Episode 2

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.

It's June 1776 and Jefferson is congratulated on writing the Declaration. Conservative Edward Rutledge of South Carolina objects to a clause condemning the slave trade. He accuses the northern colonies of hypocrisy, showing they also prosper from slavery. Rutledge insists the anti-slavery clause be removed, in exchange for the southern colonies voting in favour. Ben Franklin pleads with Adams to agree to the anti-slavery clause being removed - for the greater good. It’s vital that they must first win independence before there’s any hope of abolishing slavery. Jefferson himself, recognising this, strikes out the passage. Unreliable Judge Wilson will cast the decisive vote. July 4th is fast approaching.

“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 Adam...Ioan Gruffudd
Dickinson…Josh Stamberg
Rutledge…Steven Weber
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
Delegates: Henri Lubatti, Darren Richardson, Alan Shearman, Mark Jude Sullivan and members of the company

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