The Crossing, a new musical that tells New Jersey’s most important Revolutionary War story, is coming to the Hunterdon County Historic Courthouse for workshop performances on September 25 and 26. In three 60-minute shows, audiences will experience music and drama related to ten crucial days when the Continental Army famously crossed the Delaware River and won major battles at Trenton and Princeton.
The show features some untold stories of ordinary Patriots, like Flemington’s Jacob Francis, a Black man who participated in those early victories before returning home where he applied successfully for his Revolutionary War pension in the same Hunterdon County Courthouse where the show is being performed. He later settles in Flemington, where he becomes a respected member of the community.
The workshop performances are being supported, in part, by the Hunterdon County Cultural & Heritage Commission. General admission tickets are $30 and can be purchased online at thecrossingmusical.com/events. Show times are Friday September 25 at 7:30pm and Saturday the 26th at 3pm and 7:30pm. Doors open 30 minutes prior to the performances.
At the heart of the musical is Thomas Paine, played by James Nicholas, whose immortal words from The American Crisis—"These are the times that try men's souls"—helped inspire a weary Continental Army at one of its darkest moments. The show also highlights the story of "Billy" Lee, Washington's trusted valet and companion. Washington and Lee are both performed by Martin Hargrove.
Rather than a finished production, this special workshop invites audiences into the creative process, presenting a large excerpt in an intimate concert-style format. It offers a unique opportunity to witness the development of a major new American musical while experiencing many of its most compelling songs, characters, and dramatic moments.
The production has been developed in collaboration with leading Revolutionary War historians and educators and serves as the centerpiece of a broader educational initiative designed to inspire civic engagement through history. In addition to the full-scale production, the creative team has developed classroom resources throughout New Jersey and beyond.
The workshop presentation offers audiences an opportunity to experience the musical while helping shape its journey toward a world premiere in New Jersey.
The workshop performances are being supported, in part, by the Hunterdon County Cultural & Heritage Commission. General admission tickets are $30 and can be purchased online at thecrossingmusical.com/events. Show times are Friday September 25 at 7:30pm and Saturday the 26th at 3pm and 7:30pm. Doors open 30 minutes prior to the performances.