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Arts & Entertainment

Broadway Hit Musical "1776" comes to Darien Arts Center

 

 

HISTORICAL MUSICAL COMEDY OPENS at DARIEN ARTS CENTER

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Special Rates Offered -- Bring the entire family!

Find out what's happening in Darienwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

HOT OFF THE PRESS!!! Darien Selectman Dave Campbell, as well as Superintendent of Darien Public Schools, Dr. Stephen V. Falcone to make special guest appearances as "new delegates" from Connecticut

The Darien Arts Center's Cabaret Theatre, kicks off its 2010/2011 season, in collaboration with Curtain Call Theatre, with the hit Broadway musical, 1776. The show will run two weekends, Fridays and Saturdays, October 15, 16, 22 and 23, at 8 p.m. A special matinee performance has been added for Sunday, October 17, at 2 p.m.

"Where can you find a truly revolutionary musical that will give you a new appreciation for the faces on our currency," asked Carole Claps, Darien resident and co-chairman of the Cabaret and the show's producer? You'll be an eyewitness to history as Ben Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and others help deliver a newborn nation, the United States of America," she said." But this birth will most certainly be a difficult one. There'll be plenty of behind-the-scenes politicking in the weeks leading up to the final vote on July 4, 1776. You may know how this story turns out, but you'll still be on the edge of your seat! 1776 is a riveting musical filled with history, humor, romance and even some dance. A true delight for the entire family to enjoy -- and to learn from!

And speaking of family, 1776 will be showcasing the acting talents of its First Selectman Dave Campbell as well as Superintendent of Darien Public Schools, Dr. Stephen V. Falcone in special guest appearances as the "new delegates" from Connecticut. Not to be missed!


"This has always been one of my favorite shows," said Lou Ursone, Curtain Call executive director. "The story is educational, inspirational and one that needs to be told," he added. The fact that the ideas espoused by leaders like Adams, Franklin and Jefferson were not embraced by all the colonies may be a surprise to some audiences. "Many probably don't realize how close we came to NOT declaring independence," Ursone said. The debate over slavery, which waged on for almost another 100 years, all but derailed efforts to free the colonies from Great Britain.

The story begins in May 1776 and tracks the debate among the delegates leading up to the drafting - and eventual signing - of the Declaration of Independence. The book is by Peter Stone with music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards. Portions of the dialogue and some of the song lyrics were taken directly from the letters and memoirs of the actual participants of the Second Continental Congress and/or their spouses, as is the case with John and Abigail Adams.

This season opener for the Darien Arts Center's Cabaret Theatre is directed and choreographed, respectively, by Ridgefield residents Gordon Casagrande and Karen Casagrande. They have worked on the show several times and have a great love for the material. Other members of the production team include music director Chloe Sasson of Mt. Kisco; set designer Peter Barbieri, Jr. of Norwalk; costume designer Megan Latte Ormond of Stamford; and lighting designer Aaron Meadow of New York, NY.

There are many, many Darien volunteers involved in getting this show ready for its Darien opening. They include: Pat Atkins; Mary Crawford; Anne Wright; Pam Heckel; Cathy Oberle, Theo Osgood; Ruth Ann Ramsey; Carol Smith; Abbie Van Nostrand; Ben Chernin; and Jim Albert. Also, David Schwartz from Old Greenwich; and Linda Wilson and Toni DeCarlo from Stamford.

This Broadway musical hit is a great way to introduce history to younger members of the family but is also a terrific reminder of how fortunate we are to live in our great nation. John Adams, Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson may be just names from a history book to many but they become real in this witty and engaging telling of the birth of our nation.

Special Ticket Pricing

Special ticket prices for 1776 are: $25 adults; $15 full-time students; and $18 seniors (65 or older). The show is being held upstairs in the Darien Town Hall Auditorium, 2 Renshaw Road, Darien, CT. There is plenty of parking in front of the building.

To purchase tickets online go to

arts.darien.org

or call the box office at 203-655-5414 (listen for the prompt to Cabaret) and leave a message. A volunteer will get back to you. There is no reserved seating for this performance.

 

 

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