The cast of the 2026 Hot August Nights production, 1776, has been announced. The Tony-award winning Best Musical is produced in partnership with Jaime Donegan Productions and will run at the Numerica Performing Arts Center from July 31-August 15.
The cast is as follows:
JOHN ADAMS of Massachusetts: AMRON SALGADO
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN of Pennsylvania: MATTHEW PIPPIN
JOHN DICKINSON of Pennsylvania: ERNEST PALMER
THOMAS JEFFERSON of Virginia: LOREN MELOY
RICHARD HENRY LEE of Virginia: KEVIN MCKEE
MARTHA JEFFERSON wife of Thomas Jefferson/
EDWARD RUTLEDGE of South Carolina: AISSATOU THIAM
ABIGAIL ADAMS wife of John Adams/
JOHN WITHERSPOON of New Jersey: TRU
THOMAS McKEAN of Delaware: PETE KAPPLER
JOHN HANCOCK of Massachusetts: JIM GORMAN
ROBERT LIVINGSTON/LEWIS MORRIS of New York: DAVID HARVILL
DR. LYMAN HALL of Georgia: MEG SANDERS
STEPHEN HOPKINS of Rhode Island: MIKE MAGNOTTI
ROGER SHERMAN of Connecticut: MICHAEL PEELER
CHARLES THOMSON of Pennsylvania: JEFF SANDBERG
JAMES WILSON of Pennsylvania: CALEB SEIMS
SAMUEL CHASE of Mary-land: KATIE RENGGLI
CAESAR RODNEY of Delaware: ETTORE CASTELLENTE
GEORGE READ of Delaware: DAVID FLORES
JOSEPH HEWES of North Carolina: JUSTIN TITUS
JOSIAH BARTLETT of New Hampshire: KATIE GRANT
COURIER from George Washington: ROWAN KAPPLER
ANDREW MCNAIR Congressional Custodian: GARTH DONALD
1776 tells the satirical story of the Second Continental Congress signing of the Declaration of Independence and the good, the bad, and the ugly truth of the birth of America 250 years ago.
“I have imagined this story told by non-traditional cast, which will put a unique and creative spin on a show as popular as 1776. This is a musical where the audience will be placed in the ‘room where it happened’ to enjoy the iconic styles of Broadway shows such as Hamilton and Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. In this show, John Adams and Benjamin Franklin struggle to engage the Second Continental Congress to debate the idea of America’s Independence from Great Britain. It’s messy, it’s hilarious, it’s dramatic and it’s timeless and very timely,” explained Director and Producer Jaime Donegan.
The show is produced in partnership between Numerica Performing Arts Center and Jaime Donegan Productions. Donegan will direct the production. Domingo Gonzalez is the Musical Director and Bethany Christine Elkin is the Choreographer. Set, lighting, and sound design are imagined by Mike Locke. Music and Lyrics by Sherman Edwards and Book by Peter Stone.