Our Lincoln

Our Lincoln shines in Washington, D.C.

Thank You, Kentucky!

ORDER YOUR COPY OF OUR LINCOLN DVD HERE.

VIEW TRAILER FOR OUR LINCOLN DVD HERE.

In spite of the worst natural disaster in Kentucky's history, our show did go on.

If you were there on February 2, you saw a cast of more than 350 performers, nearly all of them Kentuckians, who delivered a musical, theatrical and historical tribute to the nation's 16th president, Kentucky-born Abraham Lincoln.  Billed as "Kentucky's Gift to the Nation," this grand presentation of the Kentucky Humanities Council received standing ovations at the end of both acts at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.  People came from Kentucky, Washington, D.C., and seven states to enjoy the nation's only grand celebration in Washington of Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday.

Our Lincoln included XM Radio's and Louisvillian Bob Edwards as master of ceremonies and television and radio personality, journalist Nick Clooney reading Aaron Copland's Lincoln Portrait.  Special guest Congressman Ben Chandler was on hand to welcome everyone.

The internationally acclaimed American Spiritual Ensemble with soloist Angelique Clay brought tears to many eyes by ending the first act with "My Country 'Tis of The," commemorating Marian Anderson's historic 1939 concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

UK Opera Theatre performed selections from River of Time, a new Kentucky folk opera about Lincoln as a young man.  The Lexington Singers, their Children's Choir, and the UK chorale lent their talents of over 200 voices to "Songs of Freedom" from the Lincoln era and ended act 2 in full force with the orchestra, singing the "Battle Hymn of the Republic."  Nationally recognized violinist Mark O'Connor played his own heart-stopping music and the "Ashokan Farewell," known widely to the public as the theme of filmmaker Ken Burns' series, the Civil War; Metropolitan Opera star Angela Brown performed a selection from the opera Margaret Garner and an incredible rendition of "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands;" and Kentucky's own Met star, tenor Gregory Turay, performed the world premiere of Gettysburg Address, an anthem by Alan Gershwin.

The University of Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, John Nardolillo, conductor, played throughout, opening the show with Aaron Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man."

Kentucky's poet laureate, Jane Gentry, read her new poem dedicated to the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln, and the Lexington Vintage Dance society recreated a waltz from Lincoln's 1861 inaugural ball.

Dramatic selections throughout included Kentucky Repertory theatre's cameo from One Man's Lincoln, Wade Hall's original drama about Lincoln as told by his law partner and fellow Kentuckian, Billy Herndon.  Kentucky Chautauquans Henry Clay, Mary Owens, and Emilie Todd Helm offered the opinions of Kentuckians who knew Lincoln well.

The Kentucky Humanities Council's Virginia Carrter and UK Opera Theatre's director Everett McCorvey, executive co-producers of Our Lincoln, agreed a year ago that it should be Kentucky that would celebrate the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln in Washington: "We are grateful to all Kentuckians who joined us in the audience or on the stage, to all of our sponsors who made this event possible, and for this once in a lifetime opportunity to pay tribute to a great American and Kentuckian."

Click here to view photo gallery of pictures from Our Lincoln at the John F. Kennedy Performing Arts Center.

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