INTERVIEW: ‘1776’ continues historic run at Paper Mill
Photo: John Treacy Egan stars as Benjamin Franklin, and Bryant Martin stars as Richard Henry Lee in 1776 at Paper Mill Playhouse. Photo courtesy of Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade / Provided by BBB with permission.
In the year of the United States’ 250th anniversary, Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey, is remembering the past by staging the classic musical 1776, with performances running through May 2. At the center of the show is the character of Benjamin Franklin, a founding father played by John Treacy Egan.
For Treacy Egan, this production is something of a homecoming. He has performed in numerous Paper Mill shows over the years, and this is his second time working with director Mark S. Hoebee.
“This is my seventh production at Paper Mill, and I worked with Mark Hoebee once before,” Treacy Egan said in a recent phone interview. “He was the director of Oliver! that I did years back. … They were kind enough to just offer me the part. I guess they had seen me in other things, and at this point, it was like, ‘I guess you don’t need to audition for this. I pretty much know you as an actor, so would you like to play Benjamin Franklin?’ And I was so excited and thrilled because actually I had spoken to my agent, and I said, ‘Hey, they’re doing 1776. Can you ask them if I can get an audition to be in it?’”
When Treacy Egan talked with his agent, the actor said he didn’t mind what character he would portray; he just wanted in the door. It turns out that the creative team thought he was the right fit for Franklin, which the actor found amazing.
“This cast is incredible,” he said. “They did a brilliant job with the casting, and Mark did an incredible job directing it. I have to say, we all are just having a great time with each other. We’ve had a lot of laughs, and it’s just such a juicy play to take a bite out of it and be a part of. Everybody gets to be a part of the conversation, which is incredible.”
Treacy Egan said every time he performs the musical he picks up on new moments and issues, with many of the lines reverberating to these current times. The show may be set in 1776, but it speaks to 2026.
“There are even moments when I’m not on stage, I’m off stage, and I can hear it,” the actor said. “I think, this has got to be really hitting people. Wait, how old is this play? When was it written? Did they change it? There’s so much relevancy in it, and I think it’s a good reminder of where it all began. Government is tricky. It’s a lot of dysfunction trying to function.”
The part of Benjamin Franklin is manageable for Treacy Egan, mostly because the vocal range is bass, and he’s naturally a tenor.
“So it’s kind of funny,” he said. “Our musical director is like, ‘Well, Benjamin Franklin is kind of written in the bottom line.’ I go, ‘That’s fine. I can hit those notes. I’m happy to sing them.’ But there are some other powerhouse vocals in this show that Ed Watts and Jonathan Young sing. These guys their voices are incredible. I mean all the voices are incredible, so when you hear all these men sing together, it’s pretty incredible.”
Treacy Egan added this about working at Paper Mill: “Everybody backstage is the best. It’s like a family. I have just so much love for my dresser, Debbie, who has been in every production I’ve been there. I just love her so much. It just feels so good to be with her because we laugh a lot, and again Mark is an incredible leader. Everybody backstage is just great. It really is like a second home. I love when I get to be there. I wish I lived in New Jersey … so I can beg them to be in more things.”
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
1776, featuring John Treacy Egan, continues through May 2 at Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey. Click here for more information and tickets.
