1776 (musical)

1776 is the title of a 1969 Broadway musical and its 1972 film version. Peter Stone wrote its book and Sherman Edwards its music and lyrics. Peter H. Hunt directed the movie. Both the stage version and the film starred William Daniels as John Adams, Ken Howard as Thomas Jefferson, and Howard Da Silva as Benjamin Franklin. (Rex Everhart replaced DaSilva on the original Broadway cast album.) 1776 won the 1969 Tony Award for Best Musical, for Best Featured Actor in a Musical (for Ronald Holgate as Richard Henry Lee), and for Best Direction of a Musical. It was also nominated for the Tony Awards for Best Featured Actress in a Musical (for Virginia Vestoff as Abigail Adams) and for Best Scenic Design.

Related Topics:
1969 - Broadway musical - 1972 - Peter Stone - Sherman Edwards - Peter H. Hunt - William Daniels - John Adams - Ken Howard - Thomas Jefferson - Howard Da Silva - Benjamin Franklin - Broadway - Tony Award for Best Musical - Ronald Holgate - Richard Henry Lee - Tony Awards - Virginia Vestoff - Abigail Adams

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1776 was revived in 1997, with Brent Spiner as Adams, Pat Hingle as Franklin, and Paul Michael Vallee as Jefferson. The revival was nominated for the Tony Awards for Best Revival of a Musical, Best Direction of a Musical and Best Featured Actor in a Musical (for Gregg Edelman as Edward Rutledge).

Related Topics:
Brent Spiner - Pat Hingle - Paul Michael Vallee - Tony Awards - Gregg Edelman - Edward Rutledge

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Although it tells the story of what happened at the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1776 leading up to the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence, and it accurately portrays the serious personal and political issues at stake -- frequently in the characters' own words, written by them at the time -- it remains a musical comedy. The play has often been criticized for straining too hard for historical accuracy instead of exercising literary license when that would help the plot or presentation along.

Related Topics:
Continental Congress - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - 1776 - United States Declaration of Independence

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