New Musical: “The Lincolns of Springfield”
I was asked to help publicize a new musical that premiered on June 15 and will run up through July 30. Here is more information about the play, which looks like a lot of fun. Hopefully, you will be able to attend!
“The Lincolns of Springfield,” is a new musical showing in Springfield, Illinois; a town long associated with President Abraham Lincoln and his wife Mary Todd Lincoln. … People interested in Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War are coming from throughout the country to attend a performance during the musical’s six week run. We would like more people throughout the United States to know about this wonderful musical and come to Springfield on a fun summer road trip. Additionally, Civil War reenactors who attend a performance in uniform will receive a lovely gift!
The Lincolns of Springfield chronicles the incredible story of America’s greatest President and his much-loved wife, from their first meeting, through the end of the Civil War. The audience is led down the highly improbable, yet entirely truthful, humorous and delightfully romantic path that leads to the courtship and marriage of the most unlikely of couples, the young Abe Lincoln and Mary Todd—America’s first power couple—whose husband freed a People and saved our country.
THE LINCOLNS OF SPRINGFIELD
MATTHEW PATRICK DAVIS, DEBORAH ROBIN, ROSEMARY BLANKSON, and MICHAL DAWSON CONNOR bring Terrence L. Cranert’s stirring new musical love story to life.
The cast is completed with a gospel choir featuring Jacquelyn Levy, Linda Broadus Miles, Lacy Nicole Mason, and Philip David Hunter and a talented ensemble featuring Noah Heie, Casey Ryan, Megan Holeman, Lauren Barette, Catherine Oregon, Christine Gillian, Matt DeNoto, and Michael Reese Shald.
This musical for the entire family premiered in Springfield, Illinois on June 15 at Hoogland Center for the Arts – Peggy Ryder Theater, 420 South Sixth Street, Springfield, Illinois, and runs through July 30.
The Lincolns of Springfield tells the love story you won’t find in the history books. The audience is led down a delightfully romantic path leading to the marriage of the most unlikely of couples, Mary Todd and Abe Lincoln, a Southern Belle and a backwoods genius. The Lincolns of Springfield chronicles the incredible story of one of America’s greatest President and his much-loved wife, from their first meeting through the end of the Civil War. From the moment the curtain rises, audiences are drawn into two very different worlds… Mary’s tumultuous world of the antebellum South—with gentility and honor juxtaposed against the backdrop of the scourge of slavery—and Abe’s vibrant, fearless world of possibilities that is America’s new frontier. Currently scheduled to perform throughout June and July at the Peggy Ryder Theater of the Hoogland Center for the Arts, the producers are currently in negotiation to bring the production to the New York stage.
MEET THE CAST
MATTHEW PATRICK DAVIS (ABRAHAM LINCOLN) Broadway credits include Side Show. Regional credits include The Wizard of Oz (TACFA); The Nightingale, Limelight, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (La Jolla Playhouse); A Cinderella Christmas, South Street (Pasadena Playhouse); Haunted House Party (Getty Villa); Four Chords and a Gun (Bootleg Theater); The Complete History of America (abridged) (Falcon Theatre). He is a recipient of the LA Ovation Award.
DEBORAH ROBIN (MARY TODD LINCOLN) has also played the lead character of Doris Day in Day After Day: The Life and Music of Doris Day for which she was named Best Actress in a Musical by the Orange County Theater Guild. She also played Mary Poppins at Center Theater Group, Christine in Phantom of the Opera and Belle in Beauty & the Beast among others.
ROSEMARY BLANKSON (ELIZABETH KECKLEY) is also a licensed music educator and experienced vocal coach and has taught both in Georgia and California. Rosemary is a member of the Actor’s Equity Association and originated the role of Elizabeth Keckley in the debut of The Lincolns of Springfield in 2009. She has starred in many theatrical and stage productions including Hairspray, Once on This Island, Smokey Joe’s Cafe and Thoroughly Modern Millie, to name a few.
MICHAL DAWSON CONNOR (TOM LINCOLN) is an accomplished performer and composer of choral, chamber, and solo vocal works, with a particular emphasis on slave songs created before the Civil War. Broadway credits include featured performances in the Tony-Award winning productions of RAGTIME and SHOWBOAT as well as starring roles in productions of THE MOST HAPPY FELLA, BIG RIVER, and PORGY AND BESS. He’s immensely proud of performing for Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Reverend Billy Graham, Elizabeth Dole, and Admiral Michael Mullen.
www.TheLincolnsOfSpringfield.com
Latest Review: https://www.ss-mag.com/online/a-review-the-lincolns-of-springfield-the-musical
