Performers Needed for Production of "1776 "

President of the 1776 Continental Congress, John Hancock, put the first and largest signature on the Declaration of Independence.

A New Hampshire delegate, Dr. Josiah Bartlett sides in favor of independence.

A Massachusetts delegate, John Adams is the leading voice for separation from England and the Declaration of Independence. Unfortunately his tendency toward fiery rhetoric makes him generally disliked by other Congress members. Vocal range C4-F#4

A Rhode Island delegate, Stephen Hopkins is given to indulgence in alcoholic beverages. Vocal range C3-Eb4

A Connecticut delegate, Roger Sherman sides in favor of independence and is on the committee to write the Declaration. Vocal range Bb2-F4

A New York delegate, Lewis Morris abstains from the original vote.

A New York delegate, Robert Livingston is a member of the committee assigned to write the Declaration.

A New Jersey delegate, the Reverend John Witherspoon, argues for, and wins, the inclusion of the Supreme Being in the Declaration.

A Pennsylvania delegate, Benjamin Franklin is urbane and cool-headed. His logic often prevails where the emotions of others fail. He and Adams lead the charge for independence. Vocal range Ab2- Eb2

A Pennsylvania delegate, John Dickinson leads a group of Congress members who favor petitioning King George III with their grievances rather than declaring independence from England. Vocal range A2-E4

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.”

A Delaware delegate, Caesar Rodney works hard for independence, despite the fact that he is suffering from skin cancer.

A Delaware delegate, Colonel Thomas McKean is Scottish and very vocal. vocal Range top Eb4

A Delaware delegate, George Read is opposed to independence and sides with Dickinson.

A Maryland delegate, Samuel Chase always seems to be eating and is portly. He initially sides with Dickinson.

A Virginia delegate, Richard Henry Lee is selected to make the argument for independence to the Congress, as Adams is having little luck. Vocal Range C3-G4

A Virginia delegate, Thomas Jefferson, in spite of his many protests, is selected to pen the Declaration of Independence. Vocal rang C3-G4

A North Carolina delegate, Joseph Hewes sides with Rutledge on the slavery issue, demanding the Declaration allow slavery.

A South Carolina delegate, Edward Rutledge is opposed to the Declaration of Independence because of his passionate opposition to the document’s call for an end to slavery. Vocal range C3-A4

A Georgia delegate, Dr. Lyman Hall initially sides with Dickinson.

The secretary of the Congress.

The custodian and bell-ringer.

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. Vocal Range Db4-F5

The young and beautiful wife of Thomas Jefferson, Martha Jefferson is brought to Philadelphia to help dispel Jefferson’s writer’s block. Vocal range Bb3-D5

A leather worker.

An artist who paints Benjamin Franklin’s portrait.