1776 The Musical at CIBC Theatre in Chicago

Get excited, Chicago! The beloved Tony award-winning musical 1776 is coming to the Windy City from February 28 through March 12 at the CIBC Theatre. Prepare for a fantastic evening full of history, drama, and entertaining song and dance numbers as the show takes you back to Philadelphia in 1776 and the birth of the United States of America!

1776 is a musical that sheds light on the events surrounding the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which was far from straightforward. At its core stands John Adams who initiated the concept of American independence. Unfortunately, people were not too keen to embrace his proposition and refused to give it any consideration.

He seeks to find someone else to put forward his idea and so he speaks with other influential people. His plan is to make independence appear more important by writing it all down in a formal declaration. The show allows viewers to witness all of the private conversations, debates, and events that eventually led up to forming one of the most significant documents ever made. By doing so, it gives an insight into the past and how such a monumental piece of writing came to be.

1776, the musical, debuted on Broadway in 1969 to great acclaim and ran for 1,217 performances. It was awarded three Tony Awards -- including Best Musical -- before it was made into a film adaptation in 1972. The show was revived on Broadway in 1997 and again in 2022 with an all-female, trans, and non-binary cast.

The musical 1776 and the smash hit Hamilton have a lot in common. Both show focus on the period surrounding the American Revolution, and both feature racially diverse casts in contrast to how things might have been historically. Furthermore, Thomas Jefferson appears in both shows, with Hamilton featuring the song "The Adams Administration" which includes the lyric "sit down, John," as a nod to 1776's opening number of the same name.

One interesting tidbit about the show is that 1776 holds the record for the longest break between musical numbers in a show. The dialogue between "The Lees of Old Virginia" and "But Mr. Adams" lasts for more than thirty minutes.

In the DVD commentary, Peter Stone mentions that he tried to include various musical numbers during this scene, which was called "Big Three" by cast members. This marked the first time in Broadway history that musicians were allowed to leave the orchestra pit while a show was underway. Many viewers have suggested that 1776 would be better off as a play, rather than a musical, due to the sheer amount of dialogue and historical context. However, Stone claims that the songs bring a lighthearted feel to the characters and make them come alive in ways that traditional dialogue couldn't.

This nostalgic musical celebrates the birth of our nation's democracy with a highly entertaining story. 1776 is sure to be a memorable experience for everyone who comes to see it, so don't wait - get your tickets now and be part of this special event!