The Ford’s Theatre campus will be closed on May 21 and June 3, 2012.
The campus includes the museum, theatre, Petersen House and Center for Education and Leadership.
Ford's Theatre Reopening Season Continues With The Civil War
The Ford’s Theatre reopening season continues with the Tony-nominated The Civil War by Frank Wildhorn, Gregory Boyd and Jack Murphy. Jeff Calhoun directs the production at Ford’s Theatre from March 27-May 24, 2009. A landscape of the people, voices and sentiments of the American Civil War, this song-cycle is inspired by the words of Walt Whitman, Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln as well as the lives (as documented through letters, photographs and journals) of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. The production features an ensemble cast with Hal Holbrook as the pre-recorded voice of Abraham Lincoln. March 6, 2009
| For Immediate Release: | Press Contact: Lauren Beyea |
| March 6, 2009 | Direct Dial: (202) 434-9543 |
| Updated March 26, 2009 | LBeyea@fords.org |
FORD’S THEATRE REOPENING SEASON CONTINUES WITH
BY FRANK WILDHORN, GREGORY BOYD AND JACK MURPHY
MUSIC BY FRANK WILDHORN
DIRECTED BY JEFF CALHOUN
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Ford’s Theatre reopening season continues with the Tony-nominated The Civil War by Frank Wildhorn, Gregory Boyd and Jack Murphy. Jeff Calhoun directs the production at Ford’s Theatre from March 27-May 24, 2009. A landscape of the people, voices and sentiments of the American Civil War, this song-cycle is inspired by the words of Walt Whitman, Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln as well as the lives (as documented through letters, photographs and journals) of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances.
Drawing from the American musical genres of rock, country, gospel, folk and rhythm and blues, The Civil War combines the stories of Union and Confederate soldiers, slaves, abolitionists and veterans in an unconventional musical composition. The production is staged in a concert-like setting with a live seven-piece band and vocalists who tell of freedom and patriotism.
“The Civil War utilizes Frank Wildhorn's sensational score to bear witness to the struggles of the past, and actively connect those struggles to our lives in the present day,” said director Jeff Calhoun. “This contemporary re-imagining, juxtaposed with historical elements, allows a diverse ensemble to simultaneously recall the slave experience, the lives of soldiers and the effects of war on families through a contemporary lens. It is hard to imagine a more poignant place than the Ford’s Theatre to present this production of The Civil War.”
This production is made possible by Nortel, Raytheon Company, ExxonMobil, Southern Company and The Freed Foundation. Ford’s Theatre stages are Built by The Home Depot. Chevron is a 2008-2009 season sponsor.
THE DIRECTOR
Jeff Calhoun returns to Ford’s Theatre for the first time since the critically acclaimed productions of Shenandoah and Deaf West’s Big River. Some of his many Broadway credits include Grey Gardens, Brooklyn The Musical, Deaf West’s Big River, Annie Get Your Gun, Grease and Tommy Tune Tonight! Additional credits include Deaf West’s Pippin at the Mark Taper Forum, domestic and international productions of Disney’s High School Musical: On Stage and the first original ASL musical, Sleeping Beauty Wakes. He will direct a United Kingdom tour of Disney’s High School Musical 2: On Stage later this year. Calhoun is currently developing a new musical entitled Bonnie & Clyde with Frank Wildhorn, Don Black and Ivan Menchell. Calhoun is an Associate Artist with Ford’s Theatre.
THE CAST
The ensemble cast of The Civil War includes Sarah Darling, Elliot Dash, Eleasha Gamble, Darryl Reuben Hall, Sean Jenness, Matthew John Kacergis, Kellee Knighten, Michael Lanning (original cast, Broadway’s The Civil War), Kingsley Leggs, Michael “Tuba” McKinsey, Aaron Reeder, Bart Shatto, Timothy Shew, Chris Sizemore, Stephen Gregory Smith and Bligh Voth.
THE DESIGNERS
Calhoun has assembled a team of talented designers to create a concert-like setting for The Civil War. Set Designer Tobin Ost has dressed the stage in a way that emulates the brick architecture of the historic Ford’s Theatre, complemented with metal piping and opaque projection scrims where imagery from the Civil War period is displayed. Costume Designer Wade Laboissonniere (The Heavens Are Hung In Black, The Matchmaker, State of the Union) has updated period military uniforms in blues and grays with a modern rock-and-roll sensibility. The Civil War design team also includes Music Direction by Jay Crowder, Vocal Arrangement/ Direction by Dave Clemmons, Lighting Design by Michael Gilliam, Video Design by Aaron Rhyne, Sound Design by David Budries, and Hair and Wig Design by Cookie Jordan (The Heavens Are Hung In Black). The production team also includes Production Stage Manager Craig A. Horness and Assistant Stage Manager Bradley C. Cooper.
SPECIAL PERFORMANCES AND EVENTS
There will be audio-described performances of The Civil War on Tuesday, April 21, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 10, at 2:30 p.m. Sign-interpreted performances are Wednesday, April 22, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 17, at 2:30 p.m.
Following the 7:30 p.m. performance on April 7, 21, May 5 and 19, members of the cast will take questions from the audience and discuss the artistic process. Post-performance discussions begin immediately following the performance. Individuals wishing to attend the discussion will be invited into the theatre for the discussion after the audience from the performance departs.
FACT SHEET: The Civil War
By Frank Wildhorn, Gregory Boyd and Jack Murphy * Directed by Jeff Calhoun
The Ford’s Theatre reopening season continues with the Tony-nominated The Civil War by Frank Wildhorn, Gregory Boyd and Jack Murphy. Jeff Calhoun directs the production at Ford’s Theatre from March 27-May 24, 2009. A landscape of the people, voices and sentiments of the American Civil War, this song-cycle is inspired by the words of Walt Whitman, Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln as well as the lives (as documented through letters, photographs and journals) of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances.
DATES: March 27 to May 24, 2009
Press and Opening Night: April 1, 2009
LOCATION: Ford’s Theatre is located at 511 10th Street NW, between E and F streets.
TIMES: Tuesdays through Sundays at 7:30 p.m. (except April 12 and 26, May 10 and 24); matinees on Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. (except May 2, 9 and 16); matinee at 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 7 and 21; matinee at noon on April 23, 30 and May 14.
TICKETS: $16-$52 with discounts available for student groups, senior citizens and military personnel.
ACCESSIBILITY: Ford’s Theatre is accessible to persons with disabilities, offering wheelchair accessible seating and restrooms and audio enhancement.
There will be audio-described performances of The Civil War on Tuesday, April 21, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 10, at 2:30 p.m. Sign-interpreted performances are Wednesday, April 22, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 17, at 2:30 p.m.
Following the 7:30 p.m. performance on April 7, 21, May 5 and 19, members of the cast will take questions from the audience and discuss the artistic process. Post-performance discussions begin immediately following the performance. Individuals wishing to attend the discussion will be invited into the theatre for the discussion after the audience from the performance departs.
PARKING:
Paid parking is available in the 24-hour QuickPark garage (Grand Hyatt Hotel) on 10th Street, Central Parking garage on 10th Street, and the Atlantic Garage below Ford’s Theatre (at 511 10th Street, NW).
METRO:
Metro Center station (Red, Blue and Orange Lines) is two and one half blocks north of the theatre from the Eleventh Street exit. Gallery Pl-Chinatown station (Red, Yellow and Green Lines) is two and one half blocks north of the theatre from the G Street exit. For further information, call Metro at (202) 637-7000.
Tickets at TicketMaster: (202) 397-SEAT TTD: (877) 474-4833 Toll Free: (800) 899-2367
Information: (202) 347-4833
