"For all its historical trappings, 1776 isn't a pageant, and it doesn't behave like one. It's a talky, funny, occasionally cranky chamber piece about a group of men stuck in a room, led by the stubborn, relentless John Adams, arguing their way toward independence."
"Characters debate, bicker, filibuster, and stall and then, almost seamlessly, the music emerges from the argument. That's exactly why it works. Songs like Sit Down, John and He Plays the Violin grow organically out of character and conflict, giving the debates texture without interrupting them."
"In many ways, 1776 anticipates Hamilton. Both shows locate drama in the process: the dealmaking, the ego clashes, the grudging compromises."
As America nears its 250th anniversary, the musical 1776 is being revived in various theaters, including Paper Mill Playhouse, Ford's Theatre, and Walnut Street Theatre. These productions adopt a traditional approach with period costumes and male actors portraying the Founding Fathers. In contrast, a recent Broadway revival by Roundabout Theatre Company featured a diverse cast, including female, transgender, and nonbinary performers. The musical is characterized by its talky, humorous nature, focusing on debates among the Founding Fathers, with songs emerging organically from the dialogue, similar to the style of Hamilton.
Read at www.amny.com
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