Episode 1 (Story of America)

Available for over a year

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