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

Silhouette of a human head on black.

Carolyn Agan

Union Private’s Wife

Silhouette of a human head on black.

Todd Adamson

Union and Confederate Soldiers, Understudy

Silhouette of a human head on black.

Jessica Lauren Ball

Understudy

Silhouette of a human head on black.

Ryan Burke

Union and Confederate Soldiers

Silhouette of a human head on black.

Ashley D. Buster

Slave / Fugitive’s Wife / Housekeeper

Silhouette of a human head on black.

Samuel Edgerly

Union and Confederate Soldiers, Understudy

Silhouette of a human head on black.

Christopher D. Harris

Union and Confederate Soldiers

Silhouette of a human head on black.

Michael J. Mainwaring

Understudy

Silhouette of a human head on black.

Gregory Maheu

Union Private

Silhouette of a human head on black.

Kevin McAllister

Fugitive

Silhouette of a human head on black.

Matthew G. Myers

Union and Confederate Soldiers, Understudy

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Ines Nassara

Understudy

Silhouette of a human head on black.

Tracy Lynn Olivera

Confederate Private’s Wife / Nurse

Silhouette of a human head on black.

Jobari Parker-Namdar

Slaves / Abolitionists

Silhouette of a human head on black.

Nova Y. Payton

Storyteller / Slave / Housekeeper

Silhouette of a human head on black.

Rayshun LaMarr Purefoy

Slaves / Abolitionists

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Darren Ritchie

Confederate Captain

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Matthew Schleigh

Understudy

Silhouette of a human head on black.

Chris Sizemore

Confederate Sergeant, Understudy

Silhouette of a human head on black.

Stephen Gregory Smith

Confederate Private, Dance Captain

Silhouette of a human head on black.

Jason Wooten

Union Captain

From the Gallery

An African-American man dressed in 19th century clothing holds up his chained hands and sings.

Jobari Parker-Namdar in the Ford’s Theatre production of Freedom’s Song: Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War, directed by Jeff Calhoun. Photo by Scott Suchman.

Five men in union soldier uniforms stand and sing. Four hold rifles with bayonets on the end, a fifth holds a calvary saber.

Ryan Burke, Samuel Edgerly, Christopher D. Harris, Gregory Maheu and Jason Wooten in the Ford’s Theatre production of Freedom’s Song: Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War, directed by Jeff Calhoun. Photo by Scott Suchman.

A woman in 19th century clothing holds a swaddled infant and sings. Behind her is a confederate flag.

Tracy Lynn Olivera as a nurse in the Ford’s Theatre production of Freedom’s Song: Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War, directed by Jeff Calhoun. Photo by Scott Suchman.

An African-American man stands on a chair behind a table and gives a speech. Two women and a man listen to him. Behind him the text of the Declaration of Independence is projected, with the words "All Men Are Equal" superimposed.

Jobari Parker-Namdar, Rayshun LaMarr Purefoy, Ashley D. Buster and Nova Y. Payton in the Ford’s Theatre production of Freedom’s Song: Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War, directed by Jeff Calhoun. Photo by Scott Suchman.