It’s a red, white and blue revival of the Tony Award winning 1776 currently on the boards at Ivoryton Playhouse. Timelier than ever, the theatre has selected the ideal production to celebrate America’s 250th.
Based on the events leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence, 1776 has music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards and a book by Peter Stone. It opened on Broadway in 1969 and was voted “Best Musical” at the Tony Awards that season. The now classic musical dramatizes the political struggles of the Second Continental Congress as John Adams (a magnetic, invaluable Mark Aldrich) rallies against a deadlocked assembly to vote for independence from England. In this regard, he is assisted by the wily Ben Franklin (R. Bruce Connelly) and brilliant Thomas Jefferson (Andrew Fehrenbacher). In all, there is nearly a cast of 30 on the Ivoryton stage, with nary a weak link in the bunch.
Directed by Kenn McLaughlin, 1776 features a book that can often weigh down productions. In the first act there is a 20-minute section alone where the music completely takes a break. Some of these windy passages threaten to drag the show down at Ivoryton, but McLaughlin has such a good company of actors at his service, these moments are few. Aldrich, in the plum role of the “obnoxious and disliked” Adams, has a powerful voice and commanding stage presence. As his chief antagonist, John Dickerson, Josh Powell holds his own against Aldrich, matching him insult for insult. Fehrenbacher lends Jefferson a gentle humanity, and Ivoryton favorite R. Bruce Connelly makes for a surprisingly subdued Franklin. (I worried at one point his mic wasn’t working.)
As the sole women in the musical, Kelly McCormick as Abigale Adams and Emelie Latzer, playing Martha Jefferson, are welcome and perfect additions to the testosterone-laden proceedings. Praise also to Tommy Betz as the Courier whose singing of “Momma Look Sharp”, is both haunting and moving. Joey Herr is a delight as Richard Henry Lee, who momentarily stops the show with “The Lees of Old Virginia”, while Powell leads the Conservatives in a stunning rendition of “Cool, Cool Considerate Men” at the top of act two.
Scenic designer Starlet Jacobs uses what appears to be the entire Ivoryton stage to recreate an authentic looking rendering of Philadelphia’s Independence Hall and Heidi Hanson’s costumes are period perfect for all. I question Jessica Drayton’s shaky lighting design, which didn’t always seem to be precise but wasn’t an issue for the majority of the musical’s near 3 hour running time. 1776 is one history lesson that, even though we know the outcome and the core ideological dilemmas and intense arguments between the founding fathers, still resonates and stirs the soul. It should be required viewing for all Americans.
1776 continues at the Ivoryton Playhouse, 103 Main Street in Ivoryton, Connecticut through July 26, 2026. For further information or ticket reservations, call the theatre box office at 860.767.7318 or visit: www.ivorytonplayhouse.org.
Tom Holehan is one of the founders of the Connecticut Critics Circle, a frequent contributor to WPKN Radio’s “State of the Arts” program and the Stratford Crier and former Artistic Director of Stratford’s Square One Theatre Company. He welcomes comments at: tholehan@yahoo.com. His reviews and other theatre information can be found on the Connecticut Critics Circle website: www.ctcritics.org.
