"It Is Their Right, It Is Their Duty..."

But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is the right, it is the duty, to throw off such Government and to provide new Guards for their future security.

--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of Government.

The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States.

"I Tell You This Document is a Masterful Expression of the American Mind"

The show has closed.

The parties have been thrown.

The reviews are in.

The awards have been awarded.

So where do I stand with this blog? Do I end here and leave it in the blogosphere to be sought, read and remembered for "posterity" as John Adams so earnestly yearned for himself? Do I continue to add tidbits as I think of them or are reminded of them as life happens?

For now, I will finish what I started which was to take small "biteable" sections of the Declaration of Independence and post them and illustrate them. After all, when did you last sit down and read the entire Declaration?

The writers of 1776 brought to life this story and these incredible men and women. Perhaps, by posting smaller pieces of the Declaration, others can read and really understand what an incredible document this is, what a huge risk these men took, and what it really meant for our country.

Franklin: And besides, what will posterity think we were--demigods? We're men--no more, no less--trying to get a nation started against greater odds than a more generous God would have allowed.

So, for Posterity, Ben, John Adams, and Doak.

"It's a Masterpiece I Say"

In the song The Egg John Adams sings:

"It's a masterpiece I say...

They will cheer ev'ry word,

Ev'ry letter...!

And so they did! 1776 was a huge hit selling out virtually every performance. The show enjoyed unprecedented wonderful reviews in the paper and on TV and accolades from audience members that are still continuing. In addition, the show won numerous theatre awards. Congratulations to the entire cast and crew for an outstanding experience and an incredible show!

THESPIES AWARDS: for 1776 given by The Lansing State Journal:

Best Overall Show: 1776

Best Musical: 1776

Best Actor: Doak Bloss as John Adams

Best Supporting Actor: Charles Slocum as Ben Franklin

Best Character Actress:Emily English as Abigail Adams

Best Director:Jane Falion

Best Musical Direction: Lynne Palmer Warren

Best Costumes: Mary K Nees-Hodges

Best Set Dressing: Barb Stauffer

Special Award for Best Solo: Zechariah Schrum

BARNEY AWARDS: presented by Riverwalk Theatre

Lead Actor, Musical: Charles Slocum as Ben Franklin

Supporting Actor, Musical: Dale Powell as Edward Rutledge

Supporting Actress, Musical: Emily English as Abigail Adams

Featured Actor, Musical: Paul Tarr as Colonel Thomas McKean

Director: Jane Falion

Musical Direction: Lynne Palmer Warren

Choreography: David Schmidt

Set Design: Jane Falion

Set Dressing: Jane Falion

Backstage Award: Rich Helder

Howard Lancour Award: Zechariah Schrum

Incredible!

"It is the Right of the People"

That, whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed

"We hold these truths..."

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness,--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed...

"The Unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States"

When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation

"If We Don't Hang Together"

Franklin continues with: "We most assuredly will hang together." McKean responds with:
" In my case hanging won't be so bad--one snap and it'll be over--just like that! But look at Read there--he'll be dancing a jig long after I'm gone!"

The original quote comes from Benjamin Harrison of Virginia to Elbridge Gerry of Massachusettes:
"I shall have a great advantage over you when we are all hung for what we are now doing, Mr. Jerry, from the size and weight of my body I shall die in a few minutes but from the likeness of your body you will dance in the air for one hour."

A few factoids: Elbridge Gerry entered Harvard at the age of 14, and after his father and sisters were killed by lightening, Benjamin Harrison took over and ran the family plantation.