The world premiere of “Necessary Sacrifices” by playwright Richard Hellesen is Ford Theatre’s latest production centered around the Civil War. This time, the focus is on the encounters between Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass the summers of 1863 to 1864 as documented in the latter’s three-volume biography. Both David Selby, who plays Lincoln, and Craig Wallace as Douglass are veteran performers at Ford’s. Wallace replaces David Emerson Toney who was taken ill. Selby not only looks like Lincoln and has played him in numerous stage productions, but the 16th president is the subject of his latest book, “Lincoln’s Better Angel.”
Jennifer Nelson, the director of special programming for the Ford’s Theatre Society, directs the production. An actress and playwright, she honed her informed perspective as producing artistic director of the African Continuum Theatre and from her heritage as the daughter of a Tuskegee Airman.
| Onstage |
| ‘Necessary Sacrifices’ |
| Where: Ford’s Theatre, 522 Tenth Street NW |
| When: Through Feb. 18 |
| Info: $15 to $52 at Ticketmaster 800-982-2787 or fords.org., 202-347-4833. |
“Hellesen used Douglass’ point of view put forth in the third volume of his biography,” Nelson said. “Unfortunately, there are no similar documents by Lincoln because his son Robert burned them; he did not want his parents’ papers to reach the public. Nevertheless, we know from Douglass’ papers that Lincoln struggled a great deal with slavery. He wondered if he should give in to his political opponents and members of his own party or go with abolition.
“Above all, he wanted to insure that all men in the new union would be free and equal and he sought a way to end the war to bring the Southern states back into the union. At the same time, he didn’t think he had the power to legally issue the Emancipation Proclamation for all states. Because he had great compassion for the Southern states, he wanted to let them off easy. Douglass saw this as compromising and didn’t understand Lincoln’s hesitancy.”
The play debuts the opening of the Ford’s Theatre Center for Education and Leadership, established to bring the values and ideals of Lincoln from the past into the present. His legacy will be celebrated there in permanent and special exhibits, workshops, seminars and community outreach programs. Located across the street from Ford’s Theatre, it includes rotating exhibits, lecture space, two floors of education studios, after-school programs and state-of-the-art technology allowing students and teachers to communicate worldwide.
“When I look back at this show, I’ll remember everything I learned about Frederick Douglass,” Nelson said. “While directing ‘Raisin in the Sun,’ last fall in Baltimore, I realized for the first time how relevant it is today. “Housing, jobs and other problems common in 1956 are still here in 2012. So many people get stuck and can’t find their way out. Frederick Douglass did. His learning led to the mission of his life and, by escaping personal circumstances, he broadened his world.”
