It's Philadelphia in the summer of 1776 and the Second Continental Congress meets at what is now Independence Hall to give birth to the nation. It's a long and arduous labor. Temperatures soar, tempers flare and political becomes personal.

All tension aside, it's also really funny and can be put to song - at least as it's portrayed in the Tony Award-winning 1776, which faculty, staff and students at The University of the Arts will present a book-in-hand concert performance as a benefit for the UArts School of Theater Arts (SOTA). The quintessential Philadelphia musical fills SOTA's traditional spring professional production slot in its silver season anniversary.

Philadelphia's Frank Anzalone, who directed the Barrymore nominated production of 1776 during the Walnut Street Theater's 1996-97 season, is directing; Linda Henderson is providing musical direction.

With numerous credits in television and motion pictures, Johnnie Hobbs Jr., head of SOTA's Acting program, will portray Pennsylvania's John Dickinson. South Philly playwright and head of the UArts Musical Theater program Charles Gilbert, who wrote the music for the Tony Award-winning Gemini the Musical and conceived the Stephen Sondheim musical Assassins, plays Connecticut's Roger Sherman. SoTA Director Gene Terruso portrays Benjamin Franklin.

The cast of over 25 will perform 13 songs, including classics like The Lees of Old Virginia; Cool, Cool, Considerate Men; Sit Down John; and Momma Look Sharp, while a tote board tallies the "yeas" and "nays" of the delegates from the 13 colonies.

Sherman Edwards' original 1776 premiered on March 16, 1969, at Broadway's 46th Street Theatre and ran for 1,217 shows through February 13, 1972, at two other theaters. The show was celebrated at the 1969 Tony Awards, winning three (Best Musical, Best Featured Actor in a Musical and Best Direction of a Musical) of its five nominations. In 1972, many of the original cast members reprised their roles for a motion picture. A 1997 revival earned another three Tony Award nominations.

January 26 @ 7 p.m. Elaine C. Levitt Auditorium, Gershman Hall (401 S. Broad St.) $25/general public; $10 students, includes a post-show reception with the cast, musical director and director For admission and/or reservations information, contact Samantha Piccolo at 215/717-6149 or spiccolo@uarts.edu.