Performers Needed for Theatre Audition "1776"

(Plays 47). Small amount of dialogue. No solos, but sings with the ensemble in opening number and is present throughout show in Congress. He sides in favor of independence.

(Plays 40). Baritone. President of Congress. Has quite a lot of dialogue, sings with the ensemble opening number, and has a short solo in “Cool, Cool, Considerate Men.” Must be able to command attention and keep The Congress in order.

(Plays 41). This is a featured singing role. High Baritone/Tenor 2. A Massachusetts delegate, John Adams is the leading voice for separation from England and the Declaration of Independence. Strong oratory skills, brilliant mind. 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. Sings several duets with his wife, Abigail. Large amounts of dialogue.

(Plays late 60s) Crusty old geezer who loves his rum. Supporter of Independence. Has a moderate amount of dialogue. Sings with the ensemble in the opening number. Has an active part in the show and is always one of the most memorable characters.

(Plays 55): Tenor. This is a featured singing role. A Connecticut delegate, Roger Sherman sides in favor of independence and is on the committee to write the Declaration. Few lines of dialogue.

(Plays 50): Lead delegate of New York, who abstains from every vote... courteously. Some dialogue throughout show. No major solos, but sings with the ensemble.

(Plays 30): Tenor. This is a featured singing role. Livingston has short solos in the opening number, and is on the committee to write the Declaration. This role is doubled with Richard Henry Lee.

NON-SINGING ROLE. A New Jersey delegate. He appears mid-way through Act One. He argues for, and wins, the inclusion of the Supreme Being in the Declaration. Has a moderate amount of dialogue. No major solos. Supporter of Independence. Congressional Chaplain.

(Plays Late 60s): Baritone. This is a featured singing role. He is an energetic, older man, but often acts much younger. 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.

(Plays 44): Baritone. Dickinson is the primary adversary of the show, portrayed as opposing Independence. He has lots of dialogue but only one major solo. He represents the conservative side of Congress, the wealthy landowners who do not want to break from Great Britain.

(Plays 33): A Pennsylvania delegate, James Wilson casts the final vote to approve the Declaration, not because of his own belief in the cause, but because he does not want to be remembered in history as “the man who prevented American independence.” Small amount of dialogue and no major solos. Sings with the ensemble.

(Plays 48): A Delaware delegate. Caesar Rodney wears a type of chin strap or head scarf that covers skin cancer. 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. Sings with ensemble. This will be a doubled pants role.

(Plays 42): A Delaware delegate, Colonel Thomas McKean is Scottish and is very loud and vocal with his thick accent. Some dialogue and sings with the ensemble in the opening.

(Plays 43): A Delaware delegate, George Read is opposed to independence and sides with Dickinson. He argues with members of his own delegation. Usually portrayed as rather fussy and weaselly , who always seconds the motions of the opposition (those against Independence). A few lines of dialogue.

(Plays 35): A Maryland delegate, Samuel Chase always seems to be eating and is portly. He initially sides with Dickinson. A few lines of dialogue and only sings with the ensemble.

(Plays 45): Tenor. This is a featured singing role. A Virginia delegate, he is selected to make the argument for independence to the Congress. Only appears in Act One. Possibly doubled. Although he appears in several scenes with the rest of Congress, his one solo song often steals the show. 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. This role is double with Livingston of New York.

(Plays 33): Tenor. This is a featured singing role. A Virginia delegate, Thomas Jefferson, in spite of his many protests, is selected to pen the Declaration of Independence. 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.

(Plays 46): A North Carolina delegate, 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 and sings with the ensemble.

(Plays 26): Strong Baritone. This is a featured singing role. If you are considering this role, please do not see Rutledge as a villain. Rutledge serves as a strong antagonist to John Adams, representing the Southern delegation’s perspective. Must be a commanding actor, with excellent oratory skills. 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”. Statesman, lawyer.

(Plays 52): Physician and pastor. Moderate amount of dialogue. Has an important dramatic scene toward the end of the show.

In the show, he reads all the letters from General George Washington, introduces each item up for a vote, gives minutes from previous sessions of Congress, and has one short solo when he reads a final letter from General 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. The secretary of the Congress.

NON-SINGING ROLE. In the show, he is portrayed as a quirky, exasperated man who lights the fires and candles, opens and closes the windows, fills the ink wells, and keeps the Continental Congress meeting room clean. 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.

Tenor. This is a featured Singing Role. A young messenger for Congress. 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.

Soprano. This is a featured singing role. Wife of John Adams, her communications with John tell some of the story of the Declaration and much of the story of her and John’s love and life. 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.

(27): Mezzo-Soprano. This is a featured singing role. The young and beautiful wife of Thomas Jefferson, Martha Jefferson is brought to Philadelphia to help dispel Jefferson’s writer’s block. Martha is flirtatious, young, and attractive. Some dialogue, in one scene only. This will be doubled with a male role.