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1776 by Starlight Musical Theatre 
What better way to spend the 4th of July weekend, the 226th anniversary of our nation's independence, than by watching the fascinating story as to how it all took place (and how close it came to not taking place at all!). And Starlight Musical Theatre offers you just that opportunity with their excellent production of the Tony Award-winning musical 1776.
Although the play's strength lies more in its story than in its music, the songs nicely (and at one point very dramatically) propels the story along and recreates the moods, motivations, and personalities of the founding fathers as they struggle with the issue of independence during that sweltering Philadelphia summer of 1776, eventually setting aside their most glaring differences to unanimously vote on the destiny of the American people. Starlight's Artistic Director Brian Wells, as the annoying John Adams whose stubborn call for independence both turns people against the cause and keeps the cause from dying, leads this exceptional cast that includes many other great Starlight veterans. Those veterans include the magnificent Ole Kittleson, who has performed in more than sixty Starlight productions since 1955, as Benjamin Franklin. Spouting his own words of wisdom (an apple a day, etc.), falling asleep during the meetings, quietly leading and maneuvering people and events to achieve the desired outcome of freedom -- it is the elderly Franklin who, on top of the million other things he did, directed the congress toward signing its fateful Declaration of Independence. And Ole is a natural in the part, marvelously bringing back to life the most beloved, respected, and influential of the founding fathers. Candice Nicole, who starred last year as Dorothy in Starlight's hugely successful The Wizard of Oz (a performance which just recently earned her a San Diego Playbill "Billie" Award, and from which she just reprised her singing of Somewhere Over the Rainbow for the First Annual Youth "Billie" Awards Ceremony), returns from over the rainbow to the stage under the planes. This time as Martha Jefferson who inspires, yet also delays, Thomas Jefferson's writing of the Declaration of Independence with her visit to Philadelphia, and regales the Starlight audience once again with her incredibly beautiful voice. Other returnees from recent years include Frank Remiatte (the Tin Man), Joseph Minnich and Michael Grant Hall in a highly amusing "tall vs. short" stare down, Ed Hollingsworth (Juan Peron in Starlight's Evita), Dan Regas, Charles Hand, Arne Christiansen, Phil Golden, and many others. Meanwhile, several brilliant actors made their Starlight debut with this show, and the theatre would do good to bring them back in the future. David Humphrey, most recently starring in the Welk's Carousel and a regular from Forever Plaid, lends his forever golden tones to the young, eloquent, and inspired, Thomas Jefferson. Cynthia Marty, as John Adams's wife Abigail, provides her noble voice and demeanor to several love ballads and love letters between John and her. Geoff Hemingway is the young courier who brings the reality of war home to the congressmen and the audience with his poignant Mama, Look Sharp. Barry Bosworth, who just received the first Lifetime Contribution to Youth Theatre award for his thirty-plus years of directing Granite Hills Acting Workshop and twenty-plus years with Youth Summerstock Theatre (former students including Brian Wells, Joseph Minnich, and Director Jeannette Thomas), makes a terrific debut on the Starlight stage with his performance as the fair-minded president of the congress, John Hancock. And certainly one of the most impressive, if least liked, performances was done by James Cooper as representative Edward Rutledge of South Carolina who refuses to back down on his support of slavery in his dramatic, impassioned singing of Molasses to Rum in which he calls the Northerners hypocrites for their objection to slavery when they, themselves, indirectly make so much money from it. The division between North and South already clear, the roots of Civil War inescapable, as the North must decide whether to forsake the union for its principle of freedom to all men, or allow the South's "peculiar institution" so that the nation will stand as one against Great Britain. So for one of the most enjoyable history lessons and theatre experiences you're going to find, and at the most appropriate time as we celebrate our nation's birthday once again, and at a moment when we need to rally together as much as we did 226 years ago, I encourage you to go see and enjoy Starlight Musical Theatre's finely-tuned production of 1776. Rob Hopper San Diego Playbill ~ Cast ~
Abigail Adams: Cynthia Marty Martha Jefferson: Candice Nicole Members of the Continental Congress (alphabetical by Colony): President John Hancock: Barry Bosworth Secretary Charles Thomson: David Gold Congressional Custodian Andrew McNair: Ralph Johnson ~ Connecticut ~ Roger Sherman: Ed Hollingsworth ~ Delaware ~ Col. Thomas McKean: Michael Grant Hall George Read: Joseph Minnich Caesar Rodney: Robert Stark ~ Georgia ~ Dr. Lyman Hall: Gregg Osborn ~ Maryland ~ Charles Carroll: Richard Herring Samuel Chase: Neil Espe ~ Massachusetts ~ John Adams: Brian Wells ~ New Hampshire ~ Dr. Josiah Bartlett: Barron Henzel William Whipple: Todd Van Every ~ New Jersey ~ Francis Hopkinson: Holden F. Moll Richard Stockton: Ken Burns Rev. Jonathan Witherspoon: Paul Kehler ~ New York ~ John Jay: Phil Golden Robert Livingston: Kürt Norby Lewis Morris: Walter Ritter ~ North Carolina ~ Joseph Hewes: Frank Remiatte John Penn: Charles Hand ~ Pennsylvania ~ John Dickinson: Greg Zerkle Benjamin Franklin: Ole Kittleson James Wilson: Dan Campbell ~ Rhode Island ~ Stephan Hopkins: Arne Christiansen ~ South Carolina ~ Thomas Lynch, Jr.: Joe H. Zilvinskis Arthur Middleton: Aaron Duggan Edward Rutledge: James Benjamin Cooper ~ Virginia ~ Thomas Jefferson: David Humphrey Richard Henry Lee: Dan Regas The Courier: Geoff Hemingway Leather Apron: Chris Selensky The Painter: Sam Cavanaugh Director: Jeannette Thomas Musical Director and Conductor: Parmer Fuller Costume Design: Kathy Auckland Lighting Design: Eric Lotze Sound Design: Steve Stopper Choreographer: Jack Tygett Stage Manager: Rachael Clark Assistant Musical Director: Ron Councell |
