Watch 1776 Cast Try to Explain the Broadway Musical in 10 Seconds
It’s nearly impossible to summarize the first steps of American independence but the cast of 1776 is as brave as the Minutemen of Concord and Lexington. Check out Crystal Lucas-Perry, Carolee Carmello, and more cast members from the Broadway revival trying out Theatrely’s 10 Seconds to Plot series.
The Roundabout Theatre Company production opened October 6 at the American Airlines Theatre. Co-directed by Diane Paulus and Jeffrey L. Page, 1776 arrives on Broadway following a limited engagement at the A.R.T. in Cambridge, Massachusetts. After its run on the Main Stem, the musical will begin a national tour in February 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
1776 features music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards and a book by Peter Stone, based on a concept by Edwards. It follows John Adams as he tries to convince the Continental Congress to declare American independence from the British—a move that might seem easy enough through today’s lens, but proved remarkably difficult for those living through it.
The Broadway cast of 1776, in order of appearance, feature Crystal Lucas-Perry as John Adams (Kristolyn Lloyd will take over the role October 25), Gisela Adisa as Robert Livingston, Nancy Anderson as George Read, Becca Ayers as Col. Thomas McKean, Tiffani Barbour as Andrew McNair, Carolee Carmello as John Dickinson, Allyson Kaye Daniel as Abigail Adams/Rev. Jonathan Witherspoon, Elizabeth A. Davis as Thomas Jefferson, Mehry Eslaminia as Charles Thomson, Joanna Glushak as Stephen Hopkins, Shawna Hamic as Richard Henry Lee, Eryn LeCroy as Martha Jefferson/Dr. Lyman Hall, Liz Mikel as John Hancock, Patrena Murray as Benjamin Franklin, Oneika Phillips as Joseph Hewes, Lulu Picart as Samuel Chase, Sara Porkalob as Edward Rutledge, Sushma Saha as Judge James Wilson, Brooke Simpson as Roger Sherman, Salome B. Smith as Courier, Sav Souza as Dr. Josiah Bartlett, and Jill Vallery as Caesar Rodney. Shelby Acosta, Ariella Serur, Grace Stockdale, Dawn L. Troupe and Imani Pearl Williams are standbys.
The production features choreography by Jeffrey L. Page, music supervision by David Chase, orchestrations by John Clancy, vocal design by AnnMarie Milazzo, music direction by Ryan Cantwell, and casting by Stephen Kopel. Rounding out the creative team are set designer Scott Pask, costume designer Emilio Sosa, lighting designer Jen Schriever, sound designer Jonathan Deans, projection designer David Bengali, and hair and wig designer Mia Neal, associate director Brisa Areli Muñoz, and production stage manager Alfredo Macias.
Video production by Brandon Schwartz
