‘1776 the Musical’ comes to Greybull

The Washakie Museum will present, “1776 The Musical,” July 3 at 7 p.m. at the Greybull High School auditorium. 

The original musical premiered on Broadway in 1969. It tells the story of the efforts of Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and John Adams to write and pass the Declaration in Independence. It is set in Philadelphia. The music/lyrics are by Sherman Edwards and book by Peter Stone. The Museum version is directed by Maomi Durrant. 

Museum Executive Director Marian Bender said she and her sisters fell in love with the soundtrack of the musical. They found it on a little bookmobile that came to their small town in central Minnesota around the time of the bicentennial. 

Years later, she and her son would watch the musical on July 4 instead of braving the heat and crowds to watch fireworks. “The play always made me very proud of the courageous men (and the women supporting them) who risked being hung for treason by signing the Declaration. This made the USA the first nation to break away from the colonizing power.” 

She discovered that she could sing the men’s parts, so she asked Durrant to direct the musical for the museum. “It seemed to be the perfect time to do it as our nation is celebrating 250 years of independence.” 

Funding was provided by the WYO250 Fund, Rocky Mountain Power, the WY Community Foundation and members of the museum. Bender said they rented authentic period costume and many of the actors will be wearing a wig. 

General admission per person is $15 for members, $18 for non-members, $12 for kids under 17.  In addition to the Greybull performance, the public is invited to a dinner theater performance, July 2 at the Museum, with inner at 5:30 p.m. and the performance at 7 p.m. Tickets for the dinner performance are $60 per person for members and $70 per person for non-members. 

For tickets and additional information, visit Washakiemuseum.org or call 307-347-4102.