1776 is a musical with music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards and a book by Peter Stone. The show is based on the events leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence, telling a story of the efforts of John Adams to persuade his colleagues to vote for American independence and to sign the document. The show premiered on Broadway in 1969 where it received acclaim and won three Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The original production starred William Daniels as Adams, Ken Howard as Thomas Jefferson and Howard Da Silva as Benjamin Franklin.
Original Production Logo
In the book of the musical, Peter Stone referred to this famous painting (by Edward Savage and Robert Edge Pine) as a reference for how the actors should pose in the final moment of the play.
President Richard Nixon with the cast of 1776 after a performance in the East Room of the White House
Sherman Edwards was an American composer, jazz pianist, and songwriter, best known for his songs from the 1969 Broadway musical 1776 and the 1972 film adaptation.
The grave of Sherman Edwards