The seminal event in American history blazes to vivid life in this most unconventional of Broadway hits. 1776 puts a human face on the pages of history as we see the men behind the national icons: proud, frightened, uncertain, irritable, charming, often petty and ultimately noble figures determined to do the right thing for a fledgling nation. It’s the summer of 1776, and the nation is ready to declare independence…if only our founding fathers can agree to do it! 1776follows John Adams of Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, and Richard Henry Lee and Thomas Jefferson of Virginia as they attempt to convince the members of the second Continental Congress to vote for independence from the shackles of the British monarchy by signing the Declaration of Independence.
Audition Dates: Monday, March 14 and Tuesday March 15 at 7:00pm
Call back: (only if needed) Wednesday, March 16 at 7:00pm
Production dates: May 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 2017
PLEASE NOTE: We may add 2 performances on May 12 and May 19 – please keep this in mind
Please bring 16-30 bars of music; An accompanist will be provided. Dress comfortably for movement
Director Tina McPhearson is looking to fill the following roles:
| Character | Age | Vocal | Description | State | Inde. | Songs |
| Stephen Hopkins | 70 | gnarled and grizzled old geezer, long grey hair | RI | For | 8 | |
| Edward Rutledge | 23-35 | high baritone | handsome, aristocratic and somewhat of a dandy…languid and sinuous with leonine grace cloaking a barely concealed force and fury, youngest man to sign the Declaration | S. Car | Against | 3 |
| Caesar Rodney | 40-60 | Gaunt, bony man who works hard for independence,despite the fact that he has skin cancer. | Del | For | 3 | |
| George Reed | 40-50 | bewigged prig of a man | Del | Against | 3 | |
| Colonel Thomas McKean | 40-55 | tall, booming voice, Scottish brogue | Del | For | 3 | |
| John Dickinson | 35-50 | Baritone | Thin hawkish, with elegance,stylish man of the class, figurehead of the conservative members | Penn | Against | 3 |
| James Wilson | 30-45 | bespectacled cautious little sycophant | Penn | Against | 3 | |
| Charles Thomson | 45-60 | Pedantic Secretary to the Congress, prissy, man of order | ||||
| John Adams | tenor | force behind the creation of the Declaration of Independence…pushes hard and antagonizes almost everyone in Congress…“obnoxious and disliked” but committed to independence | Mass | For | 8 | |
| Ben Franklin | 50-70 | Baritone | witty and playful and insightful, tends to be somewhat of a leveling influence in Congress…quick to quip but also acutely analytical | Penn | For | 5 |
| John Hancock | 40-55 | President of the Congress, caustic when irritated, intelligent but bored with the daily affairs of Congress | Penn | For | 3 | |
| Richard Henry Lee | 35-46 | high baritone | Virginia aristocrat…ambling, enthusiastic and gregarious buffoon, full of energy and charm almost to the point of being overbearing | VA | For | 2 |
| Dr. Lyman Hall | 45-55 | tall and distinguished | GA | Against | 3 | |
| Lewis Morris | 50 | proper formal man, always abstains | NY | Against | 2 | |
| Robert Livington | 55-65 | tenor | proper formal man,is a member of the committee assigned to write the Declaration. | NY | Against | 4 |
| Roger Sherman | 45-55 | tenor | ascetic, serious, self righteous, loves coffee | Conn | For | 3 |
| Joseph Hewes | 40-50 | Aristocrat, dressed in bright colors, sides with Rutledge, demands the Declaration allow slavery. | N. Car | Against | 3 | |
| Josiah Barlett | 40-50 | dry, taciturn, not amused by much | NH | For | 3 | |
| Thomas Jefferson | 35-40 | baritone | tall, red head, soft spoken, comtemplative, shy, smart | VA | For | 2 |
| Samuel Chase | 35-40 | obese, ungainly man | MD | Against | 3 | |
| Reverend John Witherspoon | 45-60 | A New Jersey delegate, argues for, and wins, the inclusion of the Supreme Being in the Declaration. | NJ | For | 3 | |
| Andrew McNair | 40-65 | custodian, gnomish little man of indeterminate age | 2 | |||
| Leather Apron | 15-25 | assistant custodian | 1 | |||
| Courier/ Painter | 15-25 | tenor | witnessed the hardships of war, although his innocent disposition/appearance may imply otherwise. | 1 | ||
| Martha Jefferson | 20-30 | mezzo soprano | lovely, maidenly and playful with a bit of a vixen | 1 | ||
| Abigail Adams | 30-45 | soprano | warm with gentle understanding…dignified and resolute… intelligent with a sense of humor… inner serenity contrasting to John’s aggressiveness…anchor to their relationship |
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For more information visit http://wordpress.thedaytonplayhouse.com/auditions/.
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