OUR AMERICAN COUSIN to Debut at Lincoln Amphitheatre’s Stage 8/19

The play President Lincoln attended the night of his assassination will debut at Lincoln Amphitheatre on August 19.

Lincoln Amphitheatre will produce the community production of "Our American Cousin" August 19 - 27, Friday and Saturday evenings with a Sunday matinee.

"Our American Cousin" is a three-act, farcical comedy written by Englishman Tom Taylor in 1850 and originally produced by New Yorker Laura Keene in 1858. It is about an American Asa Trenchard visiting England to claim his inheritance from a distant relative.

"Our American Cousin" was one of President Lincoln's favorite pieces of theatre. As an adult, President Lincoln enjoyed theatrical productions and saw "Our American Cousin" multiple times. The most famous performance of "Our American Cousin" was on April 14, 1865, at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. when actor and Confederate sympathizer John Wilkes Booth shot President Lincoln. Nine hours later, on April 15, 1865, President Lincoln died in the William Petersen home.

Evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m. CDT and matinee performances at 2 p.m. CDT.

Ticket prices are $18 for general admission; $15 for seniors 55 and older; students ages six - 21, and military, and $5 for children 5 and under.

Tickets for "The Wizard of Oz" are currently on sale online at www.LincolnAmphitheatre.com or through the box office by calling 800-264-4ABE.

"Our American Cousin" will run August 19 - August 27, Friday and Saturday evenings with a Sunday matinee. The 2011 "Lincoln's Legacy Lives" fundraising campaign is underway to support the expansion of family-friendly and affordable events at Lincoln Amphitheatre.

For more information about Lincoln Amphitheatre's 2011 season and to purchase tickets for upcoming events, visit www.LincolnAmphitheatre.com or call 800-264-4ABE.

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