To mark America250, Powerhouse Theatre and Lakes Region Symphony stage '1776 The Musical'

LACONIA — Powerhouse Theatre Collaborative and the Lakes Region Symphony Orchestra will take to the stage together for the first time at the Colonial Theatre on Saturday, June 27, bringing America’s history to life in a performance of “1776 The Musical,” to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the country’s founding.

Music reminiscent of the Colonial era will be performed by 20 of the 60 LRSO members at 2 and 7 p.m., on Saturday, June 27, with several dozen actors from the Powerhouse team offering a dramatic view of the months preceding the drafting and signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Expect powerful dialogue, some humor — because Benjamin Franklin had wit — and a poignant retelling of the painstaking efforts by the Second Continental Congress to get all 13 colonies to favor the founding of a new nation.

The show, which won a Tony Award in 1969, is based on a book by Peter Stone, with music and lyrics composed by Sherman Edward. In 1972, it was made into a movie.

Powerhouse Theatre Collaborative is the resident theater company of the Colonial Theatre. Tickets are available at powerhousenh.org/1776.

“We are very excited to partner with our friends at the LRSO to try a performance like this for the first time,” said Bryan Halperin, co-founder and producer of Powerhouse Theatre. “We wanted to do something to commemorate this historic moment in American history, despite the admittedly polarized time we find ourselves in. ‘1776’ is a powerful reminder of the ways our founding fathers found a common purpose to achieve independence, and we hope community members can come together to be reminded of our common history as Americans.”

An overview of the action

Benjamin Franklin, portrayed by Erik Hodges; Joel Iwaskiewicz as John Adams, and Kyle Sidders as Thomas Jefferson are the key historical icons featured in the show, as the Continental Congress worked through June and July 1776, to establish unity among the 13 colonies.

“Not every colony was interested in independence,” Halperin said. “They had to make deals and compromise, and come up with a declaration that all the colonies could get behind. Without these men’s work, there would be no America.”

Jefferson, of Virginia, was eventually enlisted to write the Declaration of Independence.

“The play is written in a way that evokes a powerful emotion, even though you know the result was they all eventually voted for independence,” Halperin said. “The writing is really good. It makes it feel like it’s tenuous and might not happen, even though you know it happened. It keeps you guessing and wondering, ‘How did they convince them? When does it happen?’ You really get moved by it.”

First-time collaboration

Powerhouse and symphony leaders have discussed joining together before, Halperin said. With the cost of the orchestra and royalties, it was important to find a performance that would draw an audience outside of Powerhouse’s loyal following.

“‘1776’ seemed like a way to bring the two audiences together, and for people looking for something patriotic and fun to do to celebrate America’s birthday,” Halperin said. “This is a good time to try it.”

Ben Greene, music director for LRSO, agreed, adding after the symphony performed its first concert at the Colonial in 2022, he learned the stage was too small for a collaboration of the full orchestra with performers.

This combined show, taking place with only a third of the orchestra’s members, after the end of the symphony season, allows enough space and ample bandwidth for musicians to practice.

“I’m very much excited,” Greene said. “I think it’s going to be a great collaboration. The actors, who are also singers, are fabulous. I think it’s going to be a huge success for both organizations. Hopefully will lead to future collaborations.”

The music

Greene will play bass in the performance, and Laura Iwaskiewicz will conduct the orchestra members in 15 musical pieces, with four violins, two each of violas, cellos, flutes, clarinets, trumpets, and French horns, and one trombone and percussion.

“I’ve listened to the soundtrack about four or five times, so I’m getting familiar with it. I know what it’s going to sound like,” Greene said. “The composer did a good job at trying to capture the music of that time period, although it’s not exactly like that. It has a patriotic sound, and uses flute and trumpet that help with that whole sound of the Revolutionary War music.”

All musicians learned the music independently.

Coming together

The show has the orchestra fully integrated with the actors on the stage; all sit together in scenes held in the Continental Congress Chamber, recreating the look and feel of a bustling meeting space.

Before opening the show, the Powerhouse team and symphony members will have only two rehearsals together.

“It’s a little scary and a little exciting,” Halperin said. “We rehearsed it much like we do any of our plays, adding the component of live music at the last minute, instead of tracks.”