Ford Theater Event / was RE:Rehearsal Photos from David Selby's Upcoming Play

[MsCriseyde]

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

[Shadowsfan]

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

[MsCriseyde]

Here's the whole range of photos from Getty images, including a shot of Selby planting one on Mrs. Obama.

WireImage is still in the process of uploading their photos here.

[MsCriseyde]

And here's a shot of David Selby arriving for the event via the AP:

http://www.daylife.com/photo/05o13YG4rW7ZT/David_Selby

[MsCriseyde]

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

[DLA75]

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

[Garth Blackwood]

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

[victoriawinters]

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

[Gothick]

What an honor and a thrill for David and his family!  I'm sure David's performance was brilliant, as always.

G.

[David]

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

[Charles_Ellis]

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.........

[Janet the Wicked]

That is really, really, really cool. I bet David Selby was tickled pink.

[MsCriseyde]

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

[Pansity]

I'm sure David's performance was brilliant, as always.

It certainly was when I saw him the week before   .  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

[MsCriseyde]

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