Make a Date with "1776"

If your kids think history lessons are like nasty-tasting medicine, here's a way to spoon feed it to them so that it goes down easy: catch Curtain Call's production of "1776." This witty musical comedy, with its buoyant music, follows our country's founding fathers as they hammer out the Declaration of Independence. The famous, historical figures who crafted this illustrious document, whose names even kids know, John Adams, Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and others, are the show's main characters. They're presented, warts and all, in a lively, smart and humorous way. Add to that the inspiring story of how they put aside differences for the greater good.

Even though it opened on Broaway in an unusually tense time for this country, during Nixon's presidency in 1969, "1776" captivated audiences (and critics) right from the start. The show ran for 1,217 performances and won three Tony Awards. The movie version came out in 1972. 

In The Huffington Post earlier this year, Michael Winship described the divisiveness of the current political landscape and suggested readers revisit the movie "1776" to reconnect with our earliest politicians' accomplishments. He wrote, "... there's something deeply stirring about seeing the Founding Fathers as human beings, their foibles broadly drawn, their desire for freedom duking it out against prejudice, self-interest and resistance to change." Maybe "1776" offers a history lesson all of us could use a dose of. Curtain Call's production of "1776" runs through October 2. For tickets and performance information, visit Curtain Call's website.

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