The VMI Community Theatre presents the Tony Award-winning musical, “1776,” Friday, April 17 and Saturday, April 18 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, April 19 at 2:00 p.m. in Gillis Theater.
“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 from the shackles of the British monarchy by signing the Declaration of Independence. It features music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards, including the iconic songs, “For God’s Sake, John, Sit Down,” “But, Mr. Adams,” and “The Egg.” The script was written by Peter Stone.
Included in the cast are VMI cadets Ethan Aldridge ’26 as Thomas Jefferson, John Gorman ’26 as Charles Thomson, Nicole Samella ’26 as a painter, Michael Colin ’27 as Roger Sherman, Carla Feaster ’27 as John Hancock, Thomas Sasso ’27 as John Dickinson, George Sullivan ’27 as John Adams, Hayden Talbott ’27 as Martha Jefferson, Sophia Heinlein ’28 as Abigail Adams, Aadil Pattada ’28 as George Read, Keye Warren ’28 as James Wilson, Nicolas Colletti ’29 as Josiah Bartlett, Iagan Andrew Kiddie ’29 as Col. Thomas McKean, Jamie Pacheco ’29 as Jonathan Witherspoon, and William Shable ’29 as Lyman Hall. Community cast members include Mark Anderson as Robert Livingston and Joseph Hewes, Emilie Davis as Lewis Morris, Micah Fishbein as Caesar Rodney and a leather apron, James Heilpern as Richard Henry Lee, Jaxon Johnson as a courier, Woody Johnson as Samuel Chase, Dallin Lewis as Andrew McNair, Peter Lipsett as Edward Rutledge, Rob Mish as Benjamin Franklin, and Tom Oxendine as Stephen Hopkins.
The play is directed by Tim Price, assisted by Andrew Hartless. Stage crew includes Fabiana Sofia Pajaro ’26, Laura Canaday ’27, Dusand Barrow ’28, Tamara Jimenez ’29, An Nguyen ’29, and William Shable ’29. The light and sound booth is run by Timothy Persons ’27. Rechnna Sok ’26 serves as tech director.
Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens ages 65 and over, payable by cash or check at the door. Cadets and children ages six and under are free. Reservations are not required. Gillis Theater is located in Marshall Hall on VMI post. For additional information, email Tim Price at pricetr@vmi.edu.