'America Sings' July 4 musical celebrates America's 250th anniversary in Leavenworth

As communities across the country prepare to mark America's 250th anniversary, a new original production at the Meadow Stage aims to tell the nation's story through some of its most enduring speeches and songs.

"America Sings: Songs & Stories for America's 250th" will take the stage July 4 at the Icicle Center for the Arts, offering audiences a 45- to 50-minute musical journey through more than two centuries of American history before leaving plenty of time to catch local fireworks displays.

The one-night-only production was created by director John Wagner, who said the idea began last fall when he noticed there wasn't a major local event planned for Independence Day.

"I kind of checked around and there was really nothing going on," Wagner said. "I was like, 'You know, somebody should do something.' So I just started thinking about it ... and things just kind of evolved."

Originally, Wagner envisioned a Broadway-style revue featuring Americana-themed show tunes. Instead, concerns over copyright led him in a different direction, tracing American history from 1775 through the end of the 20th century using patriotic music, historical figures and iconic speeches.

Each era is paired with a song reflecting its time, from "The Star-Spangled Banner" during the War of 1812 to "Battle Hymn of the Republic" during the Civil War and "America the Beautiful." The production concludes with Whitney Houston's acclaimed rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" from the 1991 Super Bowl.

"I wanted it to be a positive experience for everybody," Wagner said. "I didn't want to get into the last 25 or 30 years where people really start taking sides."

The cast features performers portraying some of the nation's most recognizable figures, including Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Mark Twain, Kate Smith and Woody Guthrie.

Wagner will portray Abraham Lincoln after another actor became unavailable.

"I've never done it before, but I got the look. I got the beard," he said with a laugh.

Rather than presenting lengthy historical addresses, Wagner distilled famous speeches into concise excerpts.

Most notably, Lincoln's Gettysburg Address appears nearly in full, fittingly, since the speech itself lasted less than two minutes.

"Edward Everett did two hours," Wagner said, referring to the keynote speaker who preceded Lincoln at Gettysburg. "He told Lincoln afterward, 'You've done in two minutes what I did in two hours.'"

Wagner said growing up in Virginia helped shape his appreciation for American history. Frequent school trips to Williamsburg, Monticello and other historic sites fueled a lifelong interest.

He also remembers the nation's Bicentennial celebration in 1976 and wanted to create something meaningful for the nation's 250th anniversary.

"I thought there should be something special," Wagner said. "It's the 250th anniversary of America. So what does that mean? It's all of this history. And since I'm used to doing musical theater, it's all of the songs that are part of the history."

The performance begins at 8 p.m. July 4 on the Meadow Stage at the Icicle Center for the Arts. Wagner said the show wraps up before 9 p.m., giving attendees time to head to nearby fireworks displays afterward.

"It's one time only," he said. "It will premiere and probably never be seen again."

Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for students, from prekindergarten through college. They will be available at the door or online at icicle.org.

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