Since capturing a Tony Award for its Broadway debut in 1969, “1776” has been a favorite for all ages. Ford’s Theatre presents a new production about the handful of determined men from very different circumstances who forged a new nation.
Veteran director Peter Flynn is delighted to bring the show to Washington at this time in history to reflect upon the fruits of their efforts.
“This play continues to be popular because it’s true American history with national and even global recognition wherever it runs,” he said. “The drama of it being a musical about the making of the Declaration of Independence, something we think we understand, opens up musical opportunities to access the challenges and adventures the men encountered. People are curious to see how the drama unfolded.
| Onstage |
| ‘1776’ |
| Where: Ford’s Theatre, 511 10th St. NW |
| When: Through May 18 |
| Info: $40 to $85; ticketmaster.com |
“Thirdly, there is real patriotism working to build the groundwork for our identity. It teaches people about our identity and the direct line to how this country started. We don’t go back thousands of years, only 250, and are watching the groundwork being laid during a period when we were relatively young. This was pre-party system and every member of Congress was just a representative of his colony, yet they went about putting the country together with no ultimate agenda, only with the will to do something that had never been done before and to do it alone. To succeed at something that raw and new with no preconceived process took a great deal of courage.”
Flynn wants the audience to discover that our Founding Fathers were real people like us with personal and family struggles, humanity, idiosyncrasies, and a healthy dose of craziness. To research the background, he immersed himself in books, traveled to Philadelphia and spent time in Washington investigating the machinations of our government. Before rehearsals got under way, he was steeped in the story of this nation’s founding from multiple angles.
During his career, Flynn has directed a wide variety of musicals, dramas and concerts, even a production of “A Child’s Christmas in Wales” for the National Theatre for the Deaf. Currently he is the artistic director of the Hangar Theatre in Ithaca, N.Y., where he recently directed the world premiere of Tim Pinckney’s “Ever So Humble,” followed by “Dirty Blonde,” “Man of La Mancha” and David Mamet’s “November.” But directing “1776” enables him to realize that lifelong dream.
“Peter Stone tells this story in a vast scope and visually by allowing the audience to be in the room when something important unfolds,” Flynn said. “In this election year with lots of spin, buzzwords and rhetoric, the well-oiled machinery of our government is somewhat numbing and neutralizing because it doesn’t allow for innovation. Consequently, we are not paying attention to the issues and identities as we should. Just as our Founding Fathers did, I hope our leaders learn the importance of communication and being specific in arbitration so as to cause change and betterment by reaching across the aisle to expedite progress.”
