TODAY WE OPEN 1776

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No one truly knows what it means to experience the sacrifice, the passion, the pain, and the joy that come with walking—faithfully—toward one’s dreams.

Some things are easy, others deeply complex.
Some are achieved, others are left behind.
But in the end… being able to create ART is the highest purpose.

And why do we make art?
Because the human experience we share is immeasurable.
Because we need to feel, to question, to connect.

My design team for 1776 is exceptional:

Scenic Design: Milagros Ponce de León
Costume Design: Ivania Stack
Lighting Design: Venus Gulbranson
Sound Design: David Budries
Projection Design: Clint Allen

Props Design: Marie Schneggenburger  & Hair & Make-up Design: Kelley Jordan

Orchestrations: Daniel Gutiérrez
Music Director: Clay Ostwald
Dialects and Voice Director: Rachel Hirshorn-Johnston

Production Stage Manager: Craig A. Horness
Assistant Stage Managers: Taryn Friend, Jessica Hagy, Julia Singer

Deputy Director and Director of Programming: Kristin Fox-Siegmund and the most special associate D.C could have given me Ashleigh King. 

My cast is pure acting mastery:

John Hancock — Thomas Adrian Simpson; Dr. Josiah Bartlett — Keith Richards; John Adams — Jonathan Atkinson; Stephen Hopkins — Stephen F. Schmidt; Roger Sherman — Keenan McCarter; Robert Livingston — Jimmy Mavrikas; Lewis Morris — Christopher Mueller; Reverend John Witherspoon — Douglas Ullman, Jr.; John Dickinson — Evan Casey; Benjamin Franklin — Derrick D. Truby Jr.; James Wilson — Jay Frisby; Colonel Thomas McKean — Greg Twomey; George Read — Buzz Mauro; Caesar Rodney — Steve Lebens; Samuel Chase — Wood Van Meter; Thomas Jefferson — Jake Loewenthal; Richard Henry Lee — Michael Perrie, Jr.; Joseph Hewes — Peter Boyer; Edward Rutledge — Joe Mallon; Dr. Lyman Hall — Tom Story; Charles Thomson — John Floyd; Andrew McNair — Lawrence Redmond; Courier — Hunter Ringsmith; Leather Apron — Ricky DeVon Hall; Abigail Adams — Kanysha Williams; Martha Jefferson — Justine “Icy” Moral.

Understudies: Quadry Brown, Ian Charles, Brendon Schaefer, Sumié Yotsukura.
Dance Captain — Justine “Icy” Moral; Fight Captain — Hunter Ringsmith.

I have spent weeks with them, watching them give their all in that sacred space: the rehearsal room… our room of dreams.

What a gift.

2026 began with two major productions, one after the other, from literally January 1st until today.

And all I can say is: thank you.

Thank you, God.
Thank you, Universe.
Thank you, Art—because from your very beginnings, you have made us more human, more philosophical, more vulnerable… and more aware.

Art is beauty in conflict,
turned into community,
and released as catharsis.

What a privilege it is to be part of this.

Today I open my second show of the year,
and I allow myself reflection… and peace.

Because I know that, no matter what happens,
I have looked the giant in the eyes
and faced it with love,
with drive,
and with daily work… never giving up.

Today I celebrate the orchestrations of this journey
as the greatest triumph of a vision brought to life.

Music speaks.
Music touches the soul.

And that is why… I love musical theatre.

Photo by Scott Suchman.



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