3 SUMMERS OF LINCOLN at La Jolla Playhouse with Brian Stokes Mitchell & Carmen Cusack

World-premiere musical coming to La Jolla Playhouse in February 2025, with Brian Stokes Mitchell, Eric Anderson, Carmen Cusack, and Quentin Earl Darlington. Music by Crystal Monee Hall; lyrics by Daniel J. Watts and Joe DiPietro; book by DiPietri. Directed by Christopher Ashley.

From the Playhouse website: “Summer, 1862. The bloody conflict that was supposed to last only 90 days has now been raging for more than a year. President Abraham Lincoln must find a way to end the Civil War. Enter powerful abolitionist Frederick Douglass. If he can meet Lincoln face to face, he can help the president cement a vision of the future that ends slavery along with the war — all while preserving the Union. Just three meetings took place between the two men — pivotal conversations between two fierce and equally brilliant leaders that shaped the course of history.

“This gripping new musical marks the sixth Playhouse collaboration between Joe DiPietro and Christopher Ashley (including the hit shows Babbitt, Diana and Memphis) and they’re thrilled to be joined by composer Crystal Monee Hall and lyricist Daniel J. Watts. Their epic score blends gospel, R&B, powerhouse anthems and Broadway to tell the inspirational story of one of the most important friendships in our nation’s history, and that of a brutally divided country coming together.”
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2024/08/05/brian-stokes-mitchell-to-lead-cast-of-l-j-playhouse-musical-3-summers-of-lincoln/

Updated On: 8/5/24 at 02:18 PM

Now I want to see Carmen Cusack headline a regional production of OH MARY.

Lincoln & Douglass is a good idea for a show. I believe at one point Spielberg & Kushner were exploring that relationship as the basis of their film.

I saw a reading of this. I can’t say it was particularly memorable but honestly I just recall struggling to picture what the full-scale production would look like. But that is on me. I did adore pretty much the entire score, though. Weird blend of lots of different musical styles and genres.

Conrad is obviously hard to beat as Lincoln but I do recall Stokes was giving a world class performance.