A Report to Our Patrons

Cover header photo by Maxwell MacKenzie.
Ford’s Theatre Dispatch
Center for Education and Leadership to Open February 2012
Soon visitors to Ford’s Theatre can explore
the Aftermath Gallery, including one exhibit
that recreates the tobacco barn where John
Wilkes Booth was captured and killed. Visitors
will learn of the fate of his co-conspirators and
about Reconstruction following the Civil War.
Rendering by Split Rock Studios.
The transformation of Tenth Street is nearly
complete. This February, Ford’s Theatre will
celebrate the grand opening of the Center
for Education and Leadership. Split Rock
Studios—the design firm that re-imagined
the Ford’s Theatre museum—is putting
finishing touches on two floors of new
museum exhibits.
“We’re excited to open these new exhibits
that provide visitors with greater context to
understand the significance of the Lincoln
assassination at Ford’s Theatre,” said Director
Paul R. Tetreault. “The Center also has two
floors of education studios that will allow more
educational programs to happen on site.”
A Report to Our Patrons
In This Issue:
Message
...................................................1
Thank you to the supporters of the Abraham
Lincoln Bicentennial Campaign that helped to
make our vision for this Center a reality.
Match Campaign Results
...................................................2
To contribute to the Bicentennial Campaign,
visit us at www.fords.org or call (202) 434-9534.
Bricks Update
...................................................2
Photos by Alysse Bortolotto.
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New Membership Benefits
...................................................2
Donor Spotlight
...................................................3
Board of Governors
...................................................3
Ford’s Theatre
514 Tenth St., NW
Washington, DC 20004
(202) 434-9545
www.fords.org
Center for Education and
Leadership
...................................................4
Fall | 2011
A Message from our Director
Without our community of supporters, none of the exciting
events that are happening at Ford’s Theatre this season would
be possible. And so, I am compelled to begin by thanking you
once again.
This February, we open the Center for Education and Leadership
and celebrate the completion of a “Ford’s Theatre Campus”
dedicated to the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln. Many of
you have supported us throughout this process that began in
2007 with renovations to Ford’s Theatre. Your generous support
given through the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Campaign has
made this vision of an enhanced Ford’s Theatre a reality. And on
behalf of the millions of students and families who will enjoy
the new museum exhibits and learn in the new education
studios of the Center—I thank you.
I am pleased to share that when the doors to the Center open in February 2012, we will welcome the
public into a building that is paid for completely. Although we still need $8 million more to reach
our campaign goal of $60+ million, this money will go toward an endowment that will sustain the
programming of the Center and theatre over time.
One exhibit hall in the Center called Legacies explores Lincoln’s lasting influence on this nation and the
world. This exhibit ties in thematically with a new initiative launched this year called The Lincoln Legacy
Project. For the next five years, Ford’s Theatre will start each theatre season with a Legacy Project play and
use it as a springboard for community conversations to promote dialogue around the issues of tolerance,
equality and acceptance. In this way, we honor Lincoln’s spirit of reconciliation that began the process
to “bind the nation’s wounds.” I hope that you have the opportunity to see Parade, the first of these
productions, and that you’ll join us at a Legacy Project event.
As we speak of exciting changes and improvements, I want to highlight what remains unchanged about
Ford’s Theatre. We continue our commitment to founder Frankie Hewitt’s vision that Ford’s be a living,
producing theatre that celebrates Lincoln’s love of the performing arts. We embrace her idea that in our
nation’s capital, Ford’s Theatre will be a place where Americans and their leaders of all political stripes can
come together.
I look forward to seeing you at the opening of the Center for Education and Leadership. We have much to
celebrate!
Sincerely,
Paul R. Tetreault
Director
Ford’s Theatre | 511 Tenth St. NW | Washington, D.C. 20004 | (202) 434-9545 | www.fords.org
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Ford’s Theatre Dispatch
THANKS TO YOU
Our New and Loyal Supporters!
On August 31, 2011, we wrapped up our fiscal year as well as our first ever MATCH
CAMPAIGN. After a $260,000 federal cut made by the U.S. Commission of Fine
Arts (COFA) that hit Ford’s in May 2011, our board of trustee members stepped up
with a $100,000 match challenge. For every dollar that our supporters donated, it
would be matched 1 to 1!
Ford’s Theatre would like to thank the more than 600 donors who gave to the
match campaign. With your generous support and trustee match, we are excited
to announce that our stage is now complete! We truly have some of the greatest
donors, and we couldn’t do what we do every year without you. Thank you!
Photo of Kelly Karbacz, Geoff Packard, Thomas
Adrian Simpson and Gia Mora by T. Charles Erickson.
Your donations support many facets of Ford’s
Theatre Society, such as our education programs, theatrical
productions and much more. Without your support, we wouldn’t be able to:
ØØ
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Welcome 544,279 visitors in the last 12 months
Produce the world premiere musical Liberty Smith for 29,563 attendees
Provide audio tours for 32,368 people
Serve 49 schools and thousands of students this past year
Give out 697 free matinee tickets to local students
Host 346 students at the Target Oratory Festival
BRICKS UPDATE
New Membership
Benefits
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22933 Fords Theatre Newsletter.indd 2
She began her 40-year career in 1829 at the
age of 16, and in 1863 she began work at
Ford’s Theatre for $25 a week.
Family legend says that on the night of April
14, after JWB jumps from the presidential
box and runs backstage, he trips over Helen’s
makeup box (several experts have debunked
this theory, but I like to believe it to be true).
Helen’s son, my great grandfather Arthur
Muzzy of the 1st battalion Washington Light
Infantry Corps., was one of the first to give
chase on horseback.
Some highlights:
ØØ New Names
—— Ensemble = $50 level
—— Player = $100 level
—— Lead = $250 level
—— Star = $500 level
—— Patron = $1,000 level
—— Visionary = $2,500 NEW level
—— Luminary = $5,000 level
ØØ New Benefit (depending on membership
level)
—— Drink or concession vouchers
—— More invitations to special events
including dress rehearsals
—— Personal guided tour by Ford’s staff
through the museum
ØØ This year Ford’s will host our second annual
Holiday Open House for all current
members on Monday, December 5, 2011.
Join us as we celebrate and toast the people
who make the things we do possible — our
members! This exclusive, members-only
night will include refreshments, guided
tours of the museum and theatre, additional
discounts in the Ford’s Theatre Gift Shop
and complimentary gift-wrapping so you
can get a jump on your holiday shopping!
She lived out her retirement on nearby 14th
Street teaching acting to young ladies and
passed away in 1870.
Photo of Helen Muzzy. Courtesy of Trisha Forgione Turiano.
Ford’s had the chance to talk to Trisha
Forgione Turiano, a seat donor and great
great granddaughter of Helen Muzzy, who
performed in Our American Cousin the night
Lincoln was assassinated. We thank her for
her generous support and unique story.
What does Ford’s mean to you today?
For me Ford’s Theatre isn’t about the tragedy
that happened on April 14. Instead it is a
place that holds many happy memories of
time spent with my parents, happy memories
as a young girl being inspired by the
performances I attended, and magical and
fulfilling memories as a working actress on
that historic stage.
Now, as a mother I look forward to creating
memories with my children. The dedication
of an audience chair in my mother’s name is
another milestone in my family’s connection
with Ford’s Theatre and its future. My wish is
that years from now my children will sit in that
chair and point out that their grandmother
and great-great-great-great-grandmother
stood on that stage.
Tell us the story of Helen Muzzy as you
heard it growing up.
My great great grandmother, Helen Muzzy,
was an actress in the 1800s and was in the
production of Our American Cousin on that
fateful night. She was the last female voice
President Lincoln heard before he was shot.
She recites her line, exits and Harry Hawk
delivers his famous laugh line, which gave
John Wilkes Booth (JWB) his opportunity to
shoot the President.
such emotional and historical significance. I
remember listening to the sound and light
show about April 14, 1865. A spotlight would
trace the steps of JWB, and as we sat there my
parents would point out that my great great
grandmother had stood on that stage and
maybe some day I would too. As fate would
have it, 15 years later, I was cast in A Christmas
Carol at Ford’s, and I was overjoyed to be
carrying on the family tradition.
Photo of Trisha Forgione Turiano. Courtesy photo.
What’s your earliest memory of visiting
Ford’s?
My earliest memories go back to 1968 when
I was five years old. When friends came for
a visit, the very first stop would always be
Ford’s Theatre because my family was excited
to share our connection to a place with
Ford’s Theatre is a treasure not only for my
family but also for all the generations of
families that have passed through its doors
and made their own memories.
If you would like to name a seat for yourself or
for your family, please visit www.fords.org or
contact the Campaign Office at (202) 434-9534.
Board of Governors: Loyalty Shout Out
Ford’s Theatre wants to say thank you so much to all of you that purchased
a brick and have been a part of the Bicentennial Campaign. Your support
is helping to complete construction on the new Center for Education and
Leadership, set to open February 2012!
Want to see your name on a brick and be part of the future installation?
Visit us at www.fords.org/bricks or contact us at (202) 434-9531 or at
[email protected] and get your brick today!
Seat donor’s connection to April 14, 1865!
In an effort to make membership even better at
Ford’s Theatre and to show our appreciation for
our members, we have made a few changes and
improvements to the benefits.
The first 1,000 bricks are being engraved now, and we are
looking forward to installing this first set of bricks in front
of the historic theatre. We were hoping to have the bricks installed late this
past summer; however, final approval on permits has been delayed. Ford’s
will continue to update you as we learn more.
Just think of the millions of people that will see these engraved bricks
year after year! We hope you will come by and see this commemorative
sidewalk, whether to take a picture of your brick or to be inspired by those
committed to Ford’s and choose to get a brick yourself!
DONOR SPOTLIGHT
Cast of A Christmas Carol. Photo by T. Charles Erickson.
To see a full list of benefits, please visit us at
www.fords.org. To become a MEMBER, please
visit us online or call us at (202) 434-9545.
More than 40 years ago, Ford’s Theatre Society
formed the Board of Governors to give
corporations an avenue to support one of the
nation’s most historic theatres. Following in the
footsteps of President Lincoln, Washington’s
corporate and governmental leadership found
solace from the rigors of their professional lives at
Ford’s. Today, the Board of Governors has grown to
become one of the largest collections of corporate
philanthropic supporters in the nonprofit sector,
which includes 85 companies and associations
from across the nation.
Ford’s Theatre would like to recognize its longest
standing members on the Board of Governors for
their more than 30 years of generous support:
Altria Group; Chevron Corporation; Exxon Mobil
Corporation; General Dynamics; General Motors
Corporation; Lockheed Martin Corporation;
Occidental Petroleum Corporation; Shell Oil
Company; and Sunoco, Inc.
If your organization is interested in joining the
Board of Governors, please contact Brian Annis at
(202) 434-9535 or [email protected].
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