Program at ALPLM

[Laurie Verge]

A Lincoln: A Biography author to speak October 2 at Lincoln Presidential Museum

Ronald C. White, Jr., the author of A Lincoln: A Biography, a New York Times bestseller and a Christopher Award honoree, will present “Abraham Lincoln’s Diary” Tuesday, October 2 at 7 p.m. in Union Theater at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum in Springfield. The event is free and open to the public, but reservations should be made by calling (217) 558-8934. A book signing will be held prior to the presentation at 6:30 p.m.

White will bring together six “fragments” taken from the Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln and a new collection of works edited by the Papers of Abraham Lincoln. These writings are all untitled, undated, and unsigned as Lincoln never expected anyone to see them. White will discuss these six fragments and what they reveal about the private Lincoln.

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Lincoln drama set in 1862 will be staged November 8 – 11 and 15 – 18

Tickets are now on sale for an eight-performance run of the Lincoln drama The Heavens Are Hung in Black," a two-act drama by James Still, playing November 8-11 and 15-18, 2012 in the Union Theatre of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, 212 N. Sixth Street in downtown Springfield.

The large-cast drama takes place 150 years ago, during several months in 1862 as the Civil War rages on and President Lincoln prepares to write what will become the Emancipation Proclamation. Richard “Fritz” Klein, renowned for his portrayal of Lincoln around the country, will play the President in the large-cast production.

Still’s play was commissioned by and premiered at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, DC in 2009. The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum production is being presented by JP Morgan Chase.

“I admire this play for many reasons, one of which is that Lincoln is shown as a real, flesh-and-blood human being,” said director Phil Funkenbusch. “The playwright also adds some theatrical touches: Lincoln is visited by the ghosts of Dred Scott, a Missouri slave who unsuccessfully sued the Supreme Court for his freedom; abolitionist John Brown, and even the fictional character Uncle Tom from Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin.”

The Heavens Are Hung in Black is sponsored by The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation and History Comes Alive!-a Living History Program.

[RJNorton]

Another announcement came today from the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum:

The Heavens Are Hung In Black

A powerful, epic play set during several months in 1862 as the Civil War rages on and Lincoln prepares to write what will become the Emancipation Proclamation. Featuring Richard “Fritz” Klein as President Lincoln. A powerful, epic play set during several months in 1862 as the Civil War rages on.

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum–Union Theater
212 North Sixth Street
Springfield, IL 62701
Phone: (217) 558-8934

November 8-11 and 15-18

Thursday-Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 3:00 p.m.

Presented by JP Morgan Chase Co.

As Abraham Lincoln grapples with writing what will become the Emancipation Proclamation in James Still’s play, Mary Lincoln tells him: “Every dream is a hidden door, Abraham. You have to be the one to open it.”

The Heavens Are Hung in Black premiered at Ford’s Theatre in 2009 and is being given its first Illinois staging in the ALPLM’s Union Theatre, featuring Richard ‘Fritz’ Klein as President Lincoln.

Meet playwright James Still at the Saturday, Nov. 17th performance.

Tickets are $18 for adults, $15 for Foundation members, and $10 for students. Call (217) 558-8934 for tickets or purchase them online here.