A group of confederate and union soldiers fight each others with swords and bayonets. In the middle of the fight a man sings.
Cast of the Ford’s Theatre production of Freedom’s Song: Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War, directed by Jeff Calhoun. Photo by Scott Suchman.

Freedom’s Song: Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War

An epic musical!

date March 13, 2015 — May 20, 2015

This epic musical features the words of Abraham Lincoln and music inspired by the letters of those who lived through the Civil War. With rousing music, stirring speeches and  historic costumes, Freedom’s Song evokes the soaring hopes and tragic losses of the real people of Civil War America. Through a series of highly theatrical vignettes, we see everyday Americans courageously confront the gritty realities of a tattered nation and a war that pitted brother against brother. Lincoln’s inspirational words intermix with these stories, imagining a bloody nation once again unified and the return of a truly United States. Jeff Calhoun (Broadway’s Newsies) returns to direct this lively historical opus.

Ford’s Theatre is developing this work as part of Ford’s 150, a series of events commemorating the 150th anniversary of Lincoln’s assassination.

Artistic Team

Written by Frank Wildhorn, Gregory Boyd and Jack Murphy
Music Frank Wildhorn
Adapted by Richard Hellesen and Mark Ramont
Director / Musical Staging Jeff Calhoun
Music Director Michael T. Sebastian
Music Advisor and Orchestrator Kim Scharnberg
Scenic Design Tobin Ost
Costume Design Wade Laboissonniere
Lighting Design Michael Gilliam
Sound Design David Budries
Projection Design Aaron Rhyne
Wig and Make-Up Design Anne Nesmith
Dialects Leigh Wilson Smiley
Military Choreographer David Leong
Props Designer/Coordinator Marie Scneggenburger
Production Stage Manager Craig A. Horness
Assistant Stage Manager Taryn Friend

Cast

Headshot for Carolyn Agan.

Carolyn Agan

Union Private’s Wife

Headshot of Todd Adamson

Todd Adamson

Union and Confederate Soldiers, Understudy

Headshot for Jessica Lauren Ball.

Jessica Lauren Ball

Understudy

Headshot of Ryan Burke.

Ryan Burke

Union and Confederate Soldiers

Headshot for Ashley Buster.

Ashley D. Buster

Slave / Fugitive’s Wife / Housekeeper

Headshot for Sam Edgerly

Samuel Edgerly

Union and Confederate Soldiers, Understudy

Headshot for Christopher Harris.

Christopher D. Harris

Union and Confederate Soldiers

Headshot for Michael Mainwaring.

Michael J. Mainwaring

Understudy

Headshot for Gregory Maheu.

Gregory Maheu

Union Private

Headshot for Kevin McAllister.

Kevin S. McAllister

Fugitive

Headshot for Matthew Myers.

Matthew G. Myers

Union and Confederate Soldiers, Understudy

Headshot for Ines Nassara.

Ines Nassara

Understudy

Tracy Lynn Olivera

Confederate Private’s Wife / Nurse

Headshot for Jobari Parker Namdar.

Jobari Parker-Namdar

Slaves / Abolitionists

Headshot for Nova Payton.

Nova Y. Payton

Storyteller / Slave / Housekeeper

Headshot for Rayshun Purfoy Lamarr.

Rayshun LaMarr Purefoy

Slaves / Abolitionists

Headshot for Darren Ritchie.

Darren Ritchie

Confederate Captain

Headshot for Matthew Schleigh.

Matthew Schleigh

Understudy

Headshot for Chris Sizemore.

Chris Sizemore

Confederate Sergeant, Understudy

Stephen Gregory Smith

Confederate Private, Dance Captain

Headshot for Jason Wooten.

Jason Wooten

Union Captain

From the Gallery