Peter Stone and Sherman Edwards' popular musical about the creation of the Declaration of Independence has salty, disliked, obnoxious Adams as its hero. Gets has appeared with Pittsburgh CLO in Company and is known for his work on TV's "Caroline in the City" and Broadway's Amour, among many other roles.
David H. Bell directs and choreographs the production. He helmed 1776 at Ford's Theatre in Washington, DC, in 2003. Some vets from that run appear in Pittsburgh.
The cast includes James Moye as Thomas Jefferson, Frank Kopyc as Benjamin Franklin, Trent Blanton as Edward Rutledge, Bradley Dean as John Dickinson, John Scherer as Richard Henry Lee, Jacquelyn Piro as Abigail Adams, Edmund Lyndeck as Stephen Hopkins, Kelly McCormick as Martha Jefferson, with Charles Gray (Lewis Morris), Tim Hartman (Samuel Chase), Jeff Howell (John Hancock), Billy Hartung (Rev. John Witherspoon), Daniel Krell (Roger Sherman), Timothy Brady (James Wilson), Greggory Brandt (George Read), J.D. Daw (Leather Apron), Joe Domencic (Dr. Lyman Hall), Scott Evans (Joseph Hewes), Paul Greeno (Andrew McNair), Matthew R. Jones (Robert Livingston), Paul Palmer (Col. Thomas McKean), Scott Sambuco (Caesar Rodney), Gene Saraceni (Charles Thomson), Matthew Scott (Courier) and William Stringert (Dr. Josiah Bartlett).
Director Bell's credits include Taming of the Shrew, As You Like It, Comedy of Errors and Much Ado About Nothing at Chicago Shakespeare Theater and Fame, Chess, Desert Song, 1776 and Casper the Musical for Pittsburgh CLO. His recent productions are Children of Eden for Ford's Theatre and The Good War (adapted with Craig Carnelia) for Northlight Theatre in Chicago.
Tom Helm music-directs. Costume Design is by Mariann Verheyen, scenic design by Kevin Rupnik and lighting by John McLain. For ticket information, call (412) 456-6666 or visit www.pittsburghclo.org.
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In addition to 1776, Pittsburgh CLO will present four other shows for the 2004 summer season: The Music Man starring Jeff Goldblum (July 6-18), Hello, Dolly! starring Victoria Clark (July 20 Aug. 1), Me and My Girl (Aug. 3-8) and Dreamgirls starring Frenchie Davis (Aug. 10 22).
