One challenging element to producing “1776” were the casting requirements: The show needs 23 strong male players. But Honig said it was much easier to assemble the cast than she expected. “We are fully cast and everyone is so enthusiastic. Everyone’s doing research on their characters. We have history buffs in the group,” she said. “I had this feeling that it was a unique (play) that men would enjoy.” Honig wound up with “lots of men I’ve never met who haven’t done that much on stage before. The singing sounds terrific; I’m enjoying them all.”
One of the more enjoyable aspects of the musical, she added, is the moral complexity at work in the script. “The guys on the other side are not just villains,” she said. “One of the issues is slavery. The Declaration (of Independence) says that all men are created equal, but that had to be struck down because it would have abolished slavery. These men had to make that compromise in the document – nothing would have happened if they didn’t give up on this issue. The moral issue is one that the New Englanders bring up, but they were the ones with the slave ships.”
On the production side, two of the heroes who emerge are the costumers: Natalie Lunn of Red Hook and Shelby Johnson of Accord. “One of the biggest challenges is creating these costumes,” said Honig. “70 percent were made from scratch. It’s going to be gorgeous. It’s fun to see them all in period clothing – there’s great enjoyment for the children to see the men in wigs and hats.”
“1776”
June 29-July 22
Friday and Saturday | 8pm
Sunday | 3pm
The Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck
661 Rte. 308, Rhinebeck
Tickets: $26, adults; $22, student and senior.
845-876-3080
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