Six African-Americans with their arms around each other's soldiers sing together.
The cast of the Ford’s Theatre Society production of Frank Wildhorn’s The Civil War, directed by Jeff Calhoun. Photo by T. Charles Erickson.

The Civil War

date March 27, 2009 — May 24, 2009

A musical landscape of the people, voices and sentiments of the American Civil War, the show is inspired by the words of Walt Whitman, Frederick Douglass, and Abraham Lincoln as well as the lives (as documented through letters, photographs, and journals) of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. This dramatic theatrical event puts a human face on the greatest tragedy of American history.

Artistic Team

Director Jeff Calhoun
Music Director Jay Crowder
Scenic Design Tobin Ost
Costume Design Wade Laboissoniere
Lighting Design Michael Gilliam
Sound Design David Budries
Video Design Aaron Rhyne
Wig and Make-up Design Cookie Jordan
Vocal Arranger/Director/Advisor Dave Clemmons
Production Stage Manager Craig A. Horness
Assistant Stage Manager Bradley C. Cooper
New York Casting Jim Carnahan, C.S.A; Steve Kopel

Cast

Silhouette of a human head on black.

Sarah Darling

Silhouette of a human head on black.

Elliot Dash

Silhouette of a human head on black.

Eleasha Gamble

Silhouette of a human head on black.

Michael Goodwin

Silhouette of a human head on black.

Darryl Reuben Hall

Silhouette of a human head on black.

Sean Jenness

Headshot for Matthew John Kacergis.

Matthew John Kacergis

Kellee Knighten

Silhouette of a human head on black.

Michael Lanning

Silhouette of a human head on black.

Kingsley Leggs

Silhouette of a human head on black.

Michael “Tuba” McKinsey

Silhouette of a human head on black.

Aaron Reeder

Silhouette of a human head on black.

Bart Shatto

Silhouette of a human head on black.

Timothy Shew

Headshot for Chris Sizemore.

Chris Sizemore

Stephen Gregory Smith

Bligh Voth

From the Gallery

Four men face each other in pairs. Between them are a set of union and Confederate uniforms on dummies. At the rear of the stage a group of musicians plan, and the confederate and American flags are projected against the rear wall.

(Left to right) Michael Lanning and Sean Jenness with the cast of the Ford’s Theatre Society production of Frank Wildhorn’s The Civil War, directed by Jeff Calhoun. Photo by T. Charles Erickson.

A group of men and women in white robes stand to either side of a stage and sing. In between the two groups an African-American man in black clothing sings along with them.

Kingsley Leggs (center) and the cast of the Ford’s Theatre Society production of Frank Wildhorn’s The Civil War, directed by Jeff Calhoun. Photo by T. Charles Erickson.

Six African-Americans with their arms around each other's soldiers sing together.

The cast of the Ford’s Theatre Society production of Frank Wildhorn’s The Civil War, directed by Jeff Calhoun. Photo by T. Charles Erickson.

Six African-Americans sing on stage. Three stands and three sit.

The cast of the Ford’s Theatre Society production of Frank Wildhorn’s The Civil War, directed by Jeff Calhoun. Photo by T. Charles Erickson.

A middle-aged man in black clothes sits and plays a guitar.

Michael Lanning in the Ford’s Theatre Society production of Frank Wildhorn’s The Civil War, directed by Jeff Calhoun. Photo by T. Charles Erickson.

An African-American woman in patterned yellow clothing sings in front of a large group of musicians and a chorus.

Eleasha Gamble (front) and the cast of the Ford’s Theatre Society production of Frank Wildhorn’s The Civil War, directed by Jeff Calhoun. Photo by T. Charles Erickson.