PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — “1776: The Musical” is now running at the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts, performed entirely by Philly high school students.
The production coincides with America’s 250th anniversary, an idea by former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell.
“His dream was to produce a musical about 1776 that involved high school students so they could learn about the Declaration of Independence and the birth of this nation,” said Phillip Brown, the executive director and producer of the show.
Fast forward to a week and a half before July Fourth, and Brown has led two full casts of student actors to put on a summer of showings for “1776: The Musical.”
The Peter Stone classic dramatizes the debates and conflicts within the Second Continental Congress leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Thomas Richards was the dramaturg, or history expert, for the production, and he said the story gave students a new perspective on the founding fathers of our nation.
“The play is not always 100% accurate, but I think it gets to a larger truth,” he said, “that all these people are human and they disagree about many things.”
A number of officials attended Wednesday’s opening night, including former President Joe Biden. Mayor Cherelle Parker and Pennsylvania House Speaker Joanna McClinton were also in attendance.
Former President Joe Biden and Mayor Cherelle Parker attended the opening night of “1776: The Musical” at the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts on June 24, 2026.Quinton Davis/City of Philadelphia
Former President Joe Biden and former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell attended the opening night of “1776: The Musical” at the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts on June 24, 2026.Quinton Davis/City of Philadelphia
“We had the opportunity to perform for Speaker McClinton on the House floor in Harrisburg,” Brown said. “We took a cast of students there, they performed, and the entire chamber stood up and cheered.”
Brown said the most important thing was that students saw themselves in the founding history of the U.S.
“The greatest inspiration for me is to see how these young people see themselves within this document, not outside of it. Within this country, not outside of it,” he added.
There will be 50 showings of the musical throughout the summer at CAPA, Wednesdays through Sundays, twice a day. Buses will run from the Museum of the American Revolution to the school for those wanting to attend.
