The Mansfield University departments of Theatre and Music present the musical 1776 opening on Thursday, February 21 and running through Sunday, February 24 in Straughn Hall.
This marks the return of the play to the Mansfield stage after 32 years. 1776 was performed by the Mansfield Festival Theater (MFT) for the nation's Bicentennial in 1976. The Mansfield Festival Theater (MFT) was a summer program that helped bring notable actors to Mansfield University.
"I have been directing shows at Mansfield University for over 20 years and directing overall for 32 years and I have never had the opportunity to direct 1776," Michael Crum, director and professor of Theatre, said. "I enjoy this show because it is really different. The all male chorus gives the musical a completely different sound."
Brady Goldsmith, a junior music education major, is playing the role of John Adams, who was not well liked by a majority of men in the Continental Congress. "Adams is somebody who knows what he wants and knows how to get there," Goldsmith said. "He pushes buttons and can be tuned out sometimes because he likes to ramble."
During the course of the play, the audience sees a special relationship emerge between John Adams and Benjamin Franklin.
Franklin is played by Scott Test, a junior music education major. "Franklin is a smart aleck and too clever for his own good," he said. "He definitely tries to balance idealism with realism. Franklin sees Adams as an intelligent person who knows what's best for the country."
Becky Eick, a senior history major with a minor in theater arts, is the assistant to the directors for 1776. "1776 has been a learning experience so far," she said. "It's interesting to me because of my strong background in history. I'm really glad I get to do something that I love and share it with other people."
"Our challenge is always the same thing," Crum said of bringing the production together. "There never seems to be quite enough room on stage. The good news is that we've already overcome one of the biggest challenges of the show and that was finding 22 men who can sing."
Read a synopsis of the show and to listen to a sample of the music.
Cast
President: John Hancock | Alexander Slaughter |
New Hampshire: Dr. Josiah Bartlett | Joshua Berkey |
Massachusetts: John Adams | Brady Goldsmith |
Rhode Island: Stephen Hopkins | Allen Bennett |
Connecticut: Roger Sherman | Bradley Kafferlin |
New York: Lewis Morris | Derek Keifer |
New York: Robert Livingston | Nicholas Webb |
New Jersey: Rev. Jonathan Witherspoon | Shuan Stuart |
Pennsylvania: Benjamin Franklin | Scott Test |
Pennsylvania: John Dickinson | Jonah Klixbull |
Pennsylvania: James Wilson | Bryan Hoover |
Delaware: Caesar Rodney | Mark Rosenbaum |
Delaware: Col. Thomas McKean | Theo Lentz |
Delaware: George Read | Michael Hobbs |
Maryland: Samuel Chase | Matthew Poirier |
Virginia: Richard Henry Lee | Michael D. Hogue |
Virginia: Thomas Jefferson | Mark Louis Shoemaker |
North Carolina: Joseph Hewes | Jonathan Yard |
South Carolina: Edward Rutledge | Stefan June |
Georgia: Dr. Lyman Hall | Ryan Howe |
Secretary: Charles Thomson | John Madas |
Custodian: Andrew McNair | Andrew Dutko |
A Leather Apron | Douglas Dohr |
A Courier | Kevin Wright |
Abigail Adams | Meghan Zwart |
Martha Jefferson | Kerri Grewe |
Orchestra
Conductor | Sheryl Monkelien |
Violin | Andrew Jones, Christine Attanasio |
Woodwinds | Shanna Hubbs, Jennifer Monaghan, Sarah Derrick, Kayla Furman |
Viola | Hannah Rothermel, Pamela Wells |
Trumpet | Daniel Klinczar, Duane Swank |
Cello | Garet Holdren, Matthew Owen |
Trombone | Nathan Galloway, Tristan Jackson, Brad Rissmiller |
Bass | Kara Edelheiser |
Harp | Taylor Smith |
Percussion | Jonathan Gulden, Kevin Kern, Evan Wells |
Keyboard | Nolan DeSanto |
Production Staff
Technical Director | Michael Crum |
Production Manager | Peter Davis |
Production Assistant | Becky Eick |
Lighting Design | Kevin Gleason |
Sound & Sound Effects | James Byron |
Stage Manager | Joe Mitchell |
Rehearsal Accompanist | Nolan DeSanto |
Costumes | Peter Davis, Pam Grabb |
Props | Pam Grabb, Jen Sobas |
Make-up | Stephanie Hennet, Dawnelle Weaver, Melanie DeJesus |
Hair | Dawnelle Weaver |
Stage Crew | Joe Mitchell, James Garcia, Jen Sobas |
Spotlights | Becky Eick, Kim Hulslander |
Publicity | Carrie Goodyear, David Wert, Sarah Derrick |
Marketing | Ashley Potter, Anthony Bortone |
Poster & Program Design | Dr. Dick Feil |
Program | Sheryl Monkelien |
House Manager | David Wert |
Tickets | Carrie Goodyear, Ashley Davis, Brianna Bailey |
Ushers | The members of Sigma Alpha Iota |
Scenic Construction | Mike Crum, Joe Mitchell, Peter Davis, Becky Eick, Kim Hulslander, Jamie Bitzer, Jennifer Swody, Stefan June, Derk Keifer, Sarah Derrick, Kara Edelheiser, Bethany Fetich, Shelley Giles, Sarah Hannold, Bryan Hoover, Emily Kurzdorfer, Brandon Pace, Jen Sobas, James Garcia, Sherwood Stanton, Beatrice Venegas |
Costumes by | Broadway Costumes, Inc. Chicago, IL |
Special Thanks To...
- Beiter's Home Center
- The Penn Wells Hotel
- Phil Ogden
- Ron Remy
- MU CMENC Chapter
- Sigma Alpha Iota
- Music Department - Adam F. Brennan, Chair
- Silent G Productions
- Peter Davis
- Eva Green
- Katie Brennan
- Linda and Jessica Crum
- Suzy Achey
- Mark Polonia
- Charlie Earle and the Printshop
- Bill Koernig and the Building and Grounds Crew
- James Monk and Tioga Publishing
- Blue Ridge Cable
Book by Peter Stone
Music by Sherman Edwards
Lyrics by Sherman Edwards
a concept by Sherman Edwards
1776 is produced through special arrangement with MUSIC THEATRE INTERNATIONAL New York, NY
Performances:
Thurs, Feb 21st 2008 @ 8:00pm
Fri, Feb 22nd 2008 @ 8:00pm
Sat, Feb 23rd 2008 @ 8:00pm
Sun, Feb 24th 2008 @ 2:00pm
Straughn Auditorium
Directed by Professor Mike Crum
Musically Directed by Dr. Sheryl Monkelien
Designed by Michael Crum