Washington, D.C.—The Abraham Lincoln Institute and Ford’s Theatre Society present a free full-day symposium focused on the life, career and legacy of President Abraham Lincoln, Saturday, March 21, 2020, at Ford’s Theatre (511 Tenth Street NW). Noted authors and historians will discuss aspects of our 16th president’s youth, popular memory and legacy, Civil War-era newspapers, the stigma of insanity that followed Mary Lincoln, and more. This event is free and open to the public. Advance registration for tickets is encouraged and available through March 2, 2020. Day-of tickets will be available on March 21, 2020, on a first-come basis.

Washington, D.C. – More than 400 local elementary and middle-school students will perform a selection of President Abraham Lincoln’s speeches on the Ford’s Theatre stage on the mornings of February 4 and 5, 2020. The programs feature local students who have worked with Ford’s Theatre Teaching Artists this school year to expand vocabulary, develop students’ confidence and public-speaking skills and build a comprehensive understanding of the oration of Abraham Lincoln.

Washington, D.C. — Ford’s Theatre Society announced that audiences and the company of "A Christmas Carol" raised $83,388.91 for Bright Beginnings during performances of this season’s "A Christmas Carol." Over the last 11 years, the company has raised more than $919,988 for Washington-area charities, aiding thousands within the D.C.-area who experience homelessness and hunger. Donations were collected for Bright Beginnings at curtain calls for performances from November 21 to December 29, 2019. Members of the company and crew for "A Christmas Carol" and Ford’s Theatre Society staff also contributed to the campaign.

Washington, D.C. – Ford’s Theatre Society announced that applications will now be accepted for their two summer 2020 teacher institutes: The Catherine B. Reynolds Foundation Civil War Washington and Set in Stone: Civil War Memory, Monuments and Myths. Civil War Washington and Set in Stone are week-long professional development programs for K-12 educators offered by Ford’s Theatre education staff in collaboration with the National Park Service. Registration is free for residential commuters (residents of Maryland, Northern Virginia and the District of Columbia, and/or those who do not require housing) and $500 for national participants, which includes a shared room for 6 nights at the Willard Intercontinental Hotel and roundtrip airfare. Applications are due by March 31, 2020.

Ford’s Theatre Society and TodayTix announced the fourth year of the popular Free First Preview initiative, through which free tickets are given away to the first performance of all Ford’s Theatre mainstage productions. The TodayTix digital lottery launches online and in the app one week before the first performance of each mainstage production in the 2019-2020 season. A total of 1,950 tickets will be given away.