Ford’s Theatre Legacy Commissions 2025 Places Historic ‘Lesser-Knowns’ Center Stage

Ford’s Theatre continued its newest tradition, established in 2021, to work with playwrights to broaden the American theatre canon. Ford’s Theatre Legacy Commissions, an artistic incubator, explores underrepresented characters and lesser-known historical figures and their contributions to American life.

Earlier in January, Ford’s Theatre presented its latest commissions with staged readings of three works: 

–Elysian Fields, book and lyrics by David Emerson Toney, music and lyrics by Christopher Youstra and directed by Craig Wallace (Fences, Necessary Sacrifices, Death of a Salesman, The Guard, Driving Miss Daisy), a Ford’s Theatre Associate Artist; 

–The Soldier From the Antilles by Nilo Cruz and directed by José Carrasquillo, director of artistic programming at Ford’s Theatre; and 

–The Last Morning by Gloria Reuben and directed by Sheldon Epps (SHOUT SISTER SHOUT; My Lord, What a Night; Twelve Angry Men).

“The Ford’s Theatre Legacy Commissions aims to create space for new perspectives that challenge, inspire, and deepen our understanding of the human experience,” said Ford’s Theatre Director Paul R. Tetreault.

“The writers of the works presented… bring us stories of survival and perseverance in the face of extraordinary circumstances, the complexity of familial bonds, and the hope found in friendship after profound loss. These stories are vital to shaping the future of our cultural narrative and we are proud to share these works for the first time with the public on our historic stage.”

To showcase these three new works in development, Ford’s offered a free, two-day festival with opportunities for expanded conversations. Each staged reading included a post-show dialogue with the creative team, allowing audiences to find out more about the creative process as well as learn about the characters and stories being shared.

Particularly intriguing was Gloria Reuben’s “Elizabeth Keckly & Mary Lincoln: The Last Morning.”

Reuben, who portrayed Mary Lincoln’s personal dressmaker and confidant in the movie Lincoln (2012), wrote her very first play through Ford’s Theatre Legacy Commissions to continue learning and sharing about this historic person she learned of and “fell in love with” in that role.

In her play, Keckly is putting the final touches on a dress she will give Mary as a parting gift during their last morning together inside the White House, and the two women have an intimate conversation reconciling loss and tragedy.

It’s a poignant work that even mentions Lincoln’s love of Ford’s Theatre, the place where he was assassinated while viewing a play on April 14, 1865.