For Love! For Liberty!

Book and Lyrics by Vana Nespor Music by Clifton (Jerry) Noble

For Love! For Liberty!  bridges centuries as a group of restless middle-school students on a field trip to the Springfield Armory discover that the past is anything but dull. When their teacher confiscates their phones, the Armory comes alive — pulling them into the true story of Henry Knox, the young Boston bookseller who, in the winter of 1775–76, hauled sixty tons of cannon over frozen lakes and mountains to save the American Revolution. At the center of his journey stands Lucy Knox, who defies her loyalist family, sacrifices her fortune, and sustains Henry’s courage with letters and cake. As the students relive Henry’s perilous “Noble Train of Artillery,” they begin to see themselves in the courage, conflict, and conviction of those who fought not only for independence but for the idea of equality itself and want to learn more. Blending humor, history, and heart — with rousing songs like “Lay Hold,” “I Stand,” “All’s Well,” “Her-Story,” and “For Love! For Liberty!” — the musical reminds us that freedom’s story is never finished; it’s ours to carry forward.