ABSTRACT
The political history of the United States has not been a fertile field of inspiration for musical theatre works. On a national level, and looking further back in US history, the signing of the Declaration of Independence provided the basis for 1776, with a libretto by Peter Stone and music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards. Although 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue marked a return to conventional musical theatre forms following the 'theatre piece' of Mass, one element of Leonard Bernstein's earlier works was notably absent: ballet. Bernstein's 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the address of the White House, was eventually performed to mark the bicentennial of the events portrayed in 1776. In 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the White House itself remains constant, or at least the notion of the House as a representation of American ideals, while the occupants and American society change around it.
