). New York Magazine/Vulture says, "it's an absolute blast!" Suddenly, the songs, humor, and passion of this musical masterpiece soar as never before. A glorious cast that reflects multiple representations of race, gender, and ethnicity portray the fiery founders of this country, putting history in the hands of the humans who were left out the first time around--and the result is an epic show of passion, debate, and roof-raising musical fireworks. Experience "a 1776 worth celebrating!" (Variety) "It pulsates with energy and snaps with attitude." You may never think about our country--who we are and why--the same way again.
The 1776 company includes Shelby Acosta (she/her) as 'Sec. Charles Thomson,' Gisela Adisa (she/her) as 'John Adams,' Nancy Anderson (she/her) as 'Thomas Jefferson,' Tiffani Barbour (she/her) as 'Andrew McNair,' Dawn Cantwell (she/her) as 'Col. Thomas McKean,' Julie Cardia (she/her) as 'Stephen Hopkins,' Amanda Dayhoff (she/her) as a Standby, Karole Foreman (she/her) as 'Robert Livingston,' Sara Gallo (she/her) as a Standby, Joanna Glushak (she/her) as 'John Dickinson,' Anissa Marie Griego (she/her) as 'Roger Sherman,' Kassandra Haddock (she/her) as 'Edward Rutledge,' Shawna Hamic (she/her) as 'Richard Henry Lee,' Lisa Karlin (she/her) as a Standby, Connor Lyon (she/her) as 'Martha Jefferson/Dr. Lyman Hall,' Liz Mikel (she/her) as 'Benjamin Franklin,' Nykila Norman (she/her) as a Standby, Oneika Phillips (she/her) as 'John Hancock,' Lulu Picart (she/her) as 'Samuel Chase,' Kayla Saunders (she/her) as a Standby, Ariella Serur (they/she) as 'Judge James Wilson,' Brooke Simpson (she/her) as 'the Courier,' Sav Souza (they/them) as 'Dr. Josiah Bartlett,' Lillie Eliza Thomas (she/her) as a Standby, Tieisha Thomas (she/her) as 'Abigail Adams/Rev. Jonathan Witherspoon,' Jill Marie Vallery (she/her) as 'Caesar Rodney,' Gwynne Wood (she/they) as 'George Read,' and Candice Marie Woods (they/them) as 'Joseph Hewes.'
1776 features music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards and a book by Peter Stone. It is based on a concept by Sherman Edwards. Tony Award-winning director Diane Paulus (Jagged Little Pill, Waitress, Pippin) and MTV Music Video Award-winning choreographer Jeffrey L. Page (Beyoncé's "Run the World (Girls)" video, Memphis in Tokyo, Violet starring Sutton Foster at Roundabout Theatre Company) direct the production.
The 1776 design team includes Tony Award-winning Scenic Designer Scott Pask (Waitress, Finding Neverland, Pippin); Tony Award-nominated Costume Designer Emilio Sosa (The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess); Lighting Designer Jennifer Schriever (In the Body of the World at A.R.T./New York City Center, Fingersmith at A.R.T.); Tony Award-nominated Sound Designer Jonathan Deans (Jagged Little Pill, Waitress, Finding Neverland at A.R.T./Broadway; Pippin on Broadway) and Drama Desk Award-nominated Projection Designer David Bengali (We Live in Cairo at A.R.T., Associate Designer of Witness Uganda at A.R.T./Invisible Thread at Second Stage).
The 1776 music team is comprised of Music Supervisor/Music Director Ryan Cantwell (Pippin); Original Music Supervisor David Chase (Finding Neverland); Tony Award nominated Orchestrator John Clancy (Fun Home; Mean Girls); Vocal Designer AnnMarie Milazzo (Finding Neverland). Casting is by Stewart/Whitley. The Associate Director is Brisa Arelis Muñoz and the Associate Choreographer is Courtney Ross.
The 1776 tour stage management team is led by Production Stage Manager Genevieve Kersh with Assistant Stage Managers Chris Zaccardi and Sage Lumsden. The company management team is led by Company Manager Katie Cortez with Safety Assistant Company Manager Ryan Buchholz.