Show: 1776
Theater: The Theater League of Clifton
Theater Website: https://www.theaterleagueofclifton.com/auditions.html
Theater Phone: (973) 928-7668
Start date of auditions: 09/15/2026
The Theater League of Clifton will hold auditions for its upcoming production of 1776 on Tuesday, September 15; Wednesday, September 16; and Thursday, September 17, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Callbacks by invitation may also be held Thursday, September 17.
Auditions will be held at Living Hope, 303 Maplewood Ave., Clifton, NJ 07013.
Performances will be held November 13, 14 and 15 at the Wayne Community Center, 1 Pike Drive, Wayne, NJ.
The production will be directed by Maren Sugarman.
With music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards and a book by Peter Stone, 1776 dramatizes the struggle within the Second Continental Congress to declare American independence. John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson attempt to persuade a divided Congress to break with England while political, regional and personal conflicts threaten to derail the effort.
Those auditioning should prepare 16 to 32 bars of a song and bring sheet music for the accompanist. A bluetooth speaker will be available if needed. Actors will also be asked to read selections from the script. Please bring a résumé and photo.
For information on cast and characters, please scroll for Cast Breakdown, visit https://www.theaterleagueofclifton.com/auditions.html, email theaterleagueofclifton@gmail.com or call (973)-928-7668.
CAST BREAKDOWN:
John Adams
Stage Age: 35–50 | Vocal Range: C3–F#4
Delegate from Massachusetts. A dutiful husband, John is opinionated, passionate and a bit boisterous. Fiercely committed to independence from England, he is the relentless driving force behind the movement in Congress.
Benjamin Franklin
Stage Age: 60–75 | Vocal Range: Ab2–Eb4
Delegate from Pennsylvania. Intelligent, well-traveled and pleasantly cunning. Franklin is witty, worldly and politically shrewd, and one of Adams’ most important allies.
Thomas Jefferson
Stage Age: 25–40 | Vocal Range: C3–G4
Delegate from Virginia. Noticeably tall, mild-mannered, intelligent and well-read. Jefferson is a man of relatively few words and very much in love with his wife, Martha.
John Dickinson
Stage Age: 35–55 | Vocal Range: A2–E4
Delegate from Pennsylvania. A thin, hawkish gentleman who is sharp-tongued and formidable. Dickinson leads the conservative opposition to Adams and independence.
Edward Rutledge
Stage Age: 20–35 | Vocal Range: C3–A4
Delegate from South Carolina. Young, handsome, polished and ominous. Rutledge possesses charm and intelligence along with a serpent-like quality and becomes one of Adams’ most formidable opponents.
Richard Henry Lee
Stage Age: 35–55 | Vocal Range: C3–G4
Delegate from Virginia. A flamboyant, energetic aristocrat whose enthusiasm and enormous confidence in himself and the Lee family make him one of the show’s strongest comic characters.
Stephen Hopkins
Stage Age: 60–75 | Vocal Range: C3–Eb4
Delegate from Rhode Island and one of the oldest members of Congress. Hopkins enjoys his rum and possesses a mischievous, irreverent sense of humor.
Roger Sherman
Stage Age: 45–65 | Vocal Range: C3–Bb4
Delegate from Connecticut. A plainspoken cobbler with an energetic personality. Sherman supports independence and serves on the committee assigned to draft the Declaration.
Robert Livingston
Stage Age: 25–40 | Vocal Range: Bb2–F4
Delegate from New York. Gracious, thoughtful and relatively reserved. Livingston joins Adams, Franklin, Sherman and Jefferson on the committee assigned to draft the Declaration.
Col. Thomas McKean
Stage Age: 35–55 | Vocal Range: C3–Eb4
Delegate from Delaware. Florid, likable, forceful and outspoken, with a commanding Scottish brogue. McKean is a vigorous supporter of independence.
John Hancock
Stage Age: 35–50 | Baritone; limited featured and ensemble singing
President of the Continental Congress. Authoritative and composed, but with considerable comic opportunity as he attempts to maintain order among an argumentative collection of delegates.
Dr. Josiah Bartlett
Stage Age: 40–60 | Ensemble singing; no major solo
Delegate from New Hampshire. A supporter of independence who remains present throughout the congressional debates.
Lewis Morris
Stage Age: 40–60 | Ensemble singing; no major solo
Delegate from New York. Cautious and courteous, Morris repeatedly abstains because his delegation has not been authorized to take a position.
Rev. John Witherspoon
Stage Age: 40–65 | Primarily non-singing
Delegate from New Jersey and a clergyman. Educated, dignified and supportive of independence, Witherspoon argues for the inclusion of a reference to the Supreme Being in the Declaration.
James Wilson
Stage Age: 25–45 | Ensemble singing; no major solo
Delegate from Pennsylvania. Intelligent but hesitant and heavily influenced by Dickinson. Wilson’s fear of being remembered as the man who prevented American independence ultimately becomes pivotal.
Caesar Rodney
Stage Age: 40–60 | Ensemble singing; no major solo
Delegate from Delaware. Gravely ill but determined and strongly supportive of independence. Rodney’s commitment becomes crucial to Delaware’s vote.
George Read
Stage Age: 35–55 | Ensemble singing; no major solo
Delegate from Delaware. Conservative and opposed to independence. Read frequently finds himself at odds with McKean and Rodney.
Samuel Chase
Stage Age: 30–50 | Ensemble singing; no major solo
Delegate from Maryland. Initially aligned with Dickinson and opposed to independence. Adams must persuade Chase before Maryland can be brought into the independence camp.
Joseph Hewes
Stage Age: 35–60 | Ensemble singing; no major solo
Delegate from North Carolina. Hewes follows the Southern delegation and generally sides with Rutledge during the congressional debates.
Dr. Lyman Hall
Stage Age: 40–65 | Ensemble singing; no major solo
Delegate from Georgia. A physician and clergyman who struggles between the wishes of his constituents and his own conscience. His decision becomes important late in the story.
Charles Thomson
Stage Age: 30–60 | Limited featured and ensemble singing
Secretary of the Continental Congress. Efficient and formal, Thomson reads General Washington’s dispatches, announces motions and votes, and keeps the often-chaotic congressional proceedings moving. He has a brief featured musical moment introducing “Is Anybody There?”
Andrew McNair
Stage Age: 35–65 | Primarily an acting role
Custodian of the congressional chamber. Practical, exasperated and frequently comic, McNair tends to the room and its delegates while history unfolds around him.
The Leather Apron
Stage Age: 15–20 | Tenor / harmony singing
A young apprentice assisting McNair. Participates vocally in “Momma Look Sharp.”
The Courier
Stage Age: 15–22 | Vocal Range: C3–Db4
A young messenger carrying dispatches between General Washington’s army and Congress. Despite his youthful appearance, he has already witnessed the hardships and human cost of war firsthand. Featured singer of “Momma Look Sharp.”
Abigail Adams
Stage Age: 25–45 | Vocal Range: Db4–F5
John Adams’ loving wife. Intelligent, quick-witted and talented with a pen, Abigail is every bit her husband’s intellectual equal and serves as both his confidante and emotional anchor.
Martha Jefferson
Stage Age: 20–35 | Vocal Range: Bb3–D5
Thomas Jefferson’s young wife. Striking, lively, charming and very much in love with her husband. Martha brings warmth, humor and considerable energy to her appearance in Philadelphia.
The Painter
Stage Age: 18+ | Non-singing role
An artist seen painting Benjamin Franklin’s portrait. A small featured role that may also be doubled with another part.
Founded in 2005, the Theater League of Clifton is a nonprofit community organization dedicated to fostering an appreciation of the arts through theatrical performances while providing quality entertainment for all ages. The Theater League of Clifton welcomes volunteers in all aspects of performance and production.
About 1776:
Music and Lyrics by SHERMAN EDWARDS
Book by PETER STONE
Based on a concept by SHERMAN EDWARDS
Original Production Directed by PETER HUNT
Originally Produced on the Broadway Stage by STUART OSTROW
1776 is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.
