There were only 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 in Philadelphia, but five times that many people showed up on July 4, 2010 in Garden Grove to hear the historic document read aloud.
The event was held Sunday morning at the Festival Amphitheatre on Main Street by Shakespeare Orange County, which is the resident theater professional theater company at the 550-seat facility.
An estimated 250 people showed up to hear 11 speakers read the Declaration read, which includes the historic phrase “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, and among them are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
“It’s a great way to kick off your Fourth of July celebration,” said Tom Bradac, producing artistic director of SOC, which will open its 2010 season on July 15 with a production of “Two Gentlemen of Verona.”
The event was originally scheduled in the amphitheater’s courtyard, but the large turnout made a move necessary.
