DARK SHADOWS FORUMS
Members' Mausoleum => Calendar Events / Announcements Archive => Calendar Events / Announcements '24 I => Calendar Events / Announcements '09 I => Topic started by: MsCriseyde on February 12, 2009, 04:56:34 AM
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Ford's Theatre held a gala to mark their reopening this evening. President and Mrs. Obama attended, and the festivities included the performance of a scene from The Heavens Are Hung in Black starring David Selby. You'll probably recognize the "unidentified actor playing Abraham Lincoln" presenting a copy of the Gettysburg Address to the Obamas in this AP piece:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iXuO9kYZds77mwVz5vACPYp4EY0wD969PFJ00
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Another Link about the play....refers to David Selby not by his name but as "an actor portraying President Lincoln
"http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2009/02/11/2009-02-11_president_obama_praises_abraham_lincolns.html
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Here's the whole range of photos from Getty images (http://www.gettyimages.com/Search/Search.aspx?src=refinement&query=z.i.H4sIAAAAAAAEAO29B2AcSZYlJi9tynt_SvVK1-B0oQiAYBMk2JBAEOzBiM3mkuwdaUcjKasqgcplVmVdZhZAzO2dvPfee--999577733ujudTif33_8_XGZkAWz2zkrayZ4hgKrIHz9-fB8_In7dfLn91etf49f4NX6PX_dskV3kvyb9-pj-_5ucV_Xs4yZt53nW1vmvOcIXGx_T4NdM6qpqX2Z1tmh-Lf0MP3-t3R38-pvhn4T-_-u9e33dnL4zr_6a3t_8SnZufv019XdA-bWz86lFxfyB___a-LnDHS1a96b7_dehxqX9wv6F935d-qNeWLDhn78-mu_ir1-PP59YGJ2_-bXzEIr9k6HsWCjnHSjub36tDqHYPxnKnoVSd6C4v4kyuXnp18Qfv7b-wWTaxW-_oWn7G5vPiSb5ynz6awZ__Vq568r7_dfKG-9j-_uv3azsm78m_jCo_Fb2xcupe9H9_utUtccR9i_-apL7X5m_8Pzas6ul-f3XNH_8uninWU8cgsFfv3aeOQz8P-j3lf-F_ePXbQJo4Z-_zjR_514L_vq13z177qaC_rBfZLWHtvfHb9RMq1X-ZL2clR59g08NwB8HnAc799Hq_wHU9Ye7ywMAAA..&rid=84727903&rcat=Event&rt=DC%3A%20Fords%20Theatre%20Reopens%20For%20Bicentennial%20Of%20Lincoln%27s%20Birth), including a shot of Selby planting one on Mrs. Obama.
WireImage is still in the process of uploading their photos here (http://wireimage.com/ItemListings.aspx?igi=353958&nbc1=1).
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And here's a shot of David Selby arriving for the event via the AP:
http://www.daylife.com/photo/05o13YG4rW7ZT/David_Selby
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Video footage of David Selby presenting a copy of the Gettysburg Address to President and Mrs. Obama:
http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/021109_obama_at_fords_theatre
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I just saw on the noon news that David Selby played Lincoln at Ford's Theatre for President Obama last night (2/11).
Ford's Theatre packs in stars, and Obamas, for reopening
http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2009-02-11-fords-theatre_N.htm (http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2009-02-11-fords-theatre_N.htm)
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Wow those pics are awesome! With the brown hair and beard he totally looks like what Quentin would have looked like after aging about 30 years
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There are some more pictures of Obama with the yummy Qman over here.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/12/the-obamas-step-out-for-f_n_166284.html (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/12/the-obamas-step-out-for-f_n_166284.html)
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What an honor and a thrill for David and his family! I'm sure David's performance was brilliant, as always.
G.
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WOW!
And the Prez is just old enough to have watched the latter part of the ABC run.
Will the Chief recognize Quentin underneath all the Honest Abe make-up?
(the geek in me has to ask, LOL)
David
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This reminds me that this year is the 40th anniversary of Jonathan Frid's visit to the Nixon White House as a guest for a Hallowwen Party Tricia Nixon was throwing for underpriviledged kids! The more things change, the more they remain the same.........
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That is really, really, really cool. I bet David Selby was tickled pink.
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MSNBC's Rachel Maddow cataloged the Obama/Lincoln echoes, connections, etc. in the opening segment of her show last night. The whole thing was 11 minutes long, but at around 4:31 she mentions the Ford's Theatre event, showing the Selby/Obama handshake in the over-the-shoulder graphic. You can watch it here:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/#29170932
For a lengthy list of links to other coverage, follow Ford's Theatre on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/fordstheatre
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I'm sure David's performance was brilliant, as always.
It certainly was when I saw him the week before [snow_wink]. Nothing like an actor who consistantly exceeds even high expectations.
The performance is pure catnip for us history wonks. WELL worth the 5 hr drive to DC for a long weekend playing history tourist and seeing the play -- and I'm going again the week it closes.
I've got a write up on my website, the link to which is in my sig below.
Jeannie
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More coverage of the reopening event, including photographs of David Selby from the gala dinner in the National Portrait Gallery that followed the ceremonies in the theatre:
http://www.newyorksocialdiary.com/node/208294
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More coverage of the reopening event...
What a beautiful theater. Those of you who are attending are so fortunate.
That poster for the play is really cool. I love that he has his natural-colored hair and beard.
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Hi all,
Yes, we're still around somewhere. [snow_wink] Just curious who else is going to the play here? Diane and I have some fairly good seats for this Saturday's (2/21/09) matinee. I'll try to get a few photos if allowed around the theatre itself.
Diane and I visited Ford's last in 2005. On the anniversary of Lincoln's assassination. Even at that time we were in the museum then in the basement noting which sculptures had the best resemblances to our dear David.
BTW, we hope to back at this summer's festival. (But that's another topic, let's stay on the theatre topic here.)
Michael
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I'm way behind on my e-mail, so I just found the notices for these articles today:
Log Cabin Republican
Ford's unveils a revitalized space and a beautifully realized new work (http://www.metroweekly.com/arts_entertainment/stage.php?ak=4054)
(This one mentions DS and features a nice photo of Selby. What more could we ask for? ;))
Barack Obama pays tribute to Lincoln in 'hallowed space' (http://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/2009/02/12/obama-lincoln-plaque/)
(This one also mentions DS but features a not so nice photo of Selby as he's unrecognizable if you didn't already know it was him - though he is identified, which is more than some reports have done. >:()
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We got a mention on the "Creepy Classics and Monster Bash News"
http://www.monsterbashnews.com/
Michael
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bookish Presidential hand-wringing has never seemed so sexy
"Abe's in Arms" from DCist:
http://dcist.com/2009/02/abes_in_arms_the_heavens_are_hung_i.php
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Another article:
Curtain up
Ford's Theatre gussied up for Lincoln bicentennial (http://www.explorehoward.com/events-entertainment/16027/curtain-up/)
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Nice to see so much press coverage of this, from diverse types of outlets. Not the niche event one might think at first, limited to history wonks and/or those interested in all things Lincoln.
Thanks to everyone who's taken the time and effort to post links to articles here. I've really enjoyed the different takes on the play - not to mention some of the marvelous pictures of the theater, etc.
Jeannie
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The theatre now has some nice video and photos from the opening gala:
http://fords.org/home/media-center/releases-and-updates/birth-and-rebirth-celebration-lincoln-bicentennial-and-fords-
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News item about a group of folks who traveled by bus from Martinsburg, WV to Washington, DC to see the play this past Saturday evening. David Selby met with them afterward for a brief Q&A:
http://www.journal-news.net/page/content.detail/id/516462.html
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I went to David's play the Heavens are Hung in Black at Ford's Theatre last night, and while the play was a bit metaphysical for my taste, ie, with Lincoln having visits from the Ghosts of John Brown, Dred Scott, and the late Apothecarey from his hometown of Springfield, IL, nonetheless the play was very clever and well done. David was in practically every scene as Abe Lincoln and gave a memorable performance. He even received a standing ovation at the end of the play, which was richly deserved. Mr. Selby is a wonderful actor. While the performance I saw him in years ago in Much Ado About Nothing might have been more my cup of tea, still, I greatly enjoyed watching Mr. Selby's masterful performance in the Heavens are Hung in Black.
There was a crowd standing around after the play and I don't know if they were waiting for the elevator to the garage or to see David at the stage door, but at least I did not hear anyone say this time, oh, yes, he is the one who played the Werewolf, which I did after I saw Daivd in Much Ado About Nothing in 1992, a play I dearly loved.
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Nice to hear some thoughts and opinions from someone else who's seen the play. Matter of fact, I'm typing this reply from my motel in DC, where I've made the second trip from NYC to see it (and do mini vacation in DC -- would be bizarre to me to drive this far and not enjoy the city).
What I find interesting is that the aspects of the play that you weren't that fond of were the aspects that I really liked. It reminded me of the types of productions which I used to go to every summer at the late, lamented Shakespeare festival in Stratford, CT. They used to experiment with the classics; one I remember particularly clearly from the early 80s was a production of Julius Caesar, reset in the 1960s with all the assassination echoes you would imagine that would create. And I DO envy you having seen him in Much Ado; I love Shakespeare and I would dearly have liked to have seen him in that.
James Sill did a wonderful job with the script, I agree. And in thinking about your points, I'm now wondering if any other mechanism other than what he used would have brought the conflicts and decisions forth to the audience in the same way. So much of that was used to illustrate the internal conflicts, and now I am wondering whether any other dramatic device could have worked the same way to make the audience understand those points. I particularly liked the fact that they didn't assume any preexisting knowledge on the part of the audience, and gave the non history buff all they would need to understand and enjoy the story as a story. However, it was done so that history wonks like me (and a lot of other people I encountered at the theater), who know a lot of this stuff through their reading, wouldn't stop paying attention. [book2]
He owned the stage when I was there for previews, and I can but assume the cast has done nothing but fine tune an already good job since then. Both nights most of the audience stood and applauded, but not quite enough that it qualified as a standing ovation. They only took two curtaincalls, and the audience stood and clapped for a long time, hoping they would return, but no. [clap] [9391] [9391]
FYI when I left, I did hear a few kids discussing DS and the werewolf.... [laughing7] But I left through the doors to the street, as I was taking the Metro back to my way cheaper motel in Arlington. [snow_cheesy]
OH! And when I was at the theater yesterday for the Ranger talk, I noticed something new in the bookstore, that hadn't been there preview week. Autographed copies of Lincoln's Better Angel.
If you or anyone else wants to compare noteson the play, the review I wrote is on my site, and the link is in my sig below (you guys know the drill....) [snow_smiley]
Jeannie
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Blog post from someone who attended last night's performance:
http://mwrhodes.blogspot.com/2009/03/president-lincoln-me-and-night-at.html
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There's now a page for the play in the photo gallery of the official David Selby site:
http://www.davidselby.com/photos/heavens/index.htm
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Over 350 production shots from photographer T. Charles Erickson:
http://c.photoshelter.com/c/tcharleserickson/gallery-show/G0000HTtyoId6Pq4/
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Only 357 photos?! One would think he would have brought a camera with an SD card with more capacity - or at least several SD cards. [snow_wink]
All kidding aside, there are some great photos there. Thanks for the link. [snow_smiley]
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Only 357 photos?! One would think he would have brought a camera with an SD card with more capacity - or at least several SD cards. [snow_wink]
LOL. Erickson does a lot of performance photographs. He's in the credits for Selby's In and Out of the Shadows because quite a few of the stage photos in it are his.
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My childhood heartthrob as one of my adulthood heroes. Is that Freudian? I buy books for the pictures - my kind of link - great pix and a lot of them. Heavenly! Thanx!
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Did anyone see him play Lincoln on Touched By An Angel! He was superb!
He is the sexiest Lincoln ever!
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There's also a new photo on the Welcome page of Selby's official site -- taken at the National Gallery of Art in DC:
http://www.davidselby.com/index2.htm
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Did anyone see him play Lincoln on Touched By An Angel! He was superb!
Hallmark Channel is showing that episode on Tuesday, March 31, at 11:00 am ET.
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Only 357 photos?! One would think he would have brought a camera with an SD card with more capacity - or at least several SD cards. [snow_wink]
LOL as an amateur photographer I shudder to think how many he SHOT to get that many he was willing to release. [easter_wink] [easter_grin] (speaking as someone who is still culling rejects from the photos from the trip two weeks ago).
All kidding aside, the shots are wonderful. Many many thanks for the link! Glad that the entire performance was preserved in some way, even if still photography only gives one a taste of it.
And if anyone wants a historical chill down the spine booga booga (hope it translates the same way for the non history buffs), check out the framing on shots 230-235. Its a long shot of the actors for a reason. Lincoln and Edwin Booth, framed by the box in which Edwin's brother assassinated the President. Most of the box may be a recreation, but that portrait of George Washington is the very one that witnessed the assasination.
Jeannie
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Thanks for the heads up on the Touched by an Angel episode. I have some friends who want to see it, and, alas, the dvd releases seem to have stopped with season 4. So much for netflixing it.
Taeylor -- I agree 100% about both the episode and Selby's performance. I've got a story on that episode. A couple of years ago there was a notice that the ep was running, but I didn't have the channel. Two of my friends, one of whom, Kelly, is (like me) a big Lincoln buff, told me they would tape it for me (one wasn't sure she could get it, thus the backup).
So, I get the tape from my friend in IN. I also get some tapes from Kelly, but this one isn't in the package. In IM, she tells me that she watched it and adored the episode, so as long as I already had a tape she wanted to keep it for herself! Alas, she was also going to write me something about the episode for my website, but her father died soon after, so she never got the inspiration back to do it.
Jeannie
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David Selby now has some comments on his site about the play, being in the crowd on Inauguration Day, and meeting the President and First Lady:
http://www.davidselby.com/index2.htm
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Thanks so much Jeannie. Great to read DS thoughts on President Obama!
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Thanks so much Jeannie. Great to read DS thoughts on President Obama!
T'wern't I -- T'was Ms.C. (Helpful hint: If it's a news announcement, it's safe to assume it's her post. [ghost_wink] )
It was a lovely write up. Something I really like about his writing is his ability to draw word pictures so you see through his eyes -- and the little insertions of humor that keep it all down to earth.
Jeannie