Episode 2

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. 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