Peter Stone's musical version of "1776," presented during Homecoming weekend, chronicled the birthpangs of an emerging nation. Teamed with musicians from the bands and orchestra, actors representing the Speech Department dramatized the colonial representatives' discussions on the question of "independency." Conflicts of personal and national importance offset by the anecdotes of Benjamin Franklin, set the tone of the production. In addition to the original plea for separation from the crown, the stinging question of slavery "raised its ugly head" in the original draft of the declaration. Author Jefferson's clash with South Carolina's Charles Rutledge over the slavery problem brought two contradictory opinions into focus. With the Declaration of Independence projected on the back walls of the set, members of Congress signed the document in the final scene of the production. The dream of these men was fulfilled, yet in an even greater way, it had only begun. 1. JOHN ADAMS (Karl Wendt) attempts to convince Robert Livingstone (Eric Manlove) to write the Declaration. 2. MARTHA JEFFERSON (Molly Cox). 3. REV. JONATHAN WITHERSPOON (Keith Brenton). 4. CHARLES THOMPSON (Billy Pullen). 5. JOHN HANCOCK (Rick Hackman). 6. MEMBERS of Congress sign the new-found nation's Declaration of Independence in the moving finale. 7. MARTHA BURKETT, Mickey Pounders. 8. BOYD JONES, Rhonda Smythe. 9. MICHAEL FOSTER, Martha Burkett. 10. TERESA PICKENS, Karl Wendt. 11. "MOLASSES to Rum" is dramatized by Edward Rutledge (Michael Pullara). 12. PREPARING for another day of debates and deliberation, Congress assembles in Independence Hall. 13. REQUESTING a revision to the Declaration is John Dickinson (David Camp). 1TT6 - 71
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