Did Lincoln not want to attend the theater that night?

[RJNorton]

Tad was supposedly a regular at Grover's- even being given bit parts in plays.

Very true, Joe. Tad had made a friend of Leonard Grover's young son, Bobby. Although Bobby was about five years younger than Tad the boys played together frequently. In the afternoons Tad often attended rehearsals at Grover's, and the two boys got along well with the stage workmen. Tad aided the theater's carpenters in arranging the settings for the stage. At least twice Tad appeared in plays at Grover's as an extra.