Yes, 1776 Should Be Authentically Cast
The cast of 1776 / Jason Niedle
OnStage Blog Editorial
As long-time readers know, 1776 is one of this publication’s favorite musicals for its blend of history and catchy show tunes. Never would we have dreamed growing up in the 80s and 90s that today, we would have two musicals that spoke to the fantastic ideals that the Revolutionary War represented, with Hamilton in addition to 1776.
Hamilton is, of course, a musical that represents, among other things, a way for BIPOC and immigrant communities to celebrate the story of our nation’s founding. As we and many others have correctly noted, it should be authentically cast with BIPOC performers only (Ultimately, we would be fine with a few characters, including King George, not being BIPOC, but the principal characters should all be BIPOC).
But if we are being consistent, 1776 should also be authentically cast and performed by white performers only.
Given our editorial history of authentically casting diverse shows, you’re probably surprised by this position.
It’s not that big a leap, really. We must understand that Hamilton and 1776 tell the same story in very different and compelling ways.
Authentically cast logic dictates that Hamilton should be performed by BIPOC performers; otherwise, the meaning of the show, as told from an immigrant’s point of view, is meaningless.
Similarly, the 1776 musical also has a meaning that would be lost if performed by BIPOC members, especially in the second act.
What is that meaning? 1776, besides being a whimsical portrayal of the founding fathers, depicts the birth of American politics, a.k.a. how to reach an agreement with those on issues of fundamental disagreement. It openly details the significant roadblocks to declaring independence, and the biggest roadblock is the issue of slavery.
The play’s pivotal moment is during the song “Molasses to Rum,” when the founding fathers are confronted by their hypocrisy, condemning slavery while profiting from it, as sung by Edward Rutledge, a state legislator from South Carolina. It’s a haunting moment when the musical takes its darkest turn, from light-hearted to self-loathing.
There is no self-loathing from the audience if the founding fathers are played by BIPOC members. There is also no introspection from John Adams during “Molasses to Rum,” furiously fighting for freedom for his country while realizing that he does not have a moral leg to stand on.
Some will say this is just one song, but let’s be real: there is no 1776 musical without this song and the moment. “Molasses to Rum” is the apex of the tension building up for the entire musical between the southern and northern colonies. The tension of the 2nd act is crucial to the play’s authenticity. A diverse casting breaks the wall of tension because it removes the believability of the situation.
Some of you may be saying, “So What?” Well, based on the most recent adaptation featuring a BIPOC and gender expansive company that performed this song to generate applause instead of awkward silence, it is REALLY important to nail that song.
But let’s also look at the bigger picture beyond “Molasses to Rum.”
While it has some historical inaccuracies, it aims to be authentic to the times. The musical accurately represents the real obstacles that John Adams, Ben Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson faced in getting unanimous approval of the Declaration of Independence. Even putting aside the slavery issue, many white men like Dickinson were winners under the current system of British rule. You lose something when these characters are played by BIPOC actors.
Even if you do what Hamilton did and have the villains (Dickinson and Rutledge) played by white actors, you lose one of the story’s morals: two identical people of similar means come to different conclusions about the value of freedom to everyone.
Lastly, let’s take one more step back: the reality of the country’s founding was that the men in the room were all white, mostly landowners, making monumental decisions that would impact people of all colors and statuses. It is important in understanding the path of independence (even in a whimsical musical) that these were the type of men in charge of it. It explains why they did not abolish slavery in the declaration and explains why it was such a big deal to even get unanimous approval in the first place.
We must understand part of the reason for the early trajectory of our nation was there was no one in that hot, sweaty room in Philadelphia besides white men.
However, this does not mean that the values espoused in the Declaration of Independence were worthless. On the contrary, the ideals are the backbone of the principle of racial justice and equity. Principles of freedom and justice can come from anywhere, even if it’s a room full of white men.
Do we think diverse 1776 productions should be boycotted?
No. After all, we are still a free country. But, in this new age of understanding the origin story of our country, it’s better to get the context as right as possible considering what the story is purporting to be, even in a musical.
Don’t fret; if you have never seen the musical, this is a very progressive musical even by today’s standards, never mind the 1960s.
If you’re considering a production of 1776 for your theater, we believe you should keep to the original intent of casting for maximum impact on the audience.
The beauty of our time is, we now have an origin story of America to tell from a multi-cultural point of view in Hamilton. Hamilton and 1776 both celebrate America. The difference though with 1776 is it intended to tell the story as if you were in the room in the year 1776. For that experience to remain intact, it should be told with an authentic cast that is true to the intent of the musical.