FORD’S THEATRE ANNOUNCES LINCOLN LEGACY PROJECT 2012 PROGRAMMING

Mainstage Production of “Fly,” Based on the Tuskegee Airmen

Free Monday Night Discussion Series Featuring Tuskegee Airmen, Military Leaders and Veterans, Among Others

Special Museum Exhibition “The Test” at the Center for Education and Leadership

Washington, D.C.—Paul R. Tetreault, Director of Ford’s Theatre Society, announced the special event schedule for the second year of The Lincoln Legacy Project—a multi-year effort to create dialogue in our nation’s capital around the issues of tolerance, equality and acceptance. Through a diversity of programming, the Legacy Project is designed to encourage people of differing viewpoints to engage in meaningful and respectful dialogue about tolerance and understanding. Thematically connected with the Society’s production of the stage play “Fly” (September 21-October 21, 2012) and based on the experiences of the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II, this year’s Legacy Project events explore a range of topics addressing racial diversity, understanding and tolerance in the American military and society.

The Society presents a series of free Monday night discussions in October featuring experts discussing the history behind Fly and how the Tuskegee Airmen influenced the American military, the Civil Rights Movement and related contemporary social issues. On October 1 at 7 p.m., Ford’s will host “Dreaming of Skies to Conquer: A Conversation with Original Tuskegee Airmen.” On October 8 at 7 p.m., veterans discuss diversity in the Armed Forces in a program titled “Counting the Brave and the True: Military Veterans Discuss the Path to Diversity in the Armed Forces.” The final conversation on October 15 at 7 p.m. will be “Staying the Course: A Discussion of How to Ensure and Manage a Culturally Astute Military” in the 21st Century.

Ford’s also presents a special museum exhibition about the Tuskegee Airmen titled “The Test” in the second floor Leadership Gallery at the Center for Education and Leadership (514 Tenth Street NW) from August 28-October 21. “The Test” tells the story of the first African-American aviators in U.S. Military history and follows their ground-breaking training, deployment and service in World War II. The exhibition incorporates information on race relations in America before World War II and African-American involvement in early aviation, using photographs, models and maps to explore the stories of the men, the aircraft they flew and the operations in which they participated.

Additional Ford’s Theatre events for the Legacy Project include facilitated talk-backs following evening performances of Fly (except September 26); and special pre- and post-performance education programs for school groups and classroom teachers.

“We are thrilled to present a story based on the extraordinary courage and achievement of the Tuskegee Airmen as the cornerstone production for this year’s Lincoln Legacy Project,” said Director of Ford’s Theatre Paul R. Tetreault. “It is an honor to welcome members of the Tuskegee Airmen to join us for post-show discussions and October panel discussions at the Theatre; and to showcase their experiences in our special exhibition at the Center for Education and Leadership.”

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