March 19, 2026 by James Haviland
This March 12 and 13 marked the 50th anniversary of Hingham High School’s production of the musical 1776. Faculty, staff, and students came together to present the famous play for two nights to packed houses. Nothing like it had ever been done before at Hingham High. And nothing like it has been done since.
The American prize winning musical 1776 opened on Broadway in 1969. It has a significant place in theatrical history with its portrayal of the Founding Fathers showing their genius, wit, and charm as they come together after lengthy, contentious debates to sign the Declaration of Independence. It includes clever musical lyrics and dance. Its tense dramatic moments recount the deep divisions between North and South, and liberals and conservatives. The interactions between opposing members – split down the middle – is riveting and reflects many of the differences which still divide us today. The film from 1972 stars Ken Howard (Jefferson), Blythe Danner Martha Jefferson), and Howard DaSilva (Franklin), and is great to watch before the holiday.
Rehearsals for the Hingham High production began in January, 1976 with cast chosen by Drama instructors James “Bud” Berlenbach and John Higgins and met through March. (See below for full cast and characters). Social studies teachers brought to the production their vast historical knowledge of the Founding Fathers ambitions. Several teachers had considerable stage craft and musical talent making the musical numbers enjoyable. Faculty in other departments sewed over thirty costumes, created programs, and designed stage settings. The school orchestra played the musical numbers and drama students manned curtains and lighting.
“Bud” Berlenbach directed. Prior to teaching, he had a stage career and had worked with show business greats including Charlton Heston. Long time music department chairman Sal Bartolotti lent his expertise. Paul Nosieux’s graphic arts students produced the program while industrial arts teacher Joe Ryan and his students constructed the sets. Costumes were made by Home Economics chair Gail Zaia Nutter and librarian Betty Trubia, assisted by staff and students. The only costume items purchased were men’s white stockings from a Leggs Boutique. Student Andy Mahoney and others handled curtains and lighting. Student Brad Garside played piano for rehearsals and performances. Publicity was organized by Special Education teacher Muriel Kendall, and box office was staffed by English teacher Marie Benard.
Faculty performers included Social studies and English teachers including David Lacatell, Paul Abrahamson, Jim Kirkaldy, Richard Jensen, Alice Yacobian, Donna Thomas and many others who brought a wealth of historical and acting knowledge to the stage. As John Adams David Lacatell starred in the role he was born to play. He even brought to the stage a physical resemblance of John Adams, the “Boston Radical” who clashes with the conservative John Dickinson over loyalty to England versus establishing a free nation. As we know from history, the Boston radical wins and helps establish a new nation.
A high point occurs when Edward Rutledge of South Carolina, played by James Kane, sings “Molasses to Rum” about the infamous triangular trade involving molasses, rum, slaves and money. The music imitates the chants of slavery auctioneers and highlights the brutality of slavery. Routledge calls northern criticism of slavery hypocritical since the north benefits financially from it. Mr. Kane delivered a flawless performance.
English teacher Alice Yacobian was stunning as Abigail Adams singing “Till Then” about her letters to John while he is working in Philadelphia and she is in Braintree running a failing farm. Other cast members with extensive musical talent included Dick Jensen, George Murphy and Bill Alberti. They also sang locally in a band called “Conrad and the Pickups”. Dick Jensen sang a playful number about the aristocratic Lees of Old Virginia highlighted with jokes about his name Lee and adverbs ending in “ly”.
There were comic events in the many nights spent in rehearsal. One actor continually botched his lines in a dialogue with Adams. Instead of saying Face facts, Mr. Adams, he’d repeat “FACEFACTS “ as if it were a one word cosmetic. To this Bud Berlenbach would thunder: “THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS FACEFACTS!” Rumor had the actor may have had a few pre rehearsal pops.
This writer played a minor role as Lyman Hall, the delegate from Georgia, whose one line is the turning point of the play. In a dramatic moment when Adams is as his lowest having been abandoned by his powerful colleagues, he complains that no one hears him. From stage left Lyman Hall proclaims “I hear you Mr Adams”. Fate turns and the delegates accept his revolutionary ideas
The writer had costume problems on opening night. Seeing that my breeches were too large, the women pinned them up at the last minute. Unfortunately, while dancing a rightest minuet with other conservatives Maynard Johnson, Dick Burrell, Bob O’Day, and Donald Sullivan, the pin snapped and I continued to dance – with my left hand holding up the back of the breeches and my right hand pointing right. I danced through and no one seemed to notice.
While there were opening night jitters, both performances were great successes. High school students enjoyed seeing their teachers performing on stage.
The play became a focus of many Bicentennial events in the vastly patriotic America of 1976, which was very different place from what it is today. The Bicentennial showed America’s unity and patriotism. But The Semiquincentennial – more easily known as America’s 250th – may not. Today in America many are dissatisfied with the country and demonstrate for drastic change. But let’s hope that on this July 4th American patriots will triumph and follow the wishes of John Adams who in one of his thousand letters to Abigail proclaimed that America should celebrate its existence with bonfires and fireworks as long as it continues to exist. This fourth is special because it is the 200th anniversary of the deaths of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. While each challenged the other on living longer, both died on July 4 1826, fifty years after signing the Declaration of Independence – one of the ironies of American history. So lets hope we see celebrations throughout the country on this Fourth of July.
Time will tell in a few short months.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
JOHN HANCOCK ……………………………………. Paul Abrahamson
JOSIAH BARTLETT ………………………………….. Arthur Smith
JOHN ADAMS ………………………………………… David Lacatell
STEPHE HOPKINS …………………………………… Jim Kirkaldy
LEWIS MORRIS ……………………………………… George Murphy
ROBERT LIVINGSTON…………………………………James Berlenbach
JOHN WITHERSPOON…………………………………Christopher Caton
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN………………………………….Stephen Langley
JOHN DICKINSON………………………………………John Higgins
JAMES WILSON……………………………………………Richard Burrell
CAESAR RODNEY………………………………………….Bob O’Day
THOMAS MCKEAN…………………………………………William Maffi
GEORGE READ…………………………………………… Maynard Johnson
SAMUEL CHASE……………………………………………Gregory Kailian
RICHARD HENRY LEE…………………………………… Richard Jensen
THOMAS JEFFERSON……………………………………..Bill Alberti
JOSEPH HEWES……………………………………………Donald Sullivan
EDWARD RUTLEDGE………………………………………James Kane
LYMAN HALL……………………………………………… James Haviland
CHARLES THOMPSON……………………………………Joseph Ryan
ANDREW McNAIR………………………………………… Allan Viden
ABIGAIL ADAMS……………………………………………Alice Yacobian
MARTHA JEFFERSON……………………………………..Donna Thomas
A LEATHER APRON……………………………………… Mark Anderson
A PAINTER…………………………………………………..Stuart Schiffman
A COURIER………………………………………………….Matt Langone
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Writing this after a half century l was a challenge. At first I had only memory to go on. The impasse broke when I received a a long letter from retired industrial arts teacher Jim Kane who had kept a copy of the original program. The program’s listing of Sponsors and Angels is a who’s who of Hingham a half century ago. Then with historical assistance from my wife, a former social Hingham social studies teacher, and with input from AI (which agreed with my opinions I was able to put things together. Viewing the film version of 1776 jogged old memories. I hope that Hingham residents will remember the Bicentennial and the tremendous outpouring of patriotism and work that made this production possible and will enjoy another great Fourth of July celebration this year.
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I wish to thank the following for their encouragement and assistance:
Hilary Jenison Editor, The Hingham Anchor
Mary Andrews – English Department Chair HPS
Michael Achille – Research Librarian HPL
James Kane – Industrial Arts Teacher HPS, retired
AI – for historical content and contrasts.
Joan Haviland, MA in Colonial American History
James Haviland taught English at Hingham High School from 1965 to 2013. He now lives in Aiken, South Carolina.