Intiman Announces Front Porch Theater Series Of Readings For ABE LINCOLN IN ILLINOIS

Intiman Theatre, under the leadership of Artistic Director Bartlett Sher and Managing Director Brian Colburn, announces its upcoming Front Porch Theater series of readings from Robert E. Sherwood's Abe Lincoln in Illinois. The Pulitzer Prize-winning play, which will be produced as part of Intiman's American Cycle in the fall, is an epic drama about the man who became president, spanning the years in which Lincoln grew to take responsibility for his conscience and his country.

Through Front Porch Theater, Intiman invites the public to be "cast" as Abe Lincoln and other characters for an informal, 40-minute reading of excerpts from the play, followed by a facilitated conversation. The reading includes scenes dramatizing Lincoln's student days, his tragic first love and events leading up to his election as president, including the Lincoln-Douglas debates about racial equality.

Front Porch Theater takes Intiman's commitment to local civic dialogue across King County, creating opportunities for different communities to talk about what the critical issues are today that compel us to confront what seems to be impossible, both within ourselves and as they impact our country.

Front Porch Theater readings are open to the public on the following dates and locations; an updated calendar will be posted on www.intiman.org. Familiarity with the play is not necessary, and those who don't wish to read are encouraged to attend as audience and be part of the conversation. A raffle for tickets to Abe Lincoln in Illinois will be held at each location. To sign up to read, community members should write frontporch@intiman.org.

Aug 27 at 7 pm: Young Democrats of Washington and King County Young Republicans, hosted by Intiman (201 Mercer St, Seattle, 98109)

Sept 1 at 7 pm: Canoe Social Club (409 7th Ave S, Seattle, 98014)

Sept 9 at 7 pm: 15th Avenue Coffee and Tea (328 15th Ave E, Seattle, 98102)

Sept 10: Real Change (venue and time TBA)

Sept 17 at 7 pm: University of Washington Bookstore (4326 University Ave NE, Seattle, 98105)

Oct 2 at 7:30 pm: Cornish College of the Arts (1000 Lenora St, Seattle, 98121)

Oct 6: Mount Zion Baptist Church at 6pm (1634 19th Ave, Seattle, 98122)

Oct 8: Covington Library at 7pm (27100 164th Ave SE, Covington, 98042)

Intiman's American Cycle is a city-wide series of great American stories, collaborative partnerships and free public program. Robert E. Sherwood's Abe Lincoln in Illinois, directed by Sheila Daniels and featuring 19 actors from every generation of Seattle's theatre community, will run October 2-November 15. For tickets to the production or information about all of the American Cycle programs, call 206.269.1900 or visit www.intiman.org.

The American Cycle is sponsored by Microsoft Corporation, PONCHO and Ameriprise Financial. Media Sponsorship is provided by KUOW. Front Porch Theater is sponsored in part by Starbucks Coffee Company.

Seasonal support for Intiman Theatre is provided by ArtsFund; Intiman Theatre Foundation; Kreielsheimer Remainder Foundation; The Leading National Theatres Program, a joint initiative of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation; The Shubert Foundation; and Washington State Arts Commission.

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