Ford's Theater Announces Grand Reopening For February 2009

Wayne R. Reynolds, Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Ford's Theatre Society, Paul R. Tetreault, Director of Ford's Theatre Society, and Kym Elder, Superintendent of Ford's Theatre National Historic Site, announced today that Ford's Theatre will reopen in February 2009 after an 18-month renovation. Ford's Theatre will celebrate with one week of public and private events honoring Abraham Lincoln's life and legacy. The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Campaign, a $50 million capital campaign to support the renovation of Ford's Theatre and its museum as well as the building of the new Center for Education and Leadership, has raised $43 million to date.

"In February, Ford's Theatre will reopen its door to once again inspire visitors by celebrating the life and legacy of President Lincoln," Reynolds said. "This is the most extensive renovation of the site since 1968, and we are excited to offer visitors an enhanced experience that will educate them about Lincoln while letting them share in his love for the performing arts."

"We are thrilled that the reopening of Ford's Theatre will coincide with the bicentennial of Lincoln's birth," Tetreault added. "In honor of this event, we will reopen the theatre with the world premiere of The Heavens Are Hung In Black, a play about Abraham Lincoln in 1863, one of the most crucial years of his presidency. This play, along with many special events, will provide a magnificent tribute to our greatest president."

"Ford's Theatre is in the midst of a major expansion project to enhance the visitor experience at this historic site, and we are immensely thankful to all of the donors who have supported our capital campaign," said Rex W. Tillerson, Chairman of the Ford's Theatre Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Campaign and Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees. "In addition to renovating the theatre and the museum, we are expanding our education programming and preparing to build a new Center for Education and Leadership that will focus on the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln. The reopening of the theatre is the beginning of an exciting new phase."

"We are very excited about the 40-year partnership between the National Park Service and Ford's Theatre Society, which exemplifies the type of partnerships NPS desires to have with its collaborators," Elder said. "We are pleased with the progression of the renovations, and we are highly anticipating the reopening of the theatre and the museum as well as the bicentennial of Lincoln's birth."

Grand Reopening Celebration

On the evening of February 11, Ford's Theatre will host a special performance to officially reopen the Theatre. Filmmaker George Lucas will receive the Lincoln Medal in honor of his accomplishments, which exemplify the character and lasting legacy of President Abraham Lincoln. Limited space is available for press wishing to cover this event. Press should contact Liza Lorenz at (202) 638-0929.

Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commemoration

On February 12, Ford's Theatre will commemorate Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday with a series of public programs. The day will begin with a morning wreath-laying by National Park Service Rangers. From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Ford's Theatre will present an array of performances in Lincoln's honor. Area students will perform some of Lincoln's great speeches, and the Federal City Brass Band will play some of Lincoln's favorite music on Civil War-era instruments. National Park Service Rangers will offer interpretive programs commemorating Lincoln's presidency throughout the day. The theatre will be open to the general public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Ford's Theatre Open House and Lincoln Birthday Celebration

On President's Day, February 16, Ford's Theatre will host an all-day open house. Events will include new Ranger-led interpretive programs, a reading of the new one-act play The Road From Appomattox by Richard Hellesen, a performance of One Destiny and songs from The Civil War. The theatre will be open to the general public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 

In the evening, Ford's Theatre will launch its Living Lincoln Series, a free Monday-night series exploring the many aspects of President Lincoln's personality and life through lectures, panels, play readings and performances. Highlights of the series include a look at President Lincoln as Commander-in-Chief, an exploration of Lincoln and his love of Shakespeare, a panel on Lincoln and race, and a reading of a new musical, Lincoln in Love, based on the film Young Mr. Lincoln. Dates for the series are: Feb. 16, Feb. 23, March 2, April 13, April 20, April 27, May 4, May 11 and May 18. Beginning December 8, free tickets can be reserved through Ticketmaster at (202) 397-SEAT or by visiting www.fords.org.

 

Theatre Tours

Beginning February 17, visitors to Ford's Theatre will be able to take tours of the theatre daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (except when the venue is closed for rehearsals and matinee performances). In an effort to assist with lines and wait times, Ford's Theatre has instituted a timed entry system for visitors. Each visitor two years of age and older wishing to enter the site must present a timed entry ticket.

The Ford's Theatre Box Office will open at 8:30 a.m. for distribution of same-day, timed tickets on a first-come, first-served basis. Individuals are limited to six tickets per person for same day tickets. Individual tickets are also available in advance for a $1.50 convenience fee through Ticketmaster (Ticketmaster fees apply). Groups of 20 or more can reserve advance tickets by calling the Ford's Theatre group sales office at (202) 638-2367 or (800) 899-2367 or by visiting www.fords.org to reserve tickets online through Ticketmaster (Ticketmaster fees will apply).

 

Advance timed entry tickets are currently available for February 17 through May 24.

 

The Heavens Are Hung In Black

World Premiere

Written by James Still

Directed by Stephen Rayne

February 3 to March 8, 2009

To celebrate the grand reopening and the bicentennial of President Lincoln's birth, Ford's Theatre has commissioned a new play, The Heavens Are Hung In Black by award-winning playwright James Still. Highlighting the five months between the death of Lincoln's son Willie and the issue of the Emancipation Proclamation, Heavens will offer audiences a glimpse into the person who was Abraham Lincoln. Faced with unbearable personal, political and historical pressures, Lincoln copes with the world around him and eventually, through an amazing transformation of thinking, conquers it. This production made possible by: BAE Systems, Verizon, BP America, Visa Inc. and National Endowment for the Arts. Ford's Theatre stages Built by The Home Depot. Chevron, a 2008-2009 season sponsor. Press Night: February 8

 

The Civil War

Book and Lyrics by Frank Wildhorn, Gregory Boyd and Jack Murphy

Music by Frank Wildhorn

Directed by Jeff Calhoun

March 27 to May 24, 2009

This Tony-nominated musical puts a human face on the greatest tragedy of American history. A musical landscape of the people, voices and sentiments of the American Civil War, the show is inspired by the words of Walt Whitman, Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth and Abraham Lincoln as well as the lives (as documented through letters, photographs and journals) of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. This production made possible by: Nortel, Raytheon Company, ExxonMobil and Southern Company. Ford's Theatre stages Built by The Home Depot. Chevron, a 2008-2009 season sponsor. Press Night: April 1

 

Museum Reopening

Scheduled to reopen in 2009, the newly renovated museum will use 21st-century technology to transport visitors to 19th-century Washington. The museum's remarkable collection of historic artifacts will be supplemented with a variety of narrative devices-environmental recreations, videos and three-dimensional figures.

 

Renovations to Ford's Theatre

When the theatre reopens, visitors from across the nation and around the world will experience conveniences and luxuries previously not available at the theatre. These include: new seats; upgraded sound and lighting systems; improved heating and air conditioning systems; renovated restrooms; enhanced accessibility with elevators to the various levels; a spacious new lobby with concessions and an entrance to the theatre; a new "parlor" for special events; and updated stage capabilities for casts and crews. These upgrades will make the theatre more audience-friendly and handicap accessible.

 

Renovations began in August 2007, when the 144-year old theatre and museum were closed to the public. In October 2007, Ford's Theatre Society announced the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Campaign to support the renovation and expansion of the Ford's Theatre "campus."

 

The "campus" will consist of the renovated theatre, a reimagined museum, the neighboring Petersen House (where President Lincoln died) and the new Center for Education and Leadership. The Petersen House has remained open throughout the renovations and will continue to welcome visitors. The new Center for Education and Leadership will be housed in a building acquired in October 2007 by Ford's Theatre Society at 514 Tenth Street NW, directly across the street from the theatre. Here, students of all ages will be able to explore and celebrate the life and legacy of President Lincoln. Meetings with architects and designers to discuss the plans for the new Center have been initiated and construction is expected to begin after completion of the renovations to the theatre and the museum.

 

Capital Campaign

The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Campaign is a $50 million capital campaign that will support the renovation of Ford's Theatre and its museum as well as the building of the new Center for Education and Leadership, an education center focused on the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln. To date, the campaign has raised $43 million.

 

The Ford's Theatre renovation and expansion project has been made possible primarily through donations from private sources-individuals, foundations and corporations-as well as $8.9 million in federal funding and a recent $10 million grant from the District of Columbia. As the lead corporate donor, ExxonMobil has awarded the campaign a $5 million Leadership Circle grant, and BP America Inc. has joined them with a $2 million pledge. More recently, the Leadership Circle has expanded to include the State of Qatar with a $2.5 million donation, as well as $1 million dollar donations each from Foster Wheeler; Sheila C. Johnson, Founder of Salamander Hospitality, LLC; T. Boone Pickens Foundation; The Paul Singer Family Foundation and Toyota.

 

The following corporations, individuals and foundations have also generously provided gifts of $500,000 or greater to this project: The Adelson Family Charitable Foundation, American Airlines, AT&T, BAE Systems, Carl and Edyth Lindner, General Dynamics, The Freed Foundation, The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation, Raytheon Company, Southern Company and Sunoco, Inc.

 

Ford's Theatre Society

Since it reopened its doors in 1968, more than a hundred years after the April 14, 1865, assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, Ford's Theatre has been one of the most visited sites in the nation's capital. Ford's Theatre has enthralled visitors because of its unique place in United States history, and its mission to celebrate the legacy of Abraham Lincoln and explore the American experience through theatre and education.

 

Ford's Theatre Society works to present the Theatre's nearly one million visitors each year with a high quality historical and cultural experience, enhancing the vibrancy of this historic site, an important tool for promoting the ideals of leadership, humanity and wisdom espoused by Abraham Lincoln.

 

Since the arrival of Paul R. Tetreault as Director, Ford's Theatre Society has been recognized by the critics and theatergoing public for the superior quality of its artistic programming. With works from the nationally acclaimed Big River to the regional premiere of Trying and world premiere of Meet John Doe, Ford's Theatre has undoubtedly begun to make its mark on the American theatre landscape.

 

In addition, through the leadership of Wayne R. Reynolds, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, the mission of Ford's Theatre Society has recently been expanded to include education as a central pillar of the organization, equal to that of producing theatre of the highest quality. As Ford's Theatre looks to the future, the health of the organization will be defined and determined not only by the quality of the productions on the stage but also by the success of its educational programming in teaching about the life, Presidency and lessons of leadership of Abraham Lincoln.

For more information on Ford's Theatre and the Ford's Theatre Society, please visit www.fords.org.

For information on the National Park Service and the Ford's Theatre National Historic Site, please visit www.nps.gov/foth.

 

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