“1776 the Musical” Coming to Bankhead Theater – Tri-Valley Repertory Theatre

LIVERMORE, CA–Tri-Valley Repertory Theatre’s latest production “1776 the Musical” opens this Saturday January 13, 2018 at the Bankhead Theater in Livermore. 1776 (music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards and book by Peter Stone) premiered on Broadway in 1969 and won the Tony Award for Best Musical. In 1972 it was made into a film and was revived on Broadway in 1997.

1776 follows John Adams of Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania and Thomas Jefferson of Virginia as they attempt to convince the members of the Second Continental Congress to vote for independence from the British monarchy by signing the Declaration of Independence. Witness the birth of a nation as our forefathers struggle to craft the Declaration of Independence. 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.

The show runs January 13, 20, 27 at 8:00 pm and January 14, 21, 27 and 28 at 2:00 pm. Performances are Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm with an additional Saturday matinee on January 27th at 2pm and is rated PG. 1776 the Musical is performed at the Bankhead Theater, 2400 First Street, Livermore, CA 94550.

The opening number, “Sit Down John” introduces the idea of the Congress creating independence for our nation when the they tell John Adams, touchingly played by Eric Neiman, returning from TVRT’s Bullets Over Broadway, to stop talking and sit down. A familiar theme from our government today, the Congress cannot agree on little things like opening a window, so how will they possibly create independence for a nation. Sadly, many of the issues they discuss: taxes, who should have rights, are the government representatives representing the people…will strike a familiar chord, over two hundred years later, the topics remain virtually unchanged.

There are moments of humor such as when Ben Franklin, beautifully transformed into his character by DC Scarpelli, asks Richard Henry Lee, played by Russell Mangan, to convince the Congress to vote for independence since John Adams has failed. Lee arrogantly, but comically explains that he is one of “The Lees of Old Virginia” so he cannot fail. There is also the debate over what bird should represent the country, the eagle, the dove or…the turkey, in “The Egg”. Spoiler alert, thankfully, you know how that one turned out.

The production has a large cast with many local favorites including: Matthew Kelly as John Hancock, Matthew Skinner as Thomas Jefferson, Steve Allhoff as Edward Rutledge, Jeff Seaberg as Stephen Hopkins, and Dominic Tracey as Robert Livingston, Rebecca Davis as Abigail Adams, and Rachel Powers as Martha Jefferson. See the TVRT website for the full cast list.

Tickets are $19-$39 each (plus Bankhead facility fees) and are available at the Bankhead Theater Box Office, by phone at 925-373-6800, hours are Tuesday thru Saturday, noon to 6pm, or online at www.lvpac.org. Group discount rates are available to groups of 10 or more, contact the box office.

1776 the Musical is Produced by Kathleen Breedveld, Directed by Daren AC Carollo with Musical Direction by Sierra Dee, Choreography by Rachel Powers, Light Design by Michael Palumbo, and Sound Design by Simon Liu and Sasha Michkovsky.
For tickets – visit the Bankhead Theater box office at 2400 First Street, Livermore, CA or call 925-373-6800, Tuesday thru Saturday, noon to 6pm, or visit online: www.lvpac.org.
For more information, visit the TVRT website: www.trivalleyrep.org