Interview: Crisis, Confrontation, & Consensus James Patterson Debuts as John Adams in 1776
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Jun 15, 2026
“John Adams is a debut role for me. I love his passion. He is the central catalytic force in the entire drama. He has dedicated his life to God, country, and family in that order. He’s been toiling in the Continental Congress for years now, and he just wants to get the job [independence] done and go home to his family.”
Actor James Patterson is speaking enthusiastically about the challenge of playing the Founding Father from Massachusetts in Maine State Music Theatre’s new production of 1776, created for America’s 250thanniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, that begins its run at the Pickard Theater in Brunswick, Maine on June 24th.
1776 To Be Presented At Ann Arbor Civic Theatre
by A.A. Cristi - May 8, 2026
Ann Arbor Civic Theatre will present 1776, the Tony Award-winning musical about the drafting of the Declaration of Independence, at the Arthur Miller Theatre, featuring a cast of 26 actors in gender-inclusive roles.
Video: First Look at 1776 at Walnut Street Theatre
by Joshua Wright - Apr 21, 2026
Walnut Street Theatre has released first look footage of 1776, Sherman Edwards and Peter Stone's classic award-winning Broadway musical, now playing through May 31, 2026 as part of Philadelphia's celebration commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Review: Raleigh Little Theatre's 1776
by Jeffrey Kare - Mar 29, 2026
1776 tells the true story of how the United States of America was born. We follow John Adams as he attempts to convince members of the Second Continental Congress to vote for American independence from the shackles of the British monarchy.
Feature: Three Actors, Three Productions of the Same
Show, Same Historic Theatre
by Elliot Lanes - Mar 25, 2026
With the 250th birthday of our nation approaching this July 4th, Ford’s Theatre’s current attraction, the musical that tells the how the Declaration of Independence came to be, 1776 is indeed the best choice for this historic theatre to be presenting for the occasion. With a score by Sherman Edwards and a book by Peter Stone, 1776 ranks in my opinion as a perfect musical and there are only a handful of those.