Broadway Musical Home

A musical based on the events surrounding the drafting and signing of the Declaration of Independence, 1776 won the 1969 Tony Award for Best Musical.

Story:

John Adams, the original innovator behind America’s Declaration of Independence, teams up with Benjamin Franklin, Richard Henry Lee, and Thomas Jefferson to battle those in Congress who oppose the movement to declare independence from England. The team cooperatively conceives and eventually passes the resolution that frees America from British tyranny.

Fun Fact

Howard Da Silva had a heart attack after the final preview of 1776, but insisted on performing on opening night.
Show & Tell: The New Book of Broadway Anecdotes by Ken Bloom

: Composer, Lyricist and Concept
Sherman Edwards

: Librettist
Peter Stone

Broadway Premiere

Theatre: 46th Street Theatre, St. James Theatre, Majestic Theatre

Opening Night: Mar 16, 1969

Total Performances: 1,217

Original Cast: William Daniels, Clifford David, Paul Hecht, Roy Poole, Howard Da Silva, Emory Bass, Duane Bodin, Betty Buckley, David Ford, Robert Gaus, Ronald Holgate, Ken Howard, Ronald Kross, Henry Le Clair, Edmund Lyndeck, Bruce MacKay, Jonathan Moore, Philip Polito, Dal Richards, Charles Rule, B. J. Slater, Virginia Vestoff, David Vosburgh

Director: Peter Hunt

Choreographer: Onna White

Musical Director: Peter Howard

Orchestrations: Eddie Sauter

Scenic Design: Jo Mielziner

Costume Design: Patricia Zipprodt

Lighting Design: Jo Mielziner

1997 Broadway Revival

Theatre: Criterion Center Stage Right, George Gershwin Theatre

Opening Night: Aug 14, 1997

Total Performances: 333

Original Cast: Tom Aldredge, Joseph Cassidy, Michael Cumpsty, MacIntyre Dixon, Dashiell Eaves, Gregg Edelman, Linda Emond, Tom Riis Farrell, Merwin Foard, John Herrera, Pat Hingle, Jerry Lanning, Kevin Ligon, David Lowenstein, Daniel Marcus, Michael X. Martin, Michael McCormick, Bill Nolte, Guy Paul, Richard Poe, Ben Sheaffer, Brent Spiner, Ric Stoneback, Paul Michael Valley, Lauren Ward, Robert Westenberg, Michael Winther

Director: Scott Ellis

Choreographer: Kathleen Marshall

Musical Director: Paul Gemignani

Orchestrations: Brian Besterman

Scenic Design: Tony Walton

Costume Design: William Ivey Long

Lighting Design: Brian Nason

2022 Broadway Revival

Theatre: American Airlines Theatre

Opening Night: Oct 6, 2022

Total Performances: 108

Original Cast: Crystal Lucas-Perry, Gisela Adisa, Nancy Anderson, Becca Ayers, Tiffani Barbour, Carolee Carmello, Allyson Kaye Daniel, Elizabeth A. Davis, Mehry Eslaminia, Joanna Glushak, Shawna Hamic, Eryn LeCroy, Liz Mikel, Patrena Murray, Oneika Phillips, Lulu Picart, Sara Porkalob, Sushma Saha, Brooke Simpson, Salome B. Smith, Sav Souza, Jill Vallery, Ariella Serur, Grace Stockdale, Imani Pearl Williams

Director: Jeffrey L. Page and Diane Paulus

Choreographer: Jeffrey L. Page

Producer: Roundabout Theatre

Musical Supervisor: David Chase

Vocal Design: AnnMarie Milazzo

Co-Musical Director: Ryan Cantwell

Orchestrations: John Clancy

Scenic Design: Scott Pask

Costume Design: Emilio Sosa

Lighting Design: Jennifer Schriever

Sound Design: Jonathan Deans

Projection Design: David Bengali

1972 Film Version

Movie Name: 1776

Type: Hollywood Musical

Director: Peter H. Hunt

Screenplay: Peter Stone

Starring: William Daniels, Howard Da Silva, Ken Howard

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 Men

Momma, Look Sharp

The Egg

Molasses To Rum

Is Anybody There?

Click on a song name to listen/purchase it on

CDs

: Original Broadway Cast Album

: Broadway Revival Cast Album

Sheetmusic

: Vocal Selections

Videos

: Original Hollywood Version DVD

Books

: Script

Merchandise

: Merchandise on Ebay

1969 Tony Award Nominations

Best Musical
Best Featured Actor in a Musical - Ronald Holgate
Best Direction of a Musical
Best Featured Actress in a Musical - Virginia Vestoff
Best Scenic Design

1969 Drama Desk Award Nominations

Ken Howard

1969 Theatre World Award Nominations

Outstanding Book
Outstanding Costume Design

1998 Tony Award Nominations

Best Revival of a Musical
Best Featured Actor in a Musical - Gregg Edelman
Best Direction of a Musical

1998 Drama Desk Award Nominations

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical - Gregg Edelman
Outstanding Revival of a Musical
Outstanding Actor in a Musical - Brent Spiner
Outstanding Direction of a Musical