3 Summers of Lincoln

FEB 18 – MAR 23, 2025 | Mandell Weiss Theatre

Book by Joe DiPietro

Lyrics by Daniel J. Watts & Joe DiPietro

Music by Crystal Monee Hall

Directed by Christopher Ashley

Change the conversation. Change the world.

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. 

Tickets are currently only available as part of a 2024/25 Season subscription. 

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Photo: Abraham Lincoln’s hat courtesy National Museum of American History.