By: Amanda Meade-Tatum

Running until May 7 at the Ahmanson Theater in Los Angeles, a new revival tour of the award-winning Tony musical “1776” is creating a revolution in the theater space.

“1776” focuses on the events leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence, telling the efforts put into place by John Adams to persuade his colleagues to vote for American independence and to sign the document. What is special about this production is that all presidents and roles are played by multiple representations of race, gender, and ethnicity. Pretty cool right?

Directed by Jeffrey L. Page and Diane Paulus, “1776” makes recent decisions to highlight its purpose. First, the show begins with the all-female cast slipping into era coats and pulling their white sock up to their knees, which is quite powerful. Second, all characters are played by females, which is great. And Thirdly, songs feel more impactful when sung from a woman’s point of view. It definitely hit you differently. Viewers might think of ‘Hamilton’ as there are similarities in themes, but this work of art showcases authentic power at it’s finest. It truly feels like a theater triumph.

What could be problematic to some viewers, is the lack of music, transitions between scenes, and role confusion. For someone who perhaps does not know the events of the Declaration of Independence, the book doesn’t make it easy to follow. Perhaps, an insert in the playbill would have helped in knowing who is who due to the fact that at moments, there are about 10–15 roles on stage. At times, the musical felt more like a play, as the gap between music numbers is noticeable. The production uses a cheap method of scene transitions that after a while feels annoying and predictable. It’s easy to know the purpose of the curtain being pulled from one end of the wing to another.

Overall the cast is phenomenal, but a stand-out is Brooke Simpson who steals the show with an unforgettable number in the second act. It will blow your mind! The two-act musical is very lengthy, but I assure you, you will go home with a history lesson to share or teach others. “1776” demonstrates our times is creating work that showcases unique interpretations of historical figures, which during our times, is what people want to see. Do not miss this show.

To buy tickets for “1176” click here