Principal Characters - "1776"
* John Adams (Massachusetts) – Age 41. High baritone or medium tenor, strong oratory skills, brilliant mind, bold and brash personality, slight Boston dialect. Not tall. The running joke throughout the show is that he is “obnoxious and disliked,” but actually he must have a magnetic quality that commands respect from his fellow members of congress. Harvard graduate, experienced lawyer. Sings several duets with his wife, Abigail. Huge amounts of dialogue.
“Sit Down, John”
“Piddle-Twiddle and Resolve”
“Till Then”
“Lees of Old Virginia”
“But, Mr. Adams”
“Yours, Yours, Yours”
“He Plays the Violin”
“The Egg”
“Is Anybody There?”
* Benjamin Franklin (Pennsylvania) – He is an energetic, older man, 70 years old, but often acts much younger. Baritone or low tenor. Franklin is pleasant, philosophical, boyish, often funny, but he does show his anger and seriousness in a couple scenes. Can be played by a rich bass voice or a slightly raspy baritone-tenor. Must have excellent acting skills – this man is a highly experienced statesman, diplomat, inventor, writer, humorist, and philosopher. Large amounts of dialogue.
“Lees of Old Virginia”
“But, Mr. Adams”
“He Plays the Violin”
“The Egg”
* Thomas Jefferson (Virginia) – 33 years old. Medium tenor or high baritone. Jefferson is a man of few words, but when he speaks, he commands attention. Should be taller than average. Pensive, quiet, strong silent type. Sense of humor. Architect, writer, farmer, scientist, statesman, lawyer, violin player.
“Sit Down, John”
“But, Mr. Adams”
“The Egg”
* John Dickinson (Pennsylvania) – Age 44. Baritone, or strong mezzo. Dickinson is the primary adversary of the show, portrayed as opposing Independence. He has lots of dialogue, but only one major solo (Cool, Cool, Considerate Men). He represents the conservative side of Congress, the wealthy land owners who do not want to break from Great Britain.
“Sit Down, John’
“Cool, Cool, Considerate Men” (solo singer throughout)
* Edward Rutledge (South Carolina) – 26 years old. Strong Baritone (or if played by a woman, rich mezzo voice). Must be a commanding actor, with excellent oratory skills. He is the secondary antagonist role, next to Mr. Dickenson. Youngest member of congress. Speaks with an elegant, educated South Carolina accent. Has the most dramatic song in the show, the sarcastic and riveting “Molasses to Rum to Slaves” which showcases the hypocrisy of the North regarding slavery and the triangle trade. Statesman, lawyer. Large amounts of dialogue.
“Sit Down, John”
“Cool, Cool, Considerate Men”
“Molasses to Rum”
* Abigail Adams – 32 years old. Soprano or Mezzo. Abigail’s tone is one of maturity, intellectual support, and strong encouragement to her husband John Adams. She is quieter and calmer than Martha Jefferson, and less flirtatious, but with a subtle sense of humor. She appears in three songs, all duets with John Adams. She cannot touch him, since they are communicating via letters, but she sits onstage with him, and converses with him naturally. In real life, Abigail’s letters are filled with highly intellectual discussions on government, politics, and the economics of running their farm, and they provide a valuable eyewitness account of the American Revolution. She has lots of dialogue in the show.
“Till Then”
“Yours, Yours, Yours”
“Compliments of the Concord Ladies’ Coffee Club”
* Martha Jefferson – 27 years old. Mezzo or soprano. Martha is flirtatious, young, and attractive. She is well aware that she causes a stir among the men who are present (Adams and Franklin), but she is fiercely devoted to her husband Thomas Jefferson. She appears in only one extended scene, and sings “He Plays the Violin.” Her one scene often steals the show, and can be very memorable. In real life, Martha died at the young age of 33, and at her request, Jefferson never re-married. Some dialogue, in one scene only.
“He Plays the Violin”
* Richard Henry Lee (Virginia) – Age 45. Baritone (could possibly be played by a woman with a strong singing voice and excellent comic character, but is usually played by a strong baritone). Although he appears in several scenes with the rest of Congress, his one solo song often steals the show, and is the song that won the original Broadway actor a Tony Award (he reprised the role in the movie). Speaks and sings with a noticeable country/southern twang. His song is a bragging song about all the famous Lees in his family tree. Some dialogue.
“Sit Down, John”
“Lees of Old Virginia”
* Robert Livingston (New York) – Age 30, Tenor, (or female actor singing in tenor range). Livingston has short solos in the opening number, and sings in the barbershop-style quintet “But, Mr. Adams.”
“Sit Down, John”
“But, Mr. Adams”
“Cool, Cool, Considerate Men”
* Roger Sherman (Connecticut) – Age 55. Tenor (or female actor singing in tenor range). Sherman sings in the barbershop-style quintet “But, Mr. Adams.”
“Sit Down, John”
“But, Mr. Adams”
* Samuel Chase (Maryland) – Age 35. Often portrayed by a slightly larger actor, Chase is shown in one scene eating a large meal during a break in Congress. He has brief solos in the opening number. Some dialogue.
“Sit Down, John”
* Charles Thomson (congressional clerk and secretary) – Age 47. In the show, he reads all the letters from General George Washington, introduces each item up for vote, gives minutes from previous sessions of congress, and has one short solo when he reads a final letter from General George Washington. He has quite a bit of dialogue. Actor must be able to sound very efficient in reading letters and in rattling off long lists of congressional duties and committees.
“Sit Down, John”
“Is Anybody There?” Introductory solo
* Andrew McNair (congressional custodian and bell-ringer) – Age unknown. Baritone, or low mezzo). In the show, he is portrayed as a quirky, exasperated middle-aged man who lights the fires and candles, opens and closes the windows, fills the ink wells, and keeps the continental congress meeting room clean, in addition to ringing the Liberty Bell. He is supervisor to the young boy known as the Leather Apron apprentice, who is learning McNair’s job. McNair’s additional job is to fetch mugs of rum, mostly for Stephen Hopkins of Rhode Island. He has lots of dialogue in the show.
“Momma, Look Sharp” (harmonies)
* The Courier – Age 18 or so – High Baritone or low tenor (or equivalent female range). Has a bit of dialogue, sings one solo song. Mostly known for his clomping entrances several times during the show to deliver letters from General George Washington.
“Momma, Look Sharp” (solo)
* The Leather Apron (apprentice) – Age 16 or so. Tenor or high baritone (or equivalent female range). Young apprentice in training to learn MacNair’s custodial trade. Sings harmony on “Momma Look Sharp.”
“Momma, Look Sharp” (harmonies)
* John Hancock (president of Congress, Massachusetts) – Age 40. Baritone (or equivalent female range). Has quite a lot of dialogue, sings in opening number, and has a short solo in “Cool, Cool, Considerate Men.”
“Sit Down, John”
“Cool, Cool, Considerate Men” (short solo, then exits before the end of the song)
Dr. Josiah Bartlett (New Hampshire) – Age 47. Small amount of dialogue. No solos, but sings in opening number and is present throughout show in Congress.
“Sit Down, John”
Stephen Hopkins (Rhode Island) – Age 70. Crusty old geezer who loves his rum. Supporter of Independence. Has a moderate amount of dialogue. Sings in opening number. Has an active part in the show and is always one of the most memorable characters. Usually portrayed in black Quaker hat and coat, and with long silver hair.
“Sit Down, John”
Lewis Morris (New York) – Age 50. Lead delegate of New York, who abstains from every vote. Some dialogue throughout show. No major solos, but sings in opening number.
“Sit Down, John”
“Cool, Cool, Considerate Men”
Reverend John Witherspoon (New Jersey) – age 56. Lead delegate from New Jersey. Has moderate amount of dialogue. No major solos, but sings in opening number. Supporter of Independence. Congressional Chaplain.
“Sit Down, John”
James Wilson (Pennsylvania) – Age 34. Wilson is portrayed as a mere “sidekick” to his fellow delegate John Dickinson, and usually parrots whatever John Dickinson says. He holds a key role in the passage of Independence at the very end of the show, however. No major solos, but sings in the opening number and in “Cool, Cool, Considerate Men”. Small amount of dialogue.
“Sit Down, John”
“Cool, Cool, Considerate Men”
Caesar Rodney (Delaware) – Age 48. Caesar Rodney wears a type of chin strap or head scarf that apparently covers some sort of injury or malady. He is a supporter of Independence, but he has a dramatic collapse in the middle of the show, and doesn’t reappear until the end after his long ride from Delaware. Moderate amount of dialogue.
“Sit Down, John”
Colonel Thomas McKean (Delaware) – Age 42. Thick Scottish accent. Argumentative and very loud. Usually portrayed as very tall. Some dialogue.
“Sit Down, John”
George Read (Delaware) – Age 43. – argues with members of his own delegation. Usually portrayed as a rather prissy “weasel” who always seconds the motions of the opposition (those against Independence). A few lines of dialogue.
“Sit Down, John”
“Cool, Cool, Considerate Men”
Joseph Hewes (North Carolina) – Age 46. His main characteristic is that he is always deferring to Edward Rutledge of South Carolina, and does not seem to have much independent thought for himself. He is against Independence. Small amount of dialogue.
“Sit Down, John”
“Cool, Cool, Considerate Men”
Dr. Lymon Hall (Georgia) – Age 52. Physician and pastor. Moderate amount of dialogue. Has an important dramatic scene toward the end of the show.
“Sit Down, John”
“Cool, Cool, Considerate Men”
The Painter – Age undetermined. Is seen in one part of the show painting a portrait of Benjamin Franklin. May be used in other parts of the show to help backstage and with scene changes.
* John Adams (Massachusetts) – Age 41. High baritone or medium tenor, strong oratory skills, brilliant mind, bold and brash personality, slight Boston dialect. Not tall. The running joke throughout the show is that he is “obnoxious and disliked,” but actually he must have a magnetic quality that commands respect from his fellow members of congress. Harvard graduate, experienced lawyer. Sings several duets with his wife, Abigail. Huge amounts of dialogue.
“Sit Down, John”
“Piddle-Twiddle and Resolve”
“Till Then”
“Lees of Old Virginia”
“But, Mr. Adams”
“Yours, Yours, Yours”
“He Plays the Violin”
“The Egg”
“Is Anybody There?”
* Benjamin Franklin (Pennsylvania) – He is an energetic, older man, 70 years old, but often acts much younger. Baritone or low tenor. Franklin is pleasant, philosophical, boyish, often funny, but he does show his anger and seriousness in a couple scenes. Can be played by a rich bass voice or a slightly raspy baritone-tenor. Must have excellent acting skills – this man is a highly experienced statesman, diplomat, inventor, writer, humorist, and philosopher. Large amounts of dialogue.
“Lees of Old Virginia”
“But, Mr. Adams”
“He Plays the Violin”
“The Egg”
* Thomas Jefferson (Virginia) – 33 years old. Medium tenor or high baritone. Jefferson is a man of few words, but when he speaks, he commands attention. Should be taller than average. Pensive, quiet, strong silent type. Sense of humor. Architect, writer, farmer, scientist, statesman, lawyer, violin player.
“Sit Down, John”
“But, Mr. Adams”
“The Egg”
* John Dickinson (Pennsylvania) – Age 44. Baritone, or strong mezzo. Dickinson is the primary adversary of the show, portrayed as opposing Independence. He has lots of dialogue, but only one major solo (Cool, Cool, Considerate Men). He represents the conservative side of Congress, the wealthy land owners who do not want to break from Great Britain.
“Sit Down, John’
“Cool, Cool, Considerate Men” (solo singer throughout)
* Edward Rutledge (South Carolina) – 26 years old. Strong Baritone (or if played by a woman, rich mezzo voice). Must be a commanding actor, with excellent oratory skills. He is the secondary antagonist role, next to Mr. Dickenson. Youngest member of congress. Speaks with an elegant, educated South Carolina accent. Has the most dramatic song in the show, the sarcastic and riveting “Molasses to Rum to Slaves” which showcases the hypocrisy of the North regarding slavery and the triangle trade. Statesman, lawyer. Large amounts of dialogue.
“Sit Down, John”
“Cool, Cool, Considerate Men”
“Molasses to Rum”
* Abigail Adams – 32 years old. Soprano or Mezzo. Abigail’s tone is one of maturity, intellectual support, and strong encouragement to her husband John Adams. She is quieter and calmer than Martha Jefferson, and less flirtatious, but with a subtle sense of humor. She appears in three songs, all duets with John Adams. She cannot touch him, since they are communicating via letters, but she sits onstage with him, and converses with him naturally. In real life, Abigail’s letters are filled with highly intellectual discussions on government, politics, and the economics of running their farm, and they provide a valuable eyewitness account of the American Revolution. She has lots of dialogue in the show.
“Till Then”
“Yours, Yours, Yours”
“Compliments of the Concord Ladies’ Coffee Club”
* Martha Jefferson – 27 years old. Mezzo or soprano. Martha is flirtatious, young, and attractive. She is well aware that she causes a stir among the men who are present (Adams and Franklin), but she is fiercely devoted to her husband Thomas Jefferson. She appears in only one extended scene, and sings “He Plays the Violin.” Her one scene often steals the show, and can be very memorable. In real life, Martha died at the young age of 33, and at her request, Jefferson never re-married. Some dialogue, in one scene only.
“He Plays the Violin”
* Richard Henry Lee (Virginia) – Age 45. Baritone (could possibly be played by a woman with a strong singing voice and excellent comic character, but is usually played by a strong baritone). Although he appears in several scenes with the rest of Congress, his one solo song often steals the show, and is the song that won the original Broadway actor a Tony Award (he reprised the role in the movie). Speaks and sings with a noticeable country/southern twang. His song is a bragging song about all the famous Lees in his family tree. Some dialogue.
“Sit Down, John”
“Lees of Old Virginia”
* Robert Livingston (New York) – Age 30, Tenor, (or female actor singing in tenor range). Livingston has short solos in the opening number, and sings in the barbershop-style quintet “But, Mr. Adams.”
“Sit Down, John”
“But, Mr. Adams”
“Cool, Cool, Considerate Men”
* Roger Sherman (Connecticut) – Age 55. Tenor (or female actor singing in tenor range). Sherman sings in the barbershop-style quintet “But, Mr. Adams.”
“Sit Down, John”
“But, Mr. Adams”
* Samuel Chase (Maryland) – Age 35. Often portrayed by a slightly larger actor, Chase is shown in one scene eating a large meal during a break in Congress. He has brief solos in the opening number. Some dialogue.
“Sit Down, John”
* Charles Thomson (congressional clerk and secretary) – Age 47. In the show, he reads all the letters from General George Washington, introduces each item up for vote, gives minutes from previous sessions of congress, and has one short solo when he reads a final letter from General George Washington. He has quite a bit of dialogue. Actor must be able to sound very efficient in reading letters and in rattling off long lists of congressional duties and committees.
“Sit Down, John”
“Is Anybody There?” Introductory solo
* Andrew McNair (congressional custodian and bell-ringer) – Age unknown. Baritone, or low mezzo). In the show, he is portrayed as a quirky, exasperated middle-aged man who lights the fires and candles, opens and closes the windows, fills the ink wells, and keeps the continental congress meeting room clean, in addition to ringing the Liberty Bell. He is supervisor to the young boy known as the Leather Apron apprentice, who is learning McNair’s job. McNair’s additional job is to fetch mugs of rum, mostly for Stephen Hopkins of Rhode Island. He has lots of dialogue in the show.
“Momma, Look Sharp” (harmonies)
* The Courier – Age 18 or so – High Baritone or low tenor (or equivalent female range). Has a bit of dialogue, sings one solo song. Mostly known for his clomping entrances several times during the show to deliver letters from General George Washington.
“Momma, Look Sharp” (solo)
* The Leather Apron (apprentice) – Age 16 or so. Tenor or high baritone (or equivalent female range). Young apprentice in training to learn MacNair’s custodial trade. Sings harmony on “Momma Look Sharp.”
“Momma, Look Sharp” (harmonies)
* John Hancock (president of Congress, Massachusetts) – Age 40. Baritone (or equivalent female range). Has quite a lot of dialogue, sings in opening number, and has a short solo in “Cool, Cool, Considerate Men.”
“Sit Down, John”
“Cool, Cool, Considerate Men” (short solo, then exits before the end of the song)
Dr. Josiah Bartlett (New Hampshire) – Age 47. Small amount of dialogue. No solos, but sings in opening number and is present throughout show in Congress.
“Sit Down, John”
Stephen Hopkins (Rhode Island) – Age 70. Crusty old geezer who loves his rum. Supporter of Independence. Has a moderate amount of dialogue. Sings in opening number. Has an active part in the show and is always one of the most memorable characters. Usually portrayed in black Quaker hat and coat, and with long silver hair.
“Sit Down, John”
Lewis Morris (New York) – Age 50. Lead delegate of New York, who abstains from every vote. Some dialogue throughout show. No major solos, but sings in opening number.
“Sit Down, John”
“Cool, Cool, Considerate Men”
Reverend John Witherspoon (New Jersey) – age 56. Lead delegate from New Jersey. Has moderate amount of dialogue. No major solos, but sings in opening number. Supporter of Independence. Congressional Chaplain.
“Sit Down, John”
James Wilson (Pennsylvania) – Age 34. Wilson is portrayed as a mere “sidekick” to his fellow delegate John Dickinson, and usually parrots whatever John Dickinson says. He holds a key role in the passage of Independence at the very end of the show, however. No major solos, but sings in the opening number and in “Cool, Cool, Considerate Men”. Small amount of dialogue.
“Sit Down, John”
“Cool, Cool, Considerate Men”
Caesar Rodney (Delaware) – Age 48. Caesar Rodney wears a type of chin strap or head scarf that apparently covers some sort of injury or malady. He is a supporter of Independence, but he has a dramatic collapse in the middle of the show, and doesn’t reappear until the end after his long ride from Delaware. Moderate amount of dialogue.
“Sit Down, John”
Colonel Thomas McKean (Delaware) – Age 42. Thick Scottish accent. Argumentative and very loud. Usually portrayed as very tall. Some dialogue.
“Sit Down, John”
George Read (Delaware) – Age 43. – argues with members of his own delegation. Usually portrayed as a rather prissy “weasel” who always seconds the motions of the opposition (those against Independence). A few lines of dialogue.
“Sit Down, John”
“Cool, Cool, Considerate Men”
Joseph Hewes (North Carolina) – Age 46. His main characteristic is that he is always deferring to Edward Rutledge of South Carolina, and does not seem to have much independent thought for himself. He is against Independence. Small amount of dialogue.
“Sit Down, John”
“Cool, Cool, Considerate Men”
Dr. Lymon Hall (Georgia) – Age 52. Physician and pastor. Moderate amount of dialogue. Has an important dramatic scene toward the end of the show.
“Sit Down, John”
“Cool, Cool, Considerate Men”
The Painter – Age undetermined. Is seen in one part of the show painting a portrait of Benjamin Franklin. May be used in other parts of the show to help backstage and with scene changes.