Actors' NET Presents 1776 for 'Revolutionary Weekend,' 8/20-8/22

As a centerpiece of the Morrisville Business Association's borough-wide celebration of a "Revolutionary Weekend," Aug. 20 - 22, the nonprofit Actors' NET of Bucks County presents an encore production of the award winning musical 1776.

With activities ranging from tours of Historic Summerseat, a colonial era home once owned by two signers of the Declaration of Independence (Robert Morris, for whom the borough is named, and George Clymer), to a special Saturday afternoon program Aug. 22 featuring actor/interpreters discussing the Revolutionary War effort, the weekend promises to be its own historic event. Many businesses and restaurants are offering discounts to residents and visitors to the picturesque community located just across the Delaware River from Trenton, NJ.

1776 once again stars NET Co-Founder and General Manager Joe Doyle of Morrisville as firebrand John Adams. The production marks the seventh time the company has produced this acclaimed Tony Award winning Peter Stone - Sherman Edwards musical.

Costarring are Jim Petro of Hamilton, NJ as Thomas Jefferson; Ken Ambs of Newtown as Benjamin Franklin; and Mary Liz Ivins of Lawrenceville, NJ as AbiGail Adams. Featured are Steve Lobis of Morrisville as John Dickinson; George Hartpence of New Hope as Edward Rutledge; John Bergeron of Morrisville as Richard Henry Lee; Tess Ammerman of Arneytown as Martha Jefferson and Matt South of Morrisville as The Courier. NET Co-Founder and Artistic Director Cheryl Doyle again directs the 26-member cast. Pat Masterson of Mount Airy, NJ is musical director, conducting a live orchestra. Special choreography is by Danielle Tucci-Juraga of Morrisville.

"This should be my last huzzah as Adams in 1776," Doyle said recently. "Adams was 41 in 1776 and I am well past that. Fortunately, since Adams lived to be 90, as a professional Adams interpreter, I'll doubtless bring him to life for the rest of my days."

NET Artistic Director Cheryl Doyle says she is thrilled by the number of performers returning to the encore performance. "The vast majority of the cast are returning veterans; several have done all six previous runs with us. Only five are new, but with experienced players surrounding them, they're quickly getting up to speed."

Mary Liz Ivins, the principal at Notre Dame High School in Lawrenceville, again returns as AbiGail Adams. "Mary Liz' AbiGail Adams is so sensitively portrayed," Joe Doyle noted. "She illustrates how her love and support kept Mr. Adams going throughout his career. And when Mary Liz sings, I bet even the angels listen in awe."

Cheryl Doyle observed how pleased she is to have some of the company's most accomplished actors return, "especially Ken Ambs, Steve Lobis and George Hartpence." Ambs joined the cast a few weeks ago, replacing ailing actor and Franklin interpreter Dean Bennett. Ambs previously played the role for The NET in 1776 in 2001 and has Starred in many shows around the region. Lobis is a veteran of all six prior runs; Hartpence, a veteran of four.

"1776 only works when Adams, Franklin and Jefferson have convincing adversaries," Ms. Doyle said. "Steve Lobis as John Dickinson is amazing. George Hartpence as Edward Rutledge is electric. They argue against independence with such fervor that, even though we all know the outcome, audiences are on the edges of their seats. Quite simply, it's a brilliant show, brought to life by an equally brilliant cast."

"We thank the MBA for sponsoring 1776 and invite musical fans and history buffs from near and far to join us for this musical theatre treat," she concluded.

1776 performs Aug. 20 and 21 at 7 p.m. in the Morrisville Middle/Senior High School auditorium, 550 West Palmer Street, Morrisville. All seats are $10 and can be reserved by calling the nonprofit Actors' NET at 215-295-3694. On- line tickets can be purchased via www.brownpapertickets.com. The event has its own website at http://www.morrisville1776.webs.com.

For more information about this performance, please visit http://www.actorsnetbucks.org

Photo: Joe Doyle, Dean Bennett, Chuck Donnelly