COVID-19

[wpbinzel]

This from Ford's Theatre this afternoon:

Throughout the Civil War, Ford’s Theatre was a site of respite for President Lincoln and his fellow Washingtonians, providing a much-needed break from the realities of war. For decades since its reopening in 1968, Ford’s Theatre has provided a place of community, of learning and of shared experience. Now, however, we must do the right thing for our country and our community and temporarily shut our doors.

Together, Ford’s Theatre Society and the National Park Service closed the historic site on March 14. Following the recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control, we are extending that closure as follows:

The site (Museum, Theatre, Petersen House, Aftermath Exhibits) will remain closed through May 17.

We have suspended all public programming through May 17 (One Destiny, Investigation: Detective McDevitt, Guided Tours, in-person educational programming).

Our production of Guys and Dolls will be postponed until the spring of 2021 (a special thank you to Lead Sponsor: ConocoPhillips and Underwriters: Altria Group, General Motors Company and KPMG LLP).

We are asking our staff to work from home during this time.

If you have tickets to one or more of the canceled performances, we will contact you shortly via email concerning your options for the value of your ticket purchase.

As we enact these changes, we are hoping to find new ways of connecting with you online. Caregivers and learners across the country now find themselves in uncharted territory. We want to provide resources that you can use as you navigate this path. These resources and online programs will help connect your learners to Abraham Lincoln and his legacy of leadership during one of America’s most turbulent times, and consider how we can be leaders in these times, too.

During this global crisis, we are committed to ensuring that our community and staff remain safe, and that our arts, education and history programming remain strong. We are working hard to minimize the impact on our operations and mission, and we thank you for your support and your belief in our important work. We couldn’t do it without you. Thank you for being part of our community.

I’d like to close with a few more words from Lincoln, whose empathy was essential to his leadership, as we look to navigate these trials as a community:

“With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right ... let us strive on to finish the work we are in.” —Abraham Lincoln

We hope you and your loved ones are safe and healthy!

Sincerely,

Paul R. Tetreault
Director