History, much like the theater, is déjà-vu all over again. It seems perfectly fitting that the original historical boy band hailed from Philly. Imagine one brutally hot summer in the Seventeen-Seventies, when 20 signers of the Declaration of Independence sang and danced across the historical stage. With leads John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John Hancock, and the rest telling the story of colonial insurrection from British rule in 1776, independence was born.
History or theatrics? Theatrical history? Or historical theater? All of them! In that sweltering summer of 1776 at the Pennsylvania Statehouse in Philadelphia (now Independence Hall) the Constitutional Convention staged the dramatic origins of democracy – not only for the American colonies but the world over.On Broadway, 1776 had three revivals: one in 1997, an Encores concert in 2016, and in 2022, taking cues from the success of Hamilton, when the racially diverse cast was composed of female, trans, and non-binary performers. The historic Ford’s Theater has staged three productions of its own in 2003, 2012, and now, for the AMERICA250 semiquincentennial celebration. 1776 is back to the future.
Directed and choreographed by Luis Salgado, this not-to-be-missed historical and at times hysterical comeback begins with an interactive twist which I will not spoil here. As the theater itself is a museum, with Lincoln assassination exhibits and artifacts on view downstairs, engaging the audience in living history is all the more authentic.
Theater-goers of 1776 oftentimes wonder how accurately the play portrays the men who gave birth to a nation that sultry July day. Did it really happen that way? In short… YES!
God writes lousy theater, especially musicals. Fortunately Edwards and Stone did not. This current casting does the beloved play justice. Jonathan Atkinson dominates brilliantly and accurately as the irrepressible and self-described irascible, unlikable John Adams.
I’ve seen many productions of 1776, including the ones at Ford’s, the original on Broadway, in addition to a slew of off-Broadway, community, and school theater stagings. Benjamin Franklin invariably steals the laughs and the show. Derrick D. Truvy, Jr.’s lusty, loquacious lush is all that it should be and more as Franklin yet Atkinson manages to win us over to the cause with his indefatigable passion and wit.
Jake Loewenthal plays a handsomely brooding Jefferson, distracted by the absence and then presence of his insatiable bride Martha, played by Justine “Icy” Moral. The only other female cast member is Kanysha Williams portraying Abigail Adams. Both fitting foils to the intellectual, political, and moral machismo of the founding fathers. And can they ever sing!
Alexandrians, sharing a hometown with the Lee family, will especialLEE enjoy Michael Perrie, Jr. as Richard Henry Lee. His over-the-top expansive rendition of The Lees of Old Virginia and all things LEE is delightfulLEE the very definition of scene-stealing.
Ford’s, “America’s theater,” is a jewel in the crown of all the great Washington theaters around the DMV. Beyond being in the room where it happened (Booth’s assassination of President Abraham Lincoln) any production on this historic stage invariably proves to have considerable dramatic chops.
Salgado’s direction and staging is the best I’ve seen yet. And I have seen a lot, including a Bicentennial production at my high school. Howard Da Silva, who I knew well enough that he attended, gave our skinny teenage Ben two thumbs up.
Attending 1776 at Ford’s with high-schoolers laughing at all the diverting moments made me feel inevitably nostalgic. And actuaLEE proud to be an American
1776 is at Ford’s Theater now through May 16, 2026. Get your tickets immediatLEE at fords.org!
