"1776” Cast
Set to Re-enact the Birth of American Independence
When the halls of the first Continental
Congress filled with the voices of our founding fathers, they most likely
did not break out in song. But when the auditorium of the Marion Palace
Theatre fills with the re-enactment of the birth of America’s independence,
some of Marion’s and the surrounding areas’ most talented
voices will be heard. Under the direction of Gregory Patterson of Columbus,
“1776” opens as this summer’s musical production for
the Marion Palace Theatre. Presented through special arrangement with
Music Theatre International, this year’s musical is scheduled for
June 21, 22, 28, and 29 at 8:00 p.m. and on Sunday, June 30 at 2:00
p.m.
“1776” is a musical based on the historic era when the Declaration
of Independence was formed. The story opens with John Adams soundly
scolding his fellow Congressmen for their lack of drive and enthusiasm
in attaining independence for the colonies. His view of his cohorts
is they “piddle, twiddle and resolve . . . nothing’s ever
solved”. Whether as a book, movie or stage version, “1776”
is the “breathtakingly suspenseful story of John Adams’ commitment
to the cause of independence and of the resourcefulness and intrigue
and parliamentary maneuvers he and Ben Franklin employed in promoting
it.”
Bringing the birth of the Declaration of Independence to life for the
Marion audience will be:
CAST
PHOTOS
| Todd Patterson as |
John Adams |
| Megan McGrady as |
Abigail Adams |
| John Miller as |
Thomas Jefferson |
| Emily Fitzpatrick as |
Martha Jefferson |
| Gary Crabtree as |
John Hancock |
| Mark Brown as |
Dr. Josiah Bartlett |
| Brad Bebout as |
Stephen Hopkins |
| Scott Croskey as |
Roger Sherman |
| Ken Gibson as |
Lewis Morris |
| Mark Mobley as |
Robert Livingston |
| Tom Fitzpatrick as |
Rev. Jonathan Witherspoon |
| Don Wolfe as |
Benjamin Franklin |
| Kevin Orth as |
John Dickinson |
| Bill Becker as |
James Wilson |
| Steve Lemke as |
Caesar Rodney |
| Chris Anderson as |
Col. Thomas McKean |
| Ron Cramer as |
George Read |
| Josh Diamond as |
Samuel Chase |
| Bruce Cudd as |
Richard Henry Lee |
| Rob Baird as |
Joseph Hewes |
| Wayne Rowe as |
Edward Rutledge |
| Jim Anderson as |
Dr. Lyman Hall |
| Bob Brown as |
Charles Thomson |
| Greg Lawrence as |
Andrew McNair |
| Jeremy Huff as |
the Courier |
| John Neidhart as |
Leather Apron |
|
|
| Gregory Patterson |
Director |
| Steve deWeber |
Vocal Director |
| Rick Baird |
Orchestra Director |
| Don Wolfe |
Set Design and Construction |
| Lyn Giles |
Costume Design |
| Melissa Johnson |
Director’s Assistant |
The choice to have “1776” as this year’s musical came
with much thought. The Palace is just completing its twenty-fifth season
since the formation of the Palace Cultural Arts Association in 1976.
The first production to celebrate that reopening as well as the country’s
200th birthday was “1776”. By presenting the play again, the
theatre celebrates its 25th anniversary and pays tribute to renewed
patriotism experienced since September 11. Just like back in 1976, the
cast’s voices are extraordinary.
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