Episode 1 (Story of America)

An award-winning two-part play with music, adapted and directed by Martin Jarvis, celebrating - sometimes irreverently - the American colonies' struggle to break from British rule. Delegates, risking hanging for treason’ carve out the Declaration of Independence - the basis of American democracy for 250 years.

A glittering US-based cast includes Alfred Molina, Ioan Gruffudd, Steven Weber, Josh Stamberg, Gregory Harrison and Erin Bennett.

“1776” - A musical play based on a conception of Sherman Edwards with book by Peter Stone. Music and Lyrics by Sherman Edwards

Cast
Benjamin Franklin…Alfred Molina
John Adams...Ioan Gruffudd
Rutledge…Steven Weber
Dickinson…Josh Stamberg
Jefferson…Chase Fein
Hancock…Andre Sogliuzzo
Thomson…Gregory Harrison
Henry Lee…Richard Leacock
McNair…JD Cullum
Hopkins…William Calvert
McKean…Matthew Wolf
Courier…Jack Stuhley
Abigail Adams…Erin Bennett
Martha Jefferson…Janine Barris
Delegates: Henri Lubatti, Darren Richardson, Alan Shearman, Mark Jude Sullivan and members of the company
Congress Singers: Sebastian Guerrero, Tyler Ledon, Drew Tablak, Loren Smith, Ken White

Keyboard: Noriko Olling Wright
Music director: Jason Currie
Sound Design: Neil Wogenson and Charles Carroll
Production associate: Tracy Pattin
Producers: Mark Holden and Rosalind Ayres
Adapted and directed by Martin Jarvis

Musicians: Chad Wright, Josh Brown, Mike Edwards, Taryn Spink, Jenni Asher

A Jarvis & Ayres production for BBC Radio 4

Story of America is a major collection of dramatisations of milestone American titles marking 250 years since the Declaration of Independence