August 20th, 21st & 22rd, 2010

(Morrisville Middle/Senior High School)

The triumphant return of The NET’s signature show, 1776.

Starring:

Joe Doyle as "John Adams"
Ken Ambs as "Benjamin Franklin"
James Petro as "Thomas Jefferson"

Co-Starring:

Chuck Donnelly as Richard Henry Lee,

George Hartpence as Edward Rutledge,

Steve Lobis as John Dickenson,

Kyla Marie Mostello as Martha Jefferson,

Mary Liz Ivins as Abigail Adams,
Marco Newton as McNair and many more!


Stage Managed by Kelly Allen

Set design by George Hartpence

Choreography by Dani Tucci-Juraga & Tess Ammerman

Considered the company’s signature show since its NET debut ten years ago, 1776 is once again directed by NET Co-Founder and Artistic Director Cheryl Doyle. Leading the live orchestra is musical director Pat Masterson. Costarring are James Petro as Thomas Jefferson, Mary Liz Ivins as Abigail Adams, Tess Ammerman as Martha Jefferson, George Hartpence as Edward Rutledge, Steve Lobis as John Dickinson, Ed Patton as John Hancock, John Bergeron as Richard Henry Lee, Ken Ammerman as

Congressional Clerk Charles Thomson and Marco Newton as Congressional Custodian Andrew McNair.

Also featured will be Jack Bathke as Roger Sherman, James Cordingley as Caesar Rodney, Corey Stradling as Thomas McKean, Ed Correale as George Read, Jim Palmer as Dr. Lyman Hall, Alex Campbell as Samuel Chase, Matthew Whiteside as Joseph Hewes, Dennis McGuire as Dr. Hosiah Bartlett, C. Jameson Bradley as Rev. Jonathan Witherspoon, Tom Harrelson as Robert Livingston, Barry Clements as Lewis Morris, Mitch Gerson as James Wilson, Mickey Levitan as Stephen Hopkins, and Matt South as The Courier.

for biographical detail on Edward Rutledge, scroll to the bottom of this page

or consult this definitive biography.

programme cover 2010 production

"Just a moment, Mr. President."

Rutledge stops John Hancock from proceeding with the Declaration as written.

Prelude to "Molasses to Rum to Slaves"

Ed Patton (standing left) as John Hancock (MA)

George Hartpence (seated center with hand raised) as Edward Rutledge (SC)

Steve Lobis (seated in red) as John Dickenson (PA)

Mitch Gerson (white wig) as James Wilson (PA)

Opening Number

Joe Doyle (center) as John Adams

Mr. Thomson (Ken Ammerman) reads a letter from Gereral WAshington

Tess Ammerman takes a turn as Martha Jefferson

Joe Doyle (left) as John Adams

Ken Ambs (right) as Ben Franklin

John Bergeron (center) as Richard Henry Lee

"Cool, Cool COnsiderate Men" line up

"Molasses to Rum to Slaves"

George Hartpence (center) as Edward Rutledge

Rutledge gets his way: freedon for slaves is removed from the Declaration of Independence

Rutledge (Hartpence-left) faces down Jefferson (Jim Petro-right) over slave ownership.

"Hurry, gentlemen, let the auction begin."

"Who stinketh the most."

At the slave auction.

"Mama look sharp."

Steve Lobis as John Dickenson of Pennsylvania

Who will write the Declaration.

John Adams

contact Joe Doyle at:

actorsnet@aol.com

or by calling 215-

Joe Doyle studied at Leland Powers School of Radio, Theatre & Television. Mr. Doyle gained theater experience doing live dinner shows for large, diverse audiences. Co-founding the Actors’ Net in 1996 wife his wife, Cheryl, Joe is well-known and well-respected in the Philadelphia and New Jersey theater and news communities. Mr. Doyle won a local Emmy for his performance in “Frank Knows,” a segment of Fox News. He brings talent honed by years of media experience, including his service as a war correspondent during the Viet Nam War in the Marine Corps.

Mr. Doyle has been with the American Historical Theatre since 1992, when he was first asked to participate in AHT’s Yankee Doodles program as a singer, guitar-player and comic. He has performed at venues that include White House Visitors Center, Vice President Cheney’s home, Mount Rushmore Society, Congress Hall, Smithsonian Institution, National Portrait Gallery, and Morven Museum & Garden.

program cover 2008

(click on the program to go to the ActorsNET page for this show)

August 22nd & 23rd, 2008

(FREE in Williamson Park, Morrisville, PA)

The triumphant return of The NET’s signature show, 1776.
A free outdoor performance in Williamson Park, N. Delmorr Avenue, Morrisville

Starring:

Joe Doyle as "John Adams"
Jack Bathke as "Benjamin Franklin"
James Petro as "Thomas Jefferson"

Co-Starring:

Chuck Donnelly as Richard Henry Lee,

George Hartpence as Edward Rutledge,

Steve Lobis as John Dickenson,

Kyla Marie Mostello as Martha Jefferson,

Mary Liz Ivins as Abigail Adams,
Marco Newton as McNair and many more!


Stage Managed by Charissa Taylor

Set design by George Hartpence

Choreography by Dani Tucci-Juraga

finale to "Molasses to Rum to Slaves"

"Then see to your own wounds, Mr. Jefferson.

For you are a practitioner, are you not?"

George Hartpence (left) as Edward Rutledge

Jim Petro (right) as Thomas Jefferson

"The Egg"

Jack Bathke (left) as Ben Franklin

Joe Doyle (center) as John Adams

Jim Petro (right) as Thomas Jefferson

Steve Lobis (left) as John Dickenson

Mitch Gerson (right) as Judge James Wilson

both of Pennsylvania

Joe Doyle (left) as John Adams

Mary Liz Ivins (right) as Abigail Adams

Joe Doyle as John Adams wonders:

"Is anybody there? Does anybody care?

Does anybody see what I see?" 

program cover 2005

(click on the program to go to the ActorsNET page for this show)

1776

Book by Peter Stone, Music and Lyrics by Sherman Edwards

Directed by Cheryl Doyle
Musical Direction by Pat Masterson
Stage Managed by Kelly Allen
Set Design by George Hartpence

Choreography by Dani Tucci-Juraga

Actors’NET will present our fifth production of the brilliant Sherman Edwards and Peter Stone musical at the Open Air Theatre, Washington Crossing State Park, NJ. This is our first visit to the Open Air Theatre with a revival of our signature show.

Stars Joe Doyle as John Adams, Michael Ashby as Ben Franklin, and Jim Petro as Thomas Jefferson. Also starring Steve Lobis as John Dickinson and George Hartpence as Edward Rutledge, with Mary Liz Ivins as Abigail Adams and Kyla Marie Mostello as Martha Jefferson. 

June 23, 24, 25, 29, 30 & July 1 and 2, 2005
Open Air Theatre, Washington Crossing State Park, NJ
All performances at 8:00 PM

for images of the set visit my "Set Design" page  

Critical Praise:

1776 (June 2005)

            TimeOff Magazine:

“Cheryl Doyle has once again directed with her touch of magic; characters move naturally and easily, comedy bits are handled with grace. She apparently has an innate sense of this type of material and it has made Actors' NET one of the premier groups in the area.”

George Hartpence as Edward Rutledge of South Carolina 

  Joe Doyle as John Adams

Chuck Donnelly as Richard Henry Lee and

Michael Ashby as Ben Franklin

Kyla Marie Mostello as Martha Jefferson

Joe Doyle as John Adams

Pennington Town Topics review

Washington Crossing's Open Air Theatre Opens Its Season With a Patriotic Musical

Nancy Plum

Independence Day came early at Washington Crossing's Open Air Theatre this year. For the first

musical in the Theatre's 2005 season, the Actor's NET of Bucks County presented Sherman Edwards' 1776, the musical story of the days leading up the creation and signing of the Declaration of Independence. This is a musical with only 13 songs, and although the long segments of dialogue bogged down at times in Friday night's performance, there were a number of high points in the still-evolving production.

1776 is almost a one-person show, with the character of John Adams assuming most of the dramatic responsibility. Not surprisingly, this production was spear-headed by Actors' NET managing director Joe Doyle, who has made a theatrical career out of portraying John Adams, including performing at the National Archives and the residence of Vice President Cheney. A little heavy vocally with vibrato but strong in his conviction of Adams' character, Mr. Doyle had a capable theatrical partner in Michael Ashby, portraying Benjamin Franklin. Franklin's character was written as sardonic and satirical, which may well have been the case, and Mr. Ashby kept some of the mired dialogue moving along.

Also among the show's most interesting characters was South Carolina delegate Edward Rutledge, played by George Hartpence. Mr. Hartpence's portrayal had a sufficient amount of arrogance to give the character life, as South Carolina put up the most vigorous fight against the independence movement. As Thomas Jefferson, James Petro immediately demonstrated himself to be among the best singers in the cast, but was quickly overshadowed by his engaging wife.

There are only two women in this cast. Abigail Adams appears to her husband, John, as a theatrical aside, and Mary Liz Ivins was steadfast and solid in her portrayal of Mrs. Adams. A breath of fresh air came at the end of the first act with Kyla Marie Mostello's portrayal of Martha Jefferson, the wife of Thomas Jefferson. Mrs. Jefferson's character has the best number in the show ("He Plays the Violin" nicely accompanied by violinist Deberly Kaufman) and Ms. Mostello's saucy interpretation gave a refreshing peek at a romantic side of early America.  (cont -->)

The rest of the delegates came together as an ensemble for the chorus numbers. Collectively, they could have used a bit more precision and certainly more miking for the actors at the back of the stage. Accompanying the cast was a small ensemble of winds and brass conducted by Pat Masterson.

Although the winds faded a bit in the humidity, the ensemble kept the musical pace moving. An ensemble scene among Connecticut delegate Roger Sherman (Jeff Pilchman), New York delegate Robert Livingston (David DeFelippis), and Thomas Jefferson was especially well balanced and defined. A simple but creative set designed by George Hartpence served as the backdrop for most of the action, which takes place in the Chamber of the Continental Congress in Philadelphia.

1776 tries to be a lot of things to the audience. Besides a character study of the more than twenty delegates to the Continental Congress, the show offers commentary on slavery, pokes fun at the current Congress, and musically editorializes on war. All these concepts unraveled a bit in this production, and the story seemed to bog down in endless stretches of slow-moving dialogue, especially in the second act.

Actors' NET also chose this play as the first musical of the Open Air season to coincide with the July 4th weekend. Although it seems to be a signature show of this particular theater company, 1776 has not been done that many times at the Open Air Theatre, and will certainly have audience appeal at this time of year.

1776 will continue at the Open Air Theatre on June 29, 30, July 1, and 2. Ticket information can be obtained by calling the Open Air Theatre box office at (609) 737-1826.

Dean Bennett

the quintessential Benjamin Franklin

long may he wave 

 Since 1981, Mr. Bennett has appeared thoughout this country and overseas. He has appeared at the White House before President Bush, performed at the National Archives during Constitution Week of 1998, and traveled to Paris as Philadelphia's official host for US Air in their inaugural flight between Philadelphia and Paris. His appearances include numerous television commercials, films, magazine and newspaper articles.

Dean was featured in the title role of the Discovery Channel's "The Real Ben Franklin" and on A&E channel's "The Real Story, Mystery of Genius".

 Contact Dean to be your Ben Franklin. 

He offers competitive rates because as the good doctor said,
"A penny saved is a penny earned".

PLEASE CALL
800-KEY-1776
610-356-5274
(fax) 610-356-4841

OR EMAIL
beandab@aol.com

A press kit complete with video is available upon request

July 2, 3 & 4, 2004

(Three Performances Only!)
At the pavilion in Williamson Park, Morrisville, PA

(click on the link above to visit the ActorsNET web page for this show)

 Adama (Joe Doyle) and Jefferson (Steve Edenbo)

Rutledge (Eric Mehan) sings of molasses

Abigail Adams (Mary Liz Ivins) sings of pins

Franklin (Dean Bennett) and Adams face off over slave issue

 Delaware and New Jersey contingents

(Michael Ashby, Curtis Kaine, Jamie Bradley)

Pennsylvania confers

(Steve Lobis, Mitch Gerson, Dean Bennett)

 Franklin and Richard Henry Lee (Chuck Donnelly)

Adams signs the Declaration

 Colonel McKean resorts to firearms

Cool, cool conservative men

Who will pen the Declaration

Caesar Rodney & Dr. Lyman Hall

 Jefferson in a contemplative mood

Adams and Franklin will leave for New Jersey

 Adams pouts

Mamma, look sharp.

(Marco Newton, Matt South, Tess Ammerman)

 Dickenson and Judge Wilson

Washington's last dispatch

 Abigail sings

and so does Martha Jefferson (Eleanor Kiel)

Thompson (Ken Ammerman) reads the Declaration

Adams and Jefferson

1776

Book by Peter Stone, Music and Lyrics by Sherman Edwards

July 4th & 5th, 2003

(FREE in Williamson Park, Morrisville, PA)

Directed by Cheryl Doyle
Musical Direction by Pat Masterson
Choreography by Cat Miller

(click on link to visit the ActorsNET web page for this show)

The Actors' NET of Bucks County and the Bucks County Historical Theatre Company, in cooperation with the Borough of Morrisvill, proudly present the award winning musical 1776. These special performances will be outdoors in Morrisville's Williamson Park on Delmorr Avenue. Join us as we kick-off Morrisville's bicentennial celebrations.

STARRING:
Joe Doyle as John Adams, Dean Bennett as Ben Franklin, Steven Edenbo as Thomas Jefferson, Steve Lobis as John Dickinson, Mary Liz Ivins as Abigail Adams, Stephanie Delaney as Martha Jefferson, John Zimmerman as Edward Rutledge, Chuck Donnelly as Richard Henry Lee, Ed Patton as John Hancock, Marco Newton as Andrew McNair, Ryan Dethy as the Courier, and many more...

program cover 2001

1776

Book by Peter Stone, Music and Lyrics by Sherman Edwards

July 13 - 29, 2001

(at The Heritage Center, Morrisville, PA)

Directed by Cheryl Doyle
Musical Direction by Pat Masterson
Choreography by Del Howard

Set design by Ken Junkins

poster 2000

program cover 2000

 1776

Book by Peter Stone, Music and Lyrics by Sherman Edwards

May 18 - 28, 2000

(at The Heritage Center, Morrisville, PA)

Directed by Cheryl Doyle
Musical Direction by Pat Masterson
Choreography by Del Howard

Set design by Ken Junkins

Joe Doyle (left) as John Adams

Dean Bennett (center) as Ben Franklin

Dell Howard (right) as Thomas Jefferson

in "The Egg"

"Molasses to Rum to Slaves"

final tableaux

"Cool, Cool Considerate Men" 

"Molasses to Rum to Slaves"

Tim Johnson (left) as George Reed

Steve Decker (center left) as Col. Thomas McKean

George Hartpence (center) as Edward Rutledge

Robert Bearden (right rear) as Robert Livingston

  More "Molasses to Rum to Slaves"

"Who stinketh the most!"

1776 Cast Photo - 2000 

Joe Doyle as John Adams and Dean Bennett as Ben Franklin

romping thru Cupid's grove

Mr. and Mrs. Adams

Richard Henry Lee, Adams and Franklin

Rutledge confronts Jefferson about his slaves

Caesar Rodney is stricken

opening number at the Heritage Center

Adams and Franklin dance with Martha Jefferson

Momma Look Sharp 

Dean Bennett 

& Ken Ambs

Ken Junkins

Ken Junkins 

Chuck Donnelly

 Chuck Donnelly

Chuck Donnelly

John Bergeron

Chuck Donnelly

Chuck Donnelly 

Jeff Pilchman 

Michael Gearty

This stirring musical begins on a sweltering day in Philadelphia, May 8, 1776. The Second Continental Congress is in session, and John Adams, the Massachusetts representative, is enumerating his grievances against King George III and lobbying for independence. The other delegates, already divisive and annoyed by his arguments, demand, in the song “Sit Down, John” that he be quiet.

Frustrated that his views have not prevailed Adams seeks out Benjamin Franklin, who is having his portrait painted. Franklin reminds Adams that no colony ever successfully broke away from its parent country. He also notes that because the members of the Congress dislike Adams he might find someone else to present the idea of independence.

Richard Henry Lee, a delegate from Virginia, arrives at Franklin’s request and offers to secure a proposal from the Virginia legislature himself. When his ability to do this is questioned, Lee explains that his illustrious family history makes him perfect for the job.

When Lee returns from Virginia with the proposal for independence the Congress is once again thrown into roiling debate. Some members, led by John Dickinson, oppose independence and favor simply petitioning George III with their grievances. Adams and Franklin lead the charge toward independence, arguing that it has been a full year since the bloody battles of Lexington and Concord and therefore too late to reconcile with England.

Finally, after much argument, the proposal for independence is put up for vote--with Dickinson’s stipulation that the vote must be unanimous. At this point Adams and Franklin suggest that a declaration be written, prior to the vote, which clearly details their goals. This also serves the purpose of delaying the decision while they attempt to gain more votes in favor of their cause

Adams, knowing that he has few supporters in Congress, suggests that someone else write the declaration. Other members of the Declaration Committee pass the task of writing the declaration (with threats of physical force, if needed) to more popular and eloquent Thomas Jefferson.