JEFF AWARD
nominations
Production - Musical • Director - Musical (Ronan Marra) • Actor in a Principal Role - Musical or Revue (Philip Winston) • Actor in a Supporting Role - Musical or Revue (Vincent L. Lonergan) • Costume Design (Laura M. Dana)

Music and Lyrics by Sherman Edwards
Book by Peter Stone
Based on a concept by Sherman Edwards

Directed by ensemble member Ronan Marra
Musical direction by Andra Velis Simon
Choreography by Danny Taylor

featuring ensemble members Vincent L. Lonergan, Joseph Stearns and Philip Winston with Larry Baldacci, Kevin Bishop, John Blick, Scott Danielson, Matthew Erickson, Dan Granata, Ryan Guhde, Michael Herschberg, Ted Hoerl, Tim Howard, Andrew Lambertson, Eric Lindahl, Paul G. Miller, Lindsay Naas, Colby Sellers, Thomas M. Shea, Anne Sheridan Smith, Eric Smith, Jon Steinhagen, Danny Taylor, Jeremy Trager, Steve Welsh and Matt Whalen

set: Melania Lancy, costumes: Laura M. Dana, lights: Julie E. Ballard & Price Johnston, sound: ensemble member Anthony Ingram, wigs: Ora Jewell-Busche, properties: Noel Henke, dramaturg: Nicole Lemery, production stage manager: ensemble member Stephanie Ehemann, assistant stage manager: Kristen Barrett

Jeff Recommended

"Critic's Pick... Perfect timing... Like a baby grand piano, Marra's production accomplishes stirring sweep with a small-scale footprint... Philip Winston's John Adams and Jon Steinhagen's John Dickinson are well-matched enemies... fine production... leaves us filled with hope for our country." —Vire, Time Out Chicago full review

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! "Suitably sprawling yet concentrated like a diamond" —Bommer, Chicago Reader

"Historically accurate and fun... a charming good time." —Leahy, Centerstage full review

"A Remarkable Off-Loop Achievement … what a stellar, brave and bold way for it to enter the vibrant off-Loop musical theater scene!" —BroadwayWorld.com full review

"Kudos to Signal Ensemble Theatre for taking on such a huge show and pulling out all the stops for its first musical and succeeding on virtually every level." —Polkow, NewCity full review

"1776 is a most striking, most gripping musical." —New York Times

"In this cynical age, it required courage as well as enterprise to do a musical play that simply deals with the events leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. And 1776 … makes no attempt to be satirical or wander off into modern by-paths. … The result is a brilliant and remarkably moving work of theatrical art." —New York Post

On the Mainstage at Chopin Theatre
Jan 25 - Mar 1 2008

Running time: TBD

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