A Civil War Christmas: An American Musical Celebration (Alternative Version)
THE STORY: It’s 1864, and Washington, D.C. is settling down to the coldest Christmas Eve in years. In the White House, President and Mrs. Lincoln plot their gift-giving. On the banks of the Potomac, a young rebel challenges a Union blacksmith’s mercy. In the alleys downtown, an escaped slave loses her daughter just before finding freedom. This musical by Pulitzer Prize–winner Paula Vogel intertwines many lives, showing us that the gladness of one’s heart is the best gift of all.
“Ms. Vogel manages to humanize most of her many characters in a few crisp strokes of dialogue, so they come across as full-blooded people, glimpsed clearly if quickly, rather than talking statues in a historical diorama.” —The New York Times.
“Artfully weaves historic details into the play [and] pulls it together with economical writing that reflects the poetry of the day.” —Variety.
“Deep-rooted and ambitious…a fascinating interface of history and fiction…boldly inventive theater, warm and affecting.” —Talkin’ Broadway.
