Ford’s Theatre Society and the National Park Service announce Ford’s Theatre and the Ford’s Theatre Museum will reopen to the public for visitation on Wednesday, May 12, 2021, with advance tickets required. Tickets for May 12-16 will be available online beginning May 7, 2021, at 10 a.m. Visits to Ford’s Theatre are self-guided. Ford’s Theatre and Museum will operate with a modified schedule for daytime visitation on Wednesdays through Sundays with required advance tickets. Tickets will be available each Friday for the following Wednesday-Sunday. Timed entry to Ford’s Theatre and Museum will be available on the hour from 10 a.m. to noon, and from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The site will be closed during the 1 p.m. hour for cleaning. A maximum number of 25 visitors per hour are permitted in the building during this stage of reopening.

Washington, D.C. – Ford’s Theatre commemorates the 156th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination and death on April 14 and 15, and throughout the month of April with digital programming.

Washington, D.C.— Ford’s Theatre has announced an audio drama adaptation of Richard Hellesen’s “Necessary Sacrifices,” featuring acclaimed Washington actors Craig Wallace as Frederick Douglass and Paul Morella as Abraham Lincoln. Psalmayene 24 makes his Ford’s directorial debut. The radio play will be made available to Ford’s Theatre Members on April 6 and to the public on April 12-May 30 via the Ford’s Theatre website, www.fords.org. WPFW 89.3FM, Pacifica radio in the nation’s capital, is Broadcast and Media Partner for “Necessary Sacrifices,” and will air the play April 15 at 5:00 p.m. and April 21 at 3:00 p.m. WPFW also will make the broadcast available to other Pacifica radio stations nationwide during April and May 2021.

The Abraham Lincoln Institute and Ford’s Theatre Society present a free online symposium series focused on the life, career and legacy of President Abraham Lincoln, Mondays, March 22, April 5, April 19 and May 3 at 4:00 p.m. EDT. Events are simulcast to audiences through Ford’s Theatre digital platforms including Facebook Live, YouTube, Twitter and the Ford’s Theatre website. Speakers include David S. Reynolds, H. W. Brands, Ted Widmer, R.J.M. Blackett, Lucas E. Morel, Mark E. Steiner, Tamika Nunley and Carroll “C.R.” Gibbs.

Washington, D.C. – Ford’s Theatre announced the launch of its monthly “Our Words, Our Power” workshop series, exploring how ordinary citizens and public figures use their words to inspire change and shape our world. The hour-long workshops are livestreamed over Zoom at 7:00 p.m. ET on select Mondays, February 22 - June 21, 2021. Each includes a performance of a notable speech or poem on a particular theme, a facilitated discussion on the speech’s impact, the emotions evoked and the relevancy of the words today, and applicable tips that anyone can use to improve public speaking.

Washington, D.C. – Due to rising regional and national cases related to the coronavirus pandemic, Ford’s Theatre National Historic Site will temporarily close to the public starting Monday, Nov. 23. Virtual programming such as the scheduled monthly Cabinet Conversations (Dec. 17), Virtual Play Readings (Dec. 10) and distance-learning events will continue. “Ford’s Theatre Society and the National Park Service reopened Ford’s Theatre and its museum on a limited basis on October 14, after a seven-month closure,” explained Paul R. Tetreault, director of Ford’s Theatre Society. “We have implemented a series of new health and safety measures to safely welcome back visitors. However, we cannot ignore the rising cases in our city and region. Based on the data and in partnership with the National Park Service, we are reclosing the site to further protect our staff and visitors.”

Washington – Ford’s Theatre Society and the National Park Service announce a phased reopening schedule for Ford’s Theatre and the Ford’s Theatre Museum beginning Wednesday, October 14, 2020, with advance tickets required. Tickets for October 14-18 will be available online beginning October 13, 2020, at 10 a.m. Following the initial opening, Ford’s Theatre and its museum will operate with a modified schedule for daytime visitation on Wednesdays through Sundays with required advance tickets. Timed entry to Ford’s Theatre and museum will be available on the hour from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., and from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The site will be closed during the 1 p.m. hour for cleaning. Adhering to capacity policies set forth by DC Health, a maximum number of 25 visitors per hour are permitted in the building during this stage of reopening.

Washington, D.C.— Ford’s Theatre Director Paul R. Tetreault today announced that Sheldon Epps will join the theatre’s leadership team as Senior Artistic Advisor. Epps steps into the new role as the theatre reevaluates its 2020-2021 season amid the national reckoning for racial justice and the impacts of COVID-19 on live performances. “I am thrilled to welcome Sheldon Epps to the Ford’s Theatre family,” said Tetreault. “D.C. audiences will know Sheldon from his 2019 production of “Twelve Angry Men,” when he gave new relevance to this iconic drama and its themes of racism in America. I have known Sheldon for more than 20 years and been an admirer of his work as a director and producer. Over the last several years, I have relied on his counsel not only for the works he has (and will) direct but also on his programming ideas and direction of the company. Sheldon’s insight, leadership, talent and deep capacity for empathy will be vital to our path forward. As we revisit our 2020-2021 season, we commit to using our power to tell stories that speak to the present moment with courage, hope, inspiration, joy and healing. We rededicate ourselves to the great work that consumed Lincoln’s life, building a more just and peaceful world, through the power of our creative voices.”