1776
April 2026
The nation is ready to declare independence... if only our Founding Fathers can agree to do it! 1776 follows John Adams of Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania and Thomas Jefferson of Virginia as they attempt to convince the members of the Second Continental Congress to vote for independence.
1776 puts a human face on the pages of history as we see the people behind the national icons: proud, frightened, uncertain, irritable, charming, often petty and ultimately noble figures—determined to do the right thing for a fledgling nation.
Sponsored by Sand Lake Merchant and Lake Bound Bookstore.
Directed by SHAWN R. MORGAN
Music direction by MICHAEL LOTANO
Music and lyrics by SHERMAN EDWARDS
Book by PETER STONE
Sand Lake Center's '1776' leaves no doubt as to American independence (Bill Kellert, Daily Gazette)
REVIEW: “1776” at the Sand Lake Center for the Arts (Paula Kaplan-Reiss, Berkshire on Stage)
John Adams ……………………………….................. ADAM COONS
Benjamin Franklin ………………………………..... BILL DOUGLAS
Thomas Jefferson …………………………… CHRISTOPHER URIG
Abigail Adams ………………………………. CHRISTINE GERACI
Martha Jefferson …………………………………. SARIAH ASHTON
Charles Thomson ………………………………... MATT DEMARCO
John Hancock ………………………………………… TIM ORCUTT
Andrew McNair …………………………………… RYAN SKINNER
John Dickinson ………………………………… PETER QUINONES
Edward Rutledge ………………………………… BRIAN SHELDON
Richard Henry Lee ……………………………… TRAVIS BRUNELL
Stephen Hopkins ……………………………….. GEORGE FILIEAU
A Courier ……………………………………… BENJAMIN HOGAN
Leather Apron/Painter …………………………... ADAM ERICKSON
Col. Thomas McKean …………………………… RICHARD CROSS
George Read ………………………………………… MATT BISHOP
Caesar Rodney ……………………………… DAVID ZWIERANKIN
Roger Sherman ……………………………. ANTHONY CHIFFOLO
Dr. Lyman Hall …………………………………………... KEN RYER
Samuel Chase …………………………………….. STEVE SKINNER
Dr. Josiah Bartlett ………………………………… DARYL HANSEN
Rev. John Witherspoon ……………………….. MICHAEL COLLINS
Robert Livingston ………………………………… NOAH SCHMITT
Lewis Morris …………………………… MICHAEL GIALANELLA
Joseph Hewes ……………………………………… DAVID HANSEN
James Wilson ……………………………………... ROCKY BONSAL
Read more about the characters here.