“For ten years, King George and his Parliament have gulled, curried, and diddled these colonies. And still, this Congress refuses to grant any of my proposals on independence, even so much as the courtesy of open debate!” ~John Adams (1776 the musical).
These words rang out in the House chamber before the cast of the Lansing Community College production of 1776 broke out into the opening number “Sit Down John” as part of Lansing’s Bicentennial celebrations in 1976. Directed by assistant professor Tom O. Thompson, the show ran from Thursday July 29 to Monday August 2 for a total of eight performances. For $2 an audience member could view the performance from the gallery, or for $7 they could sit in one of the leather chairs at a representative’s desk. There was also a special free matinee for students with disabilities.
Use of the Chamber was given by way of a resolution introduced by Bobby Crim, the Speaker of the House. To stage the production, a temporary stage was built around the speaker’s platform, and the podium was outfit with quill pens and pewter mugs. The cast included Steven Heller as John Adams, Jeff English as Thomas Jefferson, and D. Thomas as John Dickinson, and Bruce Shaw as Richard Henry Lee. Some state employees were cast as other congressmen in the production.
Overall reviews were positive, though it was noted that the glass that had been installed across the chamber gallery in the 1960s made it difficult to hear some of the dialogue. And while Clerk of the House T. Thomas Thatcher said there was good cooperation with the group, there was also some concern about protecting the electric voting equipment and historic furniture in the chamber.
Below are Lansing State Journal newspaper clippings with the only known photos and descriptions of the event.
