REVOLUTIONARY: A preview of the new musical “The Crossing” was performed last February in Franklin Township. The show comes to Hopewell Valley Stage on June 20.
On Christmas night 1776, with the American Revolution hanging by a thread, Gen. George Washington crossed the Delaware River into present day Hopewell Township. The victories that followed turned the tide of war. Those 10 crucial days are coming to life at Hopewell Valley Stage on June 20 with a preview of The Crossing, a new musical.
Falling on Juneteenth weekend, the 60-minute concert preview performance highlights two important African American Patriots — a central New Jersey man, Jacob Francis, and George Washington’s valet, William “Billy” Lee.
“The Crossing reimagines Washington’s crossing of the Delaware, spotlighting the diverse, often overlooked voices of the Continental Army,” said John Allen Watts, the musical’s composer and a musical director at The Lucy Moses School in New York City.
The musical centers on Thomas Paine, whose essay “The American Crisis” — with its famous opening, “These are the times that try men’s souls” — helped inspire the victories at Trenton. Paine is played by James Nicholas, a New York-based actor and singer who played Phillip Gardner on the HBO series Boardwalk Empire on HBO.
Also featured are two important African American figures from the historical record, including William “Billy” Lee, Washington’s valet and constant companion. Both Lee and Washington are portrayed by operatic performer Martin Hargrove.
Jacob Francis, an African American member of the Hunterdon County Militia during the Revolution, is the subject of a book by local historian Larry Kidder. Kidder is an adviser to the show and a past president of the Hopewell Valley Historical Society. Francis will be portrayed in the show by actor JP Ross, who recently starred in The Start Up Musical at The Flea Theater in New York and appeared in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.
The production is a joint effort of Hopewell Valley Stage and TenCrucialDays.org, a 501(c)3 sponsored project of Fractured Atlas. TenCrucialDays.org is raising funds to mount a full world premiere production at the Patriots Theater in Trenton on December 26, the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Trenton, and is promoting a petition to support the designation of The Crossing as the official musical of New Jersey. In May, Franklin Township became the first municipality in New Jersey to pass a resolution in support. To sign a petition in support, visit thecrossingmusical.com.
Show times are 3 and 8 p.m. Tickets range from $25 to $65 and can be purchased at HVStage.org. The Hopewell preview is supported by the Hopewell Valley Historical Society, Princeton Battlefield Society, and Morven Museum & Garden.