FROM LIBERTY TO LEGACY: EXPLORING AMERICAN IDEALS IN THE MUSICALS 1776 AND HAMILTON

On September 18th, SSILL welcomed Michael Langlois to talk about two important musicals that share a common story about our history of becoming a nation. Michael is a theatre artist who has directed many productions throughout New England.

This presentation provided his recent focus on “From Liberty to Legacy: Exploring American Ideals in the Musicals 1776 and Hamilton.“ “1776” first appeared on Broadway in 1969. “Hamilton” appeared on Broadway in 2015. Both productions won Tony awards. Michael pointed out the similarities between the two musicals. Both were centered around the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia.

For example, Thomas Jefferson plays a major role in both musicals, and most importantly, the productions’ themes paralleled what was going on in the country during the two time periods in which the shows were originally presented. In 1969, “1776” had themes of war (Vietnam), women in society (Abigail Adams), and race.

Michael explained that the music from “1776” had a modern sound. The music from the show topped the billboard charts. In the 30’s, 40’s, and 50’s, the music from the shows “peppered” what was being played on the radio. It was the opposite for “Hamilton”. The music from “Hamilton” was more of a hip hop sound. Michael explained that the opening number of a musical is very important as it “sets the stage” as to what the show is all about. The presentation was interactive and the slides, clips, and audio visuals brought Broadway to the Guilford Community Center that morning.

The presentation ended with a standing ovation from the SSILL audience. One member exclaimed, “Brilliant, the best ever!” Another stated, “Enlightening, historical connections leaving lots of food for thought!”

To learn more about Michael’s work, please visit this website at:

https://www.oratoryarts.com