Abe Lincoln in the 21st Century

For Lincoln's 200th Anniversary Year 2009
A Performance Reading in the Style of Radio Drama
with the Music of American Composers

"Abe Lincoln in the 21st Century"

David Houston presents an original portrait of our most literary president, from Lincoln's writings and speeches, which portrays a witty and wise statesman who speaks to us as if he lives today and understands our most pressing, confusing and amusing concerns.

Script Adaptation by David Houston

From Gore Vidal’s introduction to “Selected Speeches and Writings” Vintage Books, 1992

v Those who knew Lincoln always thought it a pity there was never a photograph of him truly smiling.
He liked to laugh.

v For all practical purposes, Lincoln had no formal education. But he studied law, which meant not only reading Blackstone but brooding over words in themselves and in combination. In those days, most good lawyers, like good generals, wrote prose: if they were not precisely understood, a case or a battle might be lost.

v Since Woodrow Wilson suffered a stroke in 1920, no American President has written his state speeches. [In Lincoln’s day] the President was elected not only to execute the laws but to communicate to the people his vision of the prospect before us. As a reporter to the people, Lincoln surpassed all Presidents.

v As a lawyer on circuit, he was something of a stand-up comedian, able to keep an audience laughing for hours as he appeared to improvise his stories. Actually, he claimed no originality, saying, “I am a retailer.”

v Of Lincoln’s contemporaries, William Herndon has given us the most vivid close-up view of the man that he had shared an office with for seventeen years. “He was the most continuous and severest thinker in America. He was very tall, thin and gaunt. When he first began speaking he was shrill, piping, unpleasant; then he gently and gradually warmed up; his voice became melodious, musical if you please; Lincoln’s gray eyes would flash fire when speaking against slavery or spoke hope and love when speaking of liberty, justice, and the progress of mankind.”

$250 fee includes actor in costume, small setting, music equipment, and travel
(Long Island); facility is asked to supply a performance area about 8' x 10',
basic lighting, and a clip-on wireless microphone if the space is large;
running time is about 60 minutes

2008
Tuesday November 4, 2008, 2 pm, Jericho Public Library
Saturday November 8, 2008, 2 pm, John Jermain Memorial Library, Sag Harbor
2009
Sunday January 25, 2:00 pm, West Islip Public Library
Friday January 30, 12:15 pm, Port Washington Public Library
Saturday, February 7, 7:00 pm, The Montauk Library
Sunday, February 8, 3:00 pm, Huntington Public Library
Tuesday February 10, 7:00 pm, Hicksville Public Library
Wednesday February 11, 1:00 pm, Manhasset Public Library
Wednesday February 11, 7:30 pm, Emma Clarke Memorial Library, Setauket
Thursday February 12, 2:30 pm, Freeport Memorial Library
Sunday February 15, 2:00 pm, Half Hollow Hills Community Library, Dix Hills
Wednesday February 18, 8:00 pm, Towers Country Club, Floral Park (tentative)
Thursday February 19, 7:00 pm, Franklin Square Public Library
Sunday February 21, 2:30 pm, Queens Public Library, Forest Hills
Friday February 27, 7:00 pm, Hillside Public Library, New Hyde Park
Saturday, March 21, 2:00 pm Mineola Memorial Library

Morton Gould: American Ballads, Stephen Foster Gallery
Foster, our first great composer of popular music, died in 1864
Louis Moreau Gottschalk: The Union, The Banjo
From familiar patriotic melodies, composed in 1864 and played for President Lincoln
Aaron Copland: Lincoln Portrait, New England Suite
Composed in 1942 as a contribution to World War II efforts, it uses music from Lincoln's time
(a narrated section features quotations from Lincoln's speeches)

1809	Born near Hodgenville , Ky. , February 12
1812	Brother Thomas born and dies in infancy
1816	Family moves near Pigeon Creek , Indiana ; family lives in shelter until log cabin is built; Abe attends school
1818	Kicked in the head by a horse and is briefly presumed dead
1819	Father rejoins children after several months in Kentucky to wed Sarah Bush Johnston; Abe attends school briefly
1827	Works as boatman and farmhand near Troy , Indiana
1828	Takes first flatboat voyage to New Orleans ; sister Sarah dies in childbirth
1830	Family moves south of Decatur , Illinois ; makes first known political speech, in favor of improving navigation on Sagamon River
1831	Hires on for another flatboat trip to New Orleans; builds his own flatboat; returns to settle as clerk in New Salem, Illinois; accepts challenge to wrestle Jack Armstrong; it’s a draw; studies classics; joins local debating society
1832	Captain in Black Hawk war; unsuccessful candidate for legislature; becomes partner in New Salem general store
1833	Grocery fails; Abe deep in debt
1833	Postmaster of New Salem; becomes deputy surveyor of Sagamon County
1834	Elected as a Whig to Illinois House of Representatives; begins to study law
1835	Death of Ann Rutledge at age 22
1836	Licensed to practice law
1837	Leads successful campaign to move state capitol from Vandalia to Springfield , moves to Springfield ; law partner of John Todd Stuart
1838	Debates Stephen Douglas, who is running for Congress against law-partner Stuart
1839	Practices on new 8th Judicial Circuit; debates Douglas on national bank, meets 21-year-old Mary Todd, cousin of John Stuart
1840	Debates Douglas in supporting William Henry Harrison for President; reelected to legislature; becomes engaged to Mary Todd
1841	Broken engagement to Mary Todd causes depression; successfully argues case in Illinois Supreme Court claiming a promissory note for purchase of a slave was void due to Illinois prohibition against owning slaves
1842	Weds Mary Todd, moves with her into a room in the Globe Tavern
1843	Robert Todd Lincoln born; family moves into a rented cottage
1844	Lincolns move into house in Springfield where they live until 1861
1846	Elected to U.S. House of Representatives; Son Edward born
1848	With family, tours New England for Whig party; serves on War Department, Post Office and Post Roads committees; supports Zachary Taylor for President; votes to prohibit slavery in territory acquired from Mexico
1849	Votes to abolish slave trade in District of Columbia ; declines appointment as governor of Oregon Territory
1850	Son Edward dies of pulmonary tuberculosis; third son, William, born; delivers eulogy of Zachary Taylor in Chicago ; takes up study of geometry
1851	Father dies
1853	Fourth son, Thomas (Tad) born; busy as prosecutor and defense attorney, Abe’s interest in politics wanes
1856	Aids in forming Republican party in Illinois ; makes more than 50 speeches in favor of Republican candidate John Fremont
1857	Delivers major speech against Dred Scott decision; helps prosecute murder case in which defendant is acquitted for reasons of insanity
1858	Is Republicans’ “first and only” for Senate seat held by Stephen Douglas; debates Douglas seven times; delivers “House Divided” speech; wins popular vote; Abe assembles newspaper clippings of debates and major speeches
1860	Delivers speech on slavery and the framers of the Constitution at Cooper Union in New York; clippings of debates and speeches published; Becomes Republican nominee on third ballot; elected first Republican President; South Carolina secedes, followed by Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas
1861	Inaugurated 16th president; warned in Philadelphia that he might be assassinated in Baltimore; selects Cabinet of former rivals; Confederates fire on Fort Sumter; appoints George B. McClellan commander of the Army of the Potomac; recommends promotion of Ulysses S. Grant to major general;
1862	Abe relieves McClellan as commander-in-chief and takes direct command; Son William dies in White House of bronchial pneumonia; issues preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, to be effective 1 January 1863
1863	Emancipation Proclamation frees all slaves in Confederate states; introduces military conscription; crucial victories at Vicksburg and Gettysburg; delivers Gettysburg Address to audience of nearly 20,000; has mild form of smallpox
1864	Nominated by Republican caucus for second term as National Union candidate; Democrat Andrew Johnson nominated for Vice President; Abe is re-elected by popular and overwhelming electoral vote
1865	Lobbies 13th Amendment through Congress; second inaugural address offers "charity for all"; Lee surrenders; Booth kills Lincoln , who dies April 15

Phyllis Cox, PR/Program Coordinator, Jericho Public Library: "How my patrons love your performances! Thank you again for a wonderful afternoon. You were spectacular as Abe." Martha Potter, John Jermain Memorial Library, Sag Harbor: Overall impressions: very good performance and audience response; excellent script and setting. "I love Lincoln's words; they are always meaningful."

THE COLOR OF WATER by James McBride (David as Narrator, Debbie Starker as Ruth)

Barbara Minerd, Public Relations Director, Shelter Rock Public Library: “Well, if this radio drama doesn't inspire those who haven't read the book to read it, I don't know what will. The program transported me to another world." Jude Schanzer, Program Director and Publicity, East Meadow Public Library: "Stupendous meticulous thought obviously given to the material and the venue in which it was to be performed. The audience was visibly moved." Marion Waller, Professional Theatrical Director, at Copiague Library: "The performances were mesmerizing. You "saw" these people and never had to wonder who was speaking. Eras and places were evoked to maximum effect." Penelope Wright, Director of Adult Programs, Rogers Memorial Library, Southampton : "A brilliant adaptation of a remarkable book. The superbly acted production conveys the pure essence of Mr. McBride's poignant tribute to his remarkable mother."

JOY COMES IN THE MORNING by Jonathan Rosen (David, with Gail Merzer Behrens as Deborah)

Milton Pincus, Chairman, Workmen's Circle at Nassau Cultural Center, East Meadow: "A moving, thoughtful, memorable presentation." Phyllis L. Cox, Programmer, Jericho Public Library: "Wonderful, as always. The patrons thought both David and Gail did a beautiful reading." Jessica Ley, Program Coordinator, Port Washington Public Library: "Excellent. Our patrons look forward to David's productions, finding them entertaining AND educational."Roberta Weinstein-Cohen, SAGE Program Coordinator, Woodbury Jewish Center, "The performance was excellent and really held the attention of the audience."

TRAVELS WITH CHARLEY by John Steinbeck (David as Steinbeck and his Characters)

Millie Scott, Librarian, West Babylon Public Library: "The West Babylon Literary Club was looking forward to your presentation and again were not disappointed! An excellent program. Thanks!" Kate Horan, Adult Services Librarian, South Country Library: "I am so impressed with how you coordinated text selections with the music of Aaron Copland. I'm sure you could tell by the audience's enthusiastic response that everyone loved the various voices you highlighted in our narrative journey across America." Fran Carey, patron, Half Hollow Hills Community Library: "I loved Copland's music accompanying the lively and animated reading; this was a delightful and engaging performance." Tracey Simon, Program Coordinator, Lynbrook Public Library: "The feedback was quite positive and inspired a few members of the audience to read the book and join us for the book discussion the following week!"

FAHRENHEIT 451 by Ray Bradbury (Melanie Lipton, Matt Stashin, David Houston)

Lorraine Paesano, Adult Services Librarian, Middle Country Public Library at Centereach: "As always, a polished professional performance. Being joined by Matt Stashin and Melanie Lipton added to the overall impact. Listening to the selected pieces made me think of how scary it would be if people's beliefs and freedoms were to be challenged and mandated by others. Thanks for a great reading!" Deborah Dellis-Quinn, Program Director, Manhasset Library "FAHRENHEIT 451 was excellent – not only for our adult audience, but would be valuable for high-school students. The pace was quick, keeping the audience involved in the characters and plot throughout the program. The message of Ray Bradbury's novel was powerfully portrayed by the cast, and respectfully scripted." Jessica Ley, Program Coordinator, Port Washington Public Library: "I've come to expect excellence from a David Houston production, and I've never been disappointed. FAHRENHEIT 451 was outstanding."