from Robert Picklesimer: In 2011, we produced 1787 We the People at the 1500-seat Virginia Theatre, an historical landmark in downtown Champaign, Illinois – the fruition of more than 10 years of development. I had performed in an earlier musical, 1776 and had long wondered if the writing of the Constitution could benefit from a similar treatment. Between 1993 and 2000 I had developed other theatre pieces,  but in approaching the historical subject of the 1787 Constitutional Convention, the problem and question was the same as with every show: was there enough “drama” – enough interest – to make a play/musical about the subject worthwhile?  Then in 1999, I quite accidentally stumbled upon . . . .  (more about development of the musical)