Ford's Theatre Announces Opening for Center for Education and Leadership

Paul R. Tetreault, Director of Ford's Theatre Society, announced that the new Ford's Theatre Center for Education and Leadership (located at 514 Tenth Street NW, Washington, D.C.) will open in February 2012. The new Center will feature permanent and rotating exhibits, education studios and a distance-learning lab. The Ford's Theatre Society will celebrate the opening with several public and private events honoring Abraham Lincoln's leadership and legacy at both the Center and Theatre. Events include the world premiere of a newly commissioned play about Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass titled Necessary Sacrifices (January 20-February 12, 2012); two free public open houses on February 12 and 20 featuring programming at the Theatre and the Center including tours, author discussions, performances of the Society's Tales of the Lincoln, One Destiny and Papa Day, special Civil War-era music performed by the Washington Revels and on-site workshops with the Ford's Theatre Society Education Department; and an invitation-only opening event on February 8, 2012.

The opening events of the Center for Education and Leadership are sponsored in part by AT&T.

Washington Flyer serves as media partner for the opening of the Center for Education and Leadership.

Housed in a building directly across the street from Ford's Theatre and acquired by the Ford's Theatre Society in 2007, the Center features two floors of permanent exhibits addressing the immediate aftermath of Lincoln's death and the evolution of Lincoln's legacy; a Leadership Gallery floor to be used for rotating exhibits, lecture and reception space; and two floors of education studios to house pre- and post-visit workshops, after-school programs and teacher professional development; and a distance-learning lab outfitted with state-of-the-art technology that will allow Ford's to engage students and teachers nationwide and around the world. The building also houses the Ford's Theatre Society administrative offices on its upper levels.

Renovations to the building began in July 2010 and will be completed for the February 2012 opening. The innovative learning spaces of the new Center for Education and Leadership extend the Ford's Theatre experience into the 21st century, providing a contemplative-yet dynamic-counterpoint to the lively dramatic offerings and interactive programs across the street.

"For more than 40 years, visitors have traveled to Ford's Theatre from all over the world, eager to learn more about Abraham Lincoln and his presidency," said Ford's Theatre Director Paul R. Tetreault. "Now, with the addition of the Center for Education and Leadership, learners of all ages can delve deeper into our compelling American history through new exhibits, engaging videos and creative programming offered by the Ford's Theatre Society Education Department. We are thrilled to usher in this new chapter in the history of Ford's Theatre and to showcase how Lincoln's leadership and legacy resonates in our world today."

Center for Education and Leadership Opening Events

Necessary Sacrifices
World Premiere
By Richard Hellesen
Directed by Jennifer L. Nelson
January 20-February 12, 2012
Ford's Theatre (511 Tenth Street NW)
In his fourth commission for Ford's Theatre, playwright Richard Hellesen explores the two documented encounters between Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln during a period of national crisis. During the summers of 1863 and 1864, Douglass challenges the president to envision a post-emancipation world. The men ponder not only a unified nation but a society that brings truth to the Declaration of Independence's assertion that "all men are created equal." Hellesen's previous works for Ford's Theatre include One Destiny, Investigation: Detective McDevitt and The Road from Appomattox, three gripping and insightful explorations of critical moments in Civil War history. Featuring David Selby as Lincoln and David Emerson Toney as Frederick Douglass. Press Night: January 25.

Post-Performance Discussions for Necessary Sacrifices
January 24, January 31, February 7, February 11
Ford's Theatre (511 Tenth Street NW)
Following the 7:30 p.m. performance, Ford's will offer facilitated discussions about the themes and issues raised by the play. Author John Stauffer (Giants) will join the discussion on February 11, 2012.

Film Screening: Slavery by Another Name
January 30 at 7 p.m.
Ford's Theatre (511 Tenth Street NW)
Slavery by Another Name is a 90-minute documentary that challenges one of Americans' most cherished assumptions: the belief that slavery in this country ended with the Emancipation Proclamation. The film tells how even as chattel slavery came to an end in the South in 1865, thousands of African Americans were pulled back into forced labor with shocking force and brutality. It was a system in which men, often guilty of no crime at all, were arrested, compelled to work without pay, repeatedly bought and sold, and coerced to do the bidding of masters. Tolerated by both the North and South, forced labor lasted well into the 20th century. Slavery by Another Name gives voice to the largely forgotten victims and perpetrators of forced labor and features their descendants living today. A limited number of free tickets to the film screening at Ford's Theatre will be available beginning January 3, 2012.

Necessary Sacrifices Pre-Performance Seminar
January 31 at 5:30 p.m.
Ford's Theatre (511 Tenth Street NW)
This intimate, pre-show seminar investigates the lives and leadership of Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass and the women who were their partners. Tickets are $25 ($20 for members) and may be reserved beginning January 3, 2012, in person at the Ford's Theatre Box Office or online at www.fords.org.

Press Conference and Ribbon Cutting
Center for Education and Leadership (514 Tenth Street NW)
Media are invited to a press conference and ribbon cutting to mark the opening of the Center for Education and Leadership on Wednesday, February 8, 2012. This event is not open to the public. Interested media should contact Lauren Beyea at (202) 434-9543 to reserve space.

Grand Opening Celebration
On the evening of February 8, the Ford's Theatre Society will host a private event for donors and VIPs at the Center for Education and Leadership. Limited space is available for media wishing to cover this event. Press should contact Lauren Beyea at (202) 434-9543.

Lincoln's Birthday Open House
February 12 from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
This free full day of programming begins with a National Park Service wreath laying at 8:45 a.m. in honor of Lincoln's birthday. Open house programming at Ford's Theatre and the Center for Education and Leadership features an author discussion with John Stauffer (Giants), ranger talks, performances of Papa Day, Tales of the Lincoln with storyteller Jon Spelman and One Destiny, and special Civil War-era music performed by the Washington Revels. Visitors are welcome to see the Center's new exhibits and participate in workshops with the Education Department. Tickets are available beginning at 8:30 a.m. on February 12.

Presidents' Day Open House
February 20 from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
This free full day of programming at the Theatre and Center for Education and Leadership features an author talk by Tony Horwitz (Midnight Rising and Confederates in the Attic), ranger talks, performances of Papa Day, Tales of the Lincoln with storyteller Jon Spelman and One Destiny, and a behind-the-scenes look at the Center with an exhibit designer from Split Rock Studios. Visitors are welcome to see the Center's new exhibits and participate in workshops with the Education Department. Tickets are available beginning at 8:30 a.m. on February 20.

Center for Education and Leadership Visits
Beginning February 21, visitors to the Ford's Theatre campus will be able to see the new Center for Education and Leadership daily from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (subject to change). 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 opens 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 $2.50 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 by visiting www.fords.org to reserve tickets online through Ticketmaster (Ticketmaster fees will apply).

Advance timed entry tickets are currently available for February 21 through May 28, 2012.

Capital Campaign
The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Campaign is a $60 million capital campaign supporting the new Center for Education and Leadership (opening February 2012) and the renovations to Ford's Theatre and its museum (completed in 2009). To date, the campaign has raised more than $52 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 $10 million grant from the District of Columbia. As the lead corporate donor, ExxonMobil awarded the campaign a $5 million Leadership Circle grant and the State of Qatar and Ronald O. Perelman each provided a $2.5 million gift. The Leadership Circle also includes BP America Inc. who provided a $2 million contribution, and the following have given $1 million dollar donations each: AT&T; Foster Wheeler; General Dynamics; The Hess Foundation; Sheila C. Johnson, Founder of Salamander Hospitality, LLC; T. Boone Pickens Foundation; The Catherine B. Reynolds Foundation/Wayne and Catherine Reynolds; David and Alice Rubenstein; The Paul Singer Family Foundation; Samsung; 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, BAE Systems, Comcast, The Freed Foundation, Carl and Edyth Lindner, LockheEd Martin Corporation, The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation, O'Melveny & Myers, Raytheon Company, Southern Company and Sunoco, Inc.

Ford's Theatre Society
One of the most visited sites in the nation's capital, Ford's Theatre reopened its doors in 1968, more than a hundred years after the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. Operated through a partnership between Ford's Theatre Society and the National Park Service, Ford's Theatre is the premier destination in the nation's capital to explore and celebrate Abraham Lincoln's ideals and leadership principles: courage, integrity, tolerance, equality and creative expression.

The mission of Ford's Theatre Society is to celebrate the legacy of Abraham Lincoln and explore the American experience through theatre and education. For its accomplishments, the organization was honored in 2008 with the National Medal of Arts, the highest award given by the U.S. government to artists, arts institutions and arts patrons.

Since the arrival of Paul R. Tetreault as Director, critics and the theatregoing public have recognized Ford's Theatre Society for the superior quality of its artistic programming. With works from the nationally acclaimed Big River to the world premieres of Meet John Doe, The Heavens Are Hung In Black and LiberTy Smith, Ford's Theatre is making its mark on the American theatre landscape.

Through the leadership of Wayne R. Reynolds, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, the mission of Ford's Theatre Society expanded to include education as a central pillar. This expansion led to the creation and construction of the Center for Education and Leadership, opening in February 2012. The new Center will bring the values and ideals of Lincoln from the past into the present, examining Lincoln's multi-faceted legacy through exhibits, workshops, seminars and speakers, as well as community outreach programs.

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

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