One show on Broadway is making—and re-making—history every night.
The Tony Award-winning Best Musical 1776 has catapulted to blazing new life in a thrillingly new production, and New York Magazine/Vulture says, “it’s an absolute blast!” Suddenly, the songs, humor, and passion of this musical masterpiece soar as never before.
A glorious multiracial cast of female, transgender, and nonbinary actors portrays the fiery founders of this country, putting history in the hands of the humans who were left out the first time around—and the result is an epic show of passion, debate, and roof-raising musical fireworks. Experience “a 1776 worth celebrating!” (Variety) “It pulsates with energy and snaps with attitude.”
“AN ABSOLUTE BLAST. IT WINS YOU OVER IN MINUTES! I’m glad to have witnessed it. I want other people to witness it.” – James Frankie Thomas, New York Magazine
“FOUR STARS! YOU LEAVE THE PRODUCTION AMAZED!” – Adam Feldman, Time Out
“VERY FUNNY, WITH A JAUNTY AND TUNEFUL SCORE. A WIN FOR LIFE AND LIBERTY!” – Leah Greenblatt, Entertainment Weekly
“A 1776 WORTH CELEBRATING! It pulsates with energy and snaps with attitude.” – Frank Rizzo, Variety
The '1776' revival has a minimalist design on a muted theme of Americana; the curtain suggests faded fragments of the red, white and blue - as if shying away from overt patriotism. Yet the show retains all 13 of Sherman Edwards' original, often bright and tuneful songs from the 1969 production, and also most of the sometimes goofy humor. At the same time, it makes some half dozen changes that sometimes provide a fresh perspective; most often offer a new emphasis on what's always been the strongest aspects of the musical; and only occasionally go too far.
Countering these assets is the staging. Nuance and subtlety have been discarded in favor of a brash, bold, hit-'em-on-the-head presentation. 1776 was written as a protest musical mixing a strong anti-Vietnam message with a bitter view of then-President Nixon and his administration, the successful implementation of which contributed to the musical's resounding success. 'Momma Look Sharp,' an outspoken folk-tinged pacifist dirge which stands out as a quiet change-of-pace moment in this relatively explosive musical, is here handed over to a stage full of black-cloaked, keening mothers. Effective? Kind of- but more effective than the authors' image of a lonely corpse lying forgotten in the tall grass in the meadow by the red maple tree?
1969 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
1970 | US Tour |
National Tour US Tour |
1970 | West End |
London Production West End |
1970 | US Tour |
Bus and Truck Tour US Tour |
1997 | Broadway |
Roundabout Revival Broadway |
2007 | East Haddam, CT (Regional) |
Goodspeed Revival East Haddam, CT (Regional) |
2016 | Off-Broadway |
City Center Encores Concert Production Off-Broadway |
2022 | Broadway |
Roundabout Theatre Company Broadway Revival Broadway |
2023 | US Tour |
US Tour US Tour |
Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
---|---|---|---|
2023 | Drama League Awards | Outstanding Revival of a Musical | 1776 |
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