• Book and Lyrics by Frank Wildhorn, Gregory Boyd, and Jack Murphy
• Music by Frank Wildhorn
• Directed by Jeff Calhoun

Ford's Theatre is proud to present The Civil War, a musical tribute that puts a human face on an American tragedy. 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. The production is staged in a concert-like setting with a live seven-piece band and vocalists who sing of freedom and patriotism.

Additional Info

Read an interview with Director Jeff Calhoun.
Study Guide for The Civil War.
See the cast and artistic team for The Civil War.

This production made possible by Nortel, Raytheon Company, ExxonMobil, Southern Company and The Freed Foundation.

Chevron, a 2008-2009 Season Sponsor

Ford's Theatre stages Built by The Home Depot

Visit the Performance Calendar for specific show dates.

To purchase tickets, call Ticketmaster at (202) 397-SEAT or visit the Ticketmaster website.

Groups of 20 or more can purchase tickets by calling (202) 638-2367.

Post-Performance Discussions: Tuesdays; April 7, April 21, May 5 and May 19
Following the 7:30 p.m. performance, members of the cast will take questions from the audience and discuss the artistic process. Post-performance discussions begin immediately after the performance. Individuals wishing to attend the discussion will be invited into the theatre after the audience from the performance departs.

This performance runs 95 minutes with no intermission.

Please note: both strobe and haze effects are used.