We Wrote the Constitution
– not “a bunch of old dead guys” –
new musical theatre work, revised version since the 2011 premiere
Large cast, mostly male. See below for minimum cast, chart of vocal ranges and voice “parts” for main roles, dance requirements, and additional casting/characterization notes per role. Several delegates being eliminated (2017).
photo by Kevin McGuire
Updates in progress. PDFs will open in new tabs:
1787 Characters pp i-ii (PDF)
casting notes of 1787 Script Appendix 1 pp 127-129 (PDF)
1787 vocal ranges (PDF)
1787 Vocal Selections (PDF)
Songs Singers/Dancers charts & descriptions (PDF)
See also relevant historical biographies and other resources at teachingamericanhistory.org
Minimum players: 19 delegates + 2 Jackson roles + 5 female roles. Henry and all Shays supporters except Pitcher are planned as double-cast. Females may be added to provide choral balance of Company choruses. Low-voiced females may be cast in male roles if played believably as male. It also is possible to replace Jacob Good’s lines and role with the role of Jackson, the Slave, though Good is written as a separate character.
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VA
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36 YL |
James Madison, “father of the Constitution”
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VA
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55 OP
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General George Washington
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VA
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62, OP, Grmbl
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George Mason, principled statesman
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MD
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39 Grmbl
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Luther Martin, unkempt
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DE
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40 Grmbl |
Gunning Bedford, Jr., a large man
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| NJ |
41 Grmbl
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William Paterson, short and feisty delegate
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NH
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46 |
John Langdon, late-comer
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NY
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32 Grmbl | John Lansing, Jr, handsome naysayer |
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NY
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49 Grmbl | Robert Yates, Lansing’s mentor |
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NY
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30 YL
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Alexander Hamilton, handsome, brash |
| CT |
66 OP
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Roger Sherman, covert politician |
| PA | 81 OP | Dr. Benjamin Franklin, infirm |
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PA
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35 YL | Gouverneur Morris, one-legged ladies’ man |
| PA | 45 OP | “Judge” James Wilson, esteemed legal authority |
| MA |
49 OP
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Nathaniel Gorham, President of the Continental Congress |
| MA | 32 YL | Rufus King, small stature |
| NC | 43 | William Blount, chronically late |
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SC
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48 OP
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“Dictator John” Rutledge, blustering |
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GA
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33
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Abraham Baldwin, good-natured |
NON-DELEGATES, with age if known
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SHAYS SCENE
Daniel Shays (39), leader of rebellion
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Jason Parmenter (51), “Captain of the insurgents”
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Molly Pitcher (late 30s), composite character; appears later as Cleaning Woman
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additional marchers to comprise ensemble chorus, mostly men
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Voice at the Arsenal (unseen)
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OTHER NON-DELEGATES
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Secretary William Jackson (28), professional attitude
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Jackson, the Slave (mature), Washington’s trusted valet, watchful and aware
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Henry (any age), Madison’s servant
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Jacob Good, seasoned adult, Independence Hall servant (optional)
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Eliza Hamilton(29), beautiful newlywed
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Dolley Payne (19) the future First Lady (a.k.a. Dolley Madison)
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Katie and Penelope, young floozies
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Jenny and Jacob Adams, tavern waitress and proprietor (optional)
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photo by Kevin McGuire
Historically accurate, the nicknames given Young Lions (YL), Old Patriots (OP), and Grumbletonians (Grmbl), were applied in 1787 to describe delegates having similar interests. These were neither mutually exclusive groups nor automatically assigned by age.
With limited historical documentation of Jackson, Washington’s valet and slave, the character here is modeled on William Lee, who had been at Washington’s side for most of his life.
CASTING NOTES – At least a couple from among the delegates, additional to Washington, have a featured dance in “In Committee,” while nearly all delegates have some modest dancing in that song.
photo by Kevin McGuire
Nearly all delegates have solo vocal lines. All cast members in Company choruses must part-sing, and chorus vocal parts are assigned for balance. (MIDI recordings of vocal parts, for individual practice, are in progress.) Players with “character” voices can – and should – be cast in roles with selected solos. Players added to the chorus of the premiere were asked to provide period names, especially from their ancestry, for the printed program, as a means of investment in their characters.
1787 the Musical
1787themusical.com 