DPAC's  Current  Presentation  of  1776  Changes History  in  Powerful  Ways

On May 30-June 4, the Durham Performing Arts Center will present the U.S. tour of the all-female 2022 Broadway Revival of Sherman Edwards and Peter Stone's 1776: A Musical Play

1776: A Musical Play, which features music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards and a book by Peter Stone, is a show that will be familiar to many longtime theater fan. After all, it made its Broadway debut back in 1969 and tells a familiar, fact-meets-fiction version of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. In particular, it focuses on John Adams as he blazes trails and tries to get his peers on board with his vision.

However, there's a whole new, revitalized version of the musical, onstage now at the Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC); and it's making waves for all the right reasons. The production features a diverse cast of women and transgender, and nonbinary actors, all led by innovative co-directors Jeffrey L. Page and Diane Paulus. Together, they've brought a vision to life, much like the script's characters do. The result is a circular, poignant, and surprisingly prescient musical, with more weight and meaning than ever before.

The first act sets the historic stage with simple staging, a stark set, and dense dialogue, forcing viewers to turn their full focus on the indomitable performers and their imperfect characters. There's the conflicted John Adams, portrayed in a relatable way by Gisela Adisa; the no-nonsense Benjamin Franklin, portrayed as both endearing and exasperated by the powerful Liz Mikel; and sweet, angelic Abigail Adams, tenderly acted by Tieisha Thomas.

DPAC's presentation of 1776, directed by Jeffrey L. Page and Diane Paulus and choreographed by Page, stars (from left) Gisela
Adisa as John Adams, Nancy Anderson as Thomas Jefferson, and Liz Mikel as Benjamin Franklin (photo by Joan Marcus)

Add in Connor Lyon's lovely, beautifully voiced Martha Jefferson, and there's certainly no shortage of talent or clever characterization. These stellar performances are complemented by Jeffrey L. Page's quirky, dream-like choreography and the tongue-in-cheek delivery of many of the lyrics, which range from silly to positively haunting.

Even though the first act may be on the slow and somber side, the second act is a perfect mix of hope and sadness. As it tackles tough themes with a no-holds-barred, brutally honest approach, viewers are left to reflect on not just the story itself, but the impact of its carefully chosen performers. When the actors change, the lens through which we view history also changes.

Here, we have a story about the importance of representation, acted by historically underrepresented and underappreciated actors, and really, who better to tell this tale? The casting makes the script feel all the more relevant and pressing, providing a brand-new, more-contemplative take on not just 1776, but on history and the many lessons that we still have to learn from it.

The national tour of 1776: A Musical Play, co-directed by Jeffrey L. Page and Diane Paulus, is now playing DPAC (photo by Joan Marcus)

Sherman Edwards and Peter Stone's 1776: A MUSICAL PLAY (In Person at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, and 1 and 7 p.m. Sunday, May 31-June 4), directed by Jeffrey L. Page and Diane Paulus and choreographed by Page, presented as part of Truist Broadway at DPAC, and starring (in alphabetical order) Shelby Acosta as Congressional Secretary Charles Thomson, Gisela Adisa as John Adams of Massachusetts, Nancy Anderson as Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, Tiffani Barbour as Congressional Custodian Andrew McNair, Dawn Cantwell as Col. Thomas McKean of Delaware, Julie Cardia as Stephen Hopkins of Rhode Island, Joanna Glushak as John Dickinson of Pennsylvania, Anissa Marie Griego as Roger Sherman of Connecticut, Kassandra Haddock as Edward Rutledge of South Carolina, Shawna Hamic as Richard Henry Lee of Virginia, Connor Lyon as Martha Jefferson/Dr. Lyman Hall, Liz Mikel as Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, Oneika Phillips as John Hancock of Massachusetts, Lulu Picart as Samuel Chase of Maryland, Ariella Serur as Judge James Wilson of Pennsylvania, Brooke Simpson as a Courier, Sav Souza as Dr. Josiah Bartlett of New Hampshire, Tieisha Thomas as Abigail Adams/Rev. Jonathan Witherspoon of New Jersey, Jill Marie Vallery as Caesar Rodney of Delaware, Zuri Washington as Robert Livingston of New York, Gwynne Wood as George Read of Delaware, and Candice Marie Woods as Joseph Hewes of North Carolina, plus Standbys Amanda Dayhoff, Sara Gallo, Lisa Karlin, Kayla Saunders, and Lillie Eliza Thomas (Durham Performing Arts Center in Durham). DIGITAL PROGRAM: https://issuu.com/dpac0/docs/dpac_1776_digital. DPAC TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiBBnLNMOZA. 1776 VIDEOS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmeYUsX1IEM. THE PRESENTER/VENUE: https://www.dpacnc.com/, https://www.facebook.com/DPACNC, https://www.instagram.com/DPACNC/, https://twitter.com/DPAC, and https://www.youtube.com/user/DPACLive. 2023-24 TRUIST BROADWAY AT DPAC SEASON: https://www.dpacnc.com/truist-broadway/season/truist-broadway-at-dpac-2023-2024. DIRECTIONS: https://www.dpacnc.com/plan-your-visit/directions. PARKING: https://www.dpacnc.com/plan-your-visit/parking. DPAC COVID-19 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: https://www.dpacnc.com/events/latest-updates-on-events-at-dpac/reopening-faq. THE TOUR: https://www.1776musical.com/, https://www.ibdb.com/tour-production/1776-535188, https://www.facebook.com/1776Musical/, https://www.instagram.com/1776musical, https://twitter.com/Musical1776, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1776_(musical)#Productions. TOUR CAST: https://www.1776musical.com/. TOUR CREATIVE TEAM: https://www.1776musical.com/. GENDER AND PRONOUNS: https://www.roundabouttheatre.org/get-tickets/upstage-guides-current/1776/gender-and-pronouns. 1776: A MUSICAL PLAY (1969 Broadway Musical): https://www.1776musical.com/, https://www.mtishows.com/1776, https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-show/1776-1014, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1776_(musical). STUDY GUIDE (Utah Shakespeare Festival): https://www.bard.org/study-guides/1776-study-guide/. SHERMAN EDWARDS (New York, NY-born composer and lyricist, 1919-81): https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/sherman-edwards-10506, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0250360/, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherman_Edwards. PETER STONE (Los Angeles, CA-born playwright, 1930-2003): https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/peter-stone-8128, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0832099/, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Stone_(writer). TICKETS: $25 and up, plus taxes and fees. Call 800-982-2787 or click here to buy tickets. GROUPS (10+ tickets): 919-680-2787, Groups@DPACnc.com, and https://www.dpacnc.com/events/groups-services. INFORMATION: 919-680-2787 or CustomerService@DPACnc.com. Susie Potter's Triangle Arts Review Review.

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