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1996-1997 Season

*Will Rogers' U.S.A
A Ford’s Theatre Society Production
Staged and Adapted by Paul Shyre
Featuring James Whitmore
September 24-October 20, 1996

The Gate of Heaven
Written by and Featuring Lane Nishikawa and Victor Talmadge
October 22-November 17, 1996

*A Christmas Carol
A Ford’s Theatre Society Production
Adapted by David H. Bell
Music Direction by Kevin Wallace
Featuring: Ron Parady
November 23-December 31, 1996

Mark Russell's Inaugural Follies
January 15-21, 1997

Twilight, Los Angeles, 1992
Conceived and performed by Anna Deavere Smith
January 30-February 14, 1997

ABC-TV Special – A Festival at Ford’s
Featuring: Natalie Cole, Kevin Spacey, Jon Bon Jovi, Elayne Boosler, Gregory Hines, Ronn Lucas, Bill Maher, The Pendragons
Gala Date: March 2, 1997

Paper Moon - Musical
A Ford’s Theatre Society Production
Book by Martin Casella
Music by Larry Grossman
Lyrics by Ellen Fitzhugh
March 14-June 29, 1997

1995-1996 Season

*Elmer Gantry - Musical
A Ford’s Theatre Society Production
Written by John Bishop
Directed by Michael Maggio
Featuring: John Dossett and Sharon Scruggs
September 12-November 5, 1995

ABC-TV Special – A Festival at Ford’s
Featuring: Brett Butler, Lincoln Tribute by Dennis Franz, Chicago, Jeff Foxworthy, The Pendragons, Paula Poundstone, The Temptations, Shania Twain
Gala Date: November 12, 1995
Air Date: November 18, 1995

*A Christmas Carol
A Ford’s Theatre Society Production
Directed by David H. Bell
Music Direction by George Fulginiti Shakar
Featuring: Ron Parady and Brigid Cleary
November 21-December 31, 1995

ABC-TV Special – A Festival at Ford’s
Featuring: Brett Butler, Dennis Franz (Lincoln Tribute), Chicago, Jeff Foxworthy, The Pendragons, Paula Poundstone, The Temptations, Shania Twain
Gala Date: November 12, 1995
Air Date: November 18, 1995

The Magnificent Yankee
A Ford’s Theatre Society Production
Written by Emmet Lavery
Directed by Peter Hunt
Featuring: James Whitmore and Audra Lindley
February 2-March 10, 1996

*The Fantastics - Musical
A Ford’s Theatre Society Production
Written by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt
Directed by James Mellon
Musical Direction by David Andrews Rogers/Larry Pressgrove
Featuring: Joe Sears and Jaston Williams
March 16-July 21, 1996

1994-1995 Season

*The Foreigner
A Ford’s Theatre Society Production
Written by Larry Shue
Directed by David McKenna
Featuring: Jaston Williams, Joe Sears, Kevin Bailey, Kathleen Couser, Jonathan Lutz, Tim Mateer, Luther Williams
September 16-October 23, 1994

ABC-TV Special – A Festival at Ford’s
Featuring: Whoopi Goldberg, Paul Reiser, Sam Waterston, Celine Dion, Kenny G, Denis Lacombe, Little Richard, Paula Poundstone, Luther Vandross
Gala Date: October 30, 1994
Air Date: December 7, 1994

*A Christmas Carol
A Ford’s Theatre Society Production
Adapted by David H. Bell
Music Direction by Rob Bowman
November 22, 1994-January 1, 1995

A Raisin in the Sun
Co-Produced with George Street Playhouse, New Brunswick, New Jersey
Written by Lorraine Hansberry
Directed by Seret Scott
Featuring: Joey Allen, Charles Geyer, Sheila Gibbs, Ayo Haynes, Tyrone Mitchell Henderson, Scott Lawrence, Eddie L. Murphy III, Brenda Pressley, Maduka Steady

Nunsense II - Musical
A Ford’s Theatre Society Production
Written and directed by Dan Goggin
Featuring: Amanda Butterbaugh, Nancy Carroll, Carolyn Droscoski, Susan Emerson, Terri White, Teri Gibson
March 17-June 18, 1995

1993-1994 Season

Beau Jest
A Ford’s Theatre Society Production in association with Arthur Cantor
Written by James Sherman
Directed by Dennis Zacek
Featuring Roslyn Alexander, Bernie Landis, Scott Morgan, Isabel Rose, Stephen L. Schmidt, Sal Viviano
September 21-October 24, 1993

ABC-TV Special – A Gala for the President at Ford's Theatre (25th Anniversary)
Featuring: Whoopi Goldberg, Jay Leno, Michael Bolton, Boyz II Men, Brett Butler, Natalie Cole, Michael Davis, Kenny Loggins and the Eastern High School Choir
Gala Date: October 30, 1993
Air Date: November 24, 1993

*A Christmas Carol
A Ford’s Theatre Society Production
Adapted by David H. Bell
Music Direction by Rob Bowman
November 16 1993-January 2, 1994

Shakespeare for my Father
A Ford’s Theatre Society Production in association with John Clark
Written and conceived by Lynn Redgrave
Directed by John Clark
Featuring: Lynn Redgrave
February 1-27, 1994

The Foreigner
A Ford’s Theatre Society Production
Written by Larry Shue
Directed by David McKenna
Featuring: Jaston Williams, Joe Sears, Kevin Bailey, Kathleen Couser, Jonathan Lutz, Tim Mateer, Luther Williams
March 17-April 17, 1994

*Hot Mikado - Musical
A Ford’s Theatre Society Production
Written by Gilbert and Sullivan
Book & lyrics adapted by Rob Bowman
Directed and choreographed by David H. Bell
Musical arrangements and direction by Rob Bowman
Featuring Robin Baxter, Loretta Devine, Lawrence Hamilton, Ross Lehman, Paul Matsumoto, Susan Moniz, Victoria Platt, David Toney, Ben Wright
April 26-July 24, 1994

1992-1993 Season

Captains Courageous: The Musical - Musical (World Premiere)
A Ford’s Theatre Society Production
Music by Frederick Freyer
Book and lyrics by Patrick Cook
Directed and choreographed by Graciela Daniele
Musical Direction by James Kowal
Orchestrations by Doug Besterman
Featuring John Dossett, Mark Aldrich, Larry Alexander, Don Chastain, Frank DiPasquale, Michael Greenwood, Walter Hudson, George Kmeck, Joseph Kolinski, Michael Mandell, John Mineo, Kel O’Neill, Ric Ryder, Michael Shelle, Richard Thomsen and John Leslie Wolfe
September 9-November 8, 1992

*A Christmas Carol
A Ford’s Theatre Society Production
Adapted by David H. Bell
Music Direction by Rob Bowman
November 19 1992-January 3, 1993

The Good Times are Killing Me
A Ford’s Theatre Society Production
Written by Linda Barry
Directed by Mark Brokaw
Featuring Joey Allen, Bridget Barkan, Kevin Chamberlain, Tony Fair, Holly Felton, Harriett D. Foy, LaShonda Hunt, Lianne Kressin, Harry S. Murphy, Erin J. O’Brien, Peggy Poage, Marisa Stewart, James Stovall, Sybil Walker
February 3-March 21, 1993

Five Guys Named Moe - Musical
A Ford’s Theatre Society Production in association with Cameron MacIntosh
Written by Clarke Peters, with Louis Jordan’s greatest hits
Directed and choreographed by Charles Augins
Featuring Michael Demby-Cain, Jeffrey C. Ferguson, Reggie Kelly, Monroe Kent III, Andre Montgomery
March 30-July 1993

1991-1992 Season

*Will Rogers' U.S.A.
A Ford’s Theatre Society Production
Staged and Adapted by Paul Shyre
Featuring James Whitmore
October 3-November 10, 1991

*A Christmas Carol
A Ford’s Theatre Society Production
Directed by David H. Bell
Music Direction by Rob Bowman
November 19-December 29, 1991

Zora Neale Hurston: A Theatrical Biography
Written by Laurence Holder
Directed by Shirley Prendergast
Featuring: Elizabeth Van Dyke
January 28-February 23, 1992

Conrack - Musical (World Premiere)
A Ford’s Theatre Society Production
Lyrics by Anne Croswell
Music by Lee Pockriss
Book by Granville Burgess
Choreography by Gregg Burge
Directed by Lonnie Price
Featuring: Patrick Cassidy, Joran Corneal, Tina Fabrique, Natalia Harris, Pamela Isaacs, Cory King, Nicole Leach, Ls Shayla Logan, Larry Marshall, Norman Matlock, Ella Mitchell, Kevin Reese, Myra Taylor, Evan Thompson, Baakari Wilder
February 29-April 26, 1992

ABC-TV Special – A Festival at FORD’S (Saluting Our Hispanic Heritage)
Featuring: Ricardo Montalban, Jimmy Smits, Ballet Hispanico, Vicki Carr, David Copperfield, Celia Cruz, Freddy Fender, Barry Manilow, Rita Moreno, Tito Puente, Eddie Torres Dancers, Paul Rodriguez, Arturo Sandoval, Ricky Van Shelton, Vanessa Williams, “Zed” and the Eastern High School Choir
Gala Date: June 14, 1992
Air Date: July 11, 1992

1990-1991 Season

Mountain
Written by Douglas Scott
Directed by John Henry Davis
Featuring: Len Cariou, Heather Summerhayes, Ivar Brogger
September 29-October 28, 1990

*A Christmas Carol
A Ford’s Theatre Society Production
Adapted and Directed by David H. Bell
Music Direction by Rob Bowman
Featuring: John L. Cooke
November 20-December 30, 1990

Black Eagles
A Ford’s Theatre Society Production in association with Crossroads Theatre Company
Written by Leslie Lee
Directed by Ricardo Khan
February 3-March 3, 1991

ABC-TV Special – A Celebration of Country at Ford’s Theatre
Featuring: Teri Garr, John Ritter, Morgan Freeman, Tammy Wynette, Clint Black, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Randy Travis, Lorrie Morgan, K.T. Oslin, Alabama, Alan Jackson, The Statlers, Ricky Skaggs, The Whites, Dan Menendez, Andy Andrews, Pendley & Wolz
Gala Date: March 10, 1991

*Forever Plaid - Musical
A Ford’s Theatre Society Production
Written, Directed and Staged by Stuart Ross
Musical arrangements by James Raitt
Musical direction by Rob Bowman
Featuring: Paul Binotto, Gregory Jbara, Neil Nash and Michael Winther
March 17-July 28, 1991

1989-1990 Season

Don't Let this Dream Go - A Musical Celebration of Mahalia Jackson - Musical (World Premiere)
A Ford’s Theatre Society Production
Conceived and Written by Queen Ester Marrow
Music and lyrics by Queen Ester Marrow
Musical Supervision and Additional Music & Lyrics by Reginald Royal
Directed by Robert Kalfin
Featuring: Lynette G. DuPre’, Doug Eskew, Carl Hall and Gwen Stewart
October 10-November 12, 1989

*A Christmas Carol
A Ford’s Theatre Society Production
Adapted and Directed by David H. Bell
Music Direction by Rob Bowman
Featuring: Steve Crossley
November 21, 1989-January 1, 1990

Sheila's Day - Musical
A Ford’s Theatre Society Production with Crossroads Theatre Company
Written by Duma Ndluvo
Directed by Mbongeni Ngema
Featuring: Ebony Jo Ann & Letta Mbulu
February 2-March 18, 1990

TBS-TV Special – A Festival at Ford’s
Featuring: John Forsythe, Valerie Harper, Tony Bennett, Dick Capri, Christopher, Roy Clark, The Gatlin Brothers, Janie Fricke, Jake Johannsen, Queen Ester Marrow, Jim McBride, Jim Morris, Diane Schuur, Tanya Tucker, Tommy Tune, Duke Ellington School Choir
Gala Date: March 25, 1990
Air Date: July 4, 1990

Woodie Guthrie's American Song - Musical
A Ford’s Theatre Society Production
Songs and writings by Woody Guthrie
Conceived and Directed by Peter Glazer
Featuring: Mimi Bessette, Liz Seneff Corrigan, David Lutken, James J. Stein, Jr., Scott Wakefield
March 30-June 17, 1990

Grandma Moses, An American Primitive
Written by Stephen Pouliot
Directed by Howard Dallin
Featuring: Cloris Leachman
June 19-July 8, 1990

*Sheila's Day - Musical
A Ford’s Theatre Society Production with Crossroads Theatre Company
Written by Duma Ndluvo
Directed by Mbongeni Ngema
Featuring: Ebony Jo Ann & Letta Mbulu
July 11-August 5, 1990

1988-1989 Season

Sammy Cahn: Words & Music - Musical
Directed by Paul Blake
Musical Direction by Peter Daniels
Featuring: Sammy Cahn, Leola Jiles, Dennis A. McNeil, Anne Tofflemire
September 16-October 16, 1988

*Jeeves Takes Charge
Conceived and adapted by Edward Duke
Directed by Gillian Lynne
Featuring: Edward Duke
October 21-November 13, 1988

*A Christmas Carol
A Ford’s Theatre Society Production
Adapted by David H. Bell
Directed by Mikel Sarah Lambert
Music Direction by Rob Bowman
Featuring: Steven Crossley
November 22 1988-January 1, 1989

God's Trombones - Musical
A Ford’s Theatre Society Production
Written by James Weldon Johnson
Directed by Woodie King, Jr.
Musical Direction by Steven Ford's Theatre
Featuring: Al Freeman, Jr., Theresa Merritt, Lex Monson, Trazana Beverley, Margaret Bell
January 29-February 26, 1989

Michael Feinstein in Concert: Isn't It Romantic - Musical
Staged by Christopher Chadman
Musical Direction by Joel Silberman
Featuring: Michael Feinstein
February 28-March 26, 1989

American Juke Box - Musical
Directed and choreographed by Edward Love
Musical Direction by Larry Wallace
Featuring: Shelley Brandt, Sandy Flavin, Denise Morgan
March 31-August 13, 1989

1987-1988 Season

A Woman of Independent Means - Musical
Written by Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey
Featuring: Barbara Rush
September 15-October 11, 1987

*Greater Tuna
Written by Joe Sears, Jaston Williams and Ed Howard
Featuring: Joe Sears, Jaston Williams
October 13-November 8, 1987

The American Indian Dance Theatre
Directed and Staged by Hanay Geiogamah and Raoul Trujillo
Featuring: Candice Anderson, Joy Anderson, Bill Baker, Sidrick Baker, Saunders BearsTail, Jr., Lisa Ewack, Fabian Fontenelle, Troy Fontenelle, Philip Kaiyou, Chester Mahooty, Dorothy Mahooty, Arlie Neskahi, Adam Nordwall, Marty Pinnecoose, Edwin Preston, Charles Tailfeathers, Danell Tailfeathers, Morgan Tosee, Andy Vasquez, Tom Mauchahty Ware, Norwyn Wesley, Stacy Wesley, Jonathan WindyBoy, Lloyd Yellowbird
November 10 – 22, 1988

A Christams Carol (World Premiere)
A Ford´s Theatre Society Production
Adapted and directed by David H. Bell
Musical direction by Rob Bowman
Featuring: Steven Crossley
November 27, 1987 – January 3, 1988

Elmer Gantry - Musical (World Premiere)
A Ford’s Theatre Society Production
Written by John Bishop
Music by Mel Marvin
Lyrics by Bob Satuloff, John Bishop, David H. Bell
Directed by David H. Bell
Featuring Casey Biggs & Sharon Scruggs
February 10 – June 17, 1988

ABC-TV Special – A Festival at Ford's
Featuring: Harry Hamlin, Jane Seymour, James Stewart, Frankie Avalon, Sid Caesar, Rosemary Clooney, Clifton Davis, Fabian, Michael Feinstein, Joseph Gabriel, LaToya Jackson, Shirley Jones, Robert Klein, The Raspyni Brothers, The Williams Brothers, and the cast of ELMER GANTRY
Gala Date: June 24, 1988

*Encore Production