Ivan Hernandez (Dear Evan Hansen, Chicago) stars in the title role of La Jolla Playhouse's world premiere of the new musical 3 Summers of Lincoln beginning February 18.
Directed by Tony winner Christopher Ashley, the limited engagement was recently extended through March 30 in the Playhouse's Mandell Weiss Theatre.
Hernandez had earlier replaced the originally announced Brian Stokes Mitchell as the 16th President of the United States. In a statement at the time, Tony-winning Broadway favorite Mitchell (Kiss Me, Kate; Ragtime) said, “It is with great regret that due to a personal matter I will be unable to join 3 Summers of Lincoln at La Jolla Playhouse within the timeframe of the production.”
The cast also includes Eric Anderson (The Great Gatsby) as George B. McClellan, Carmen Cusack (Bright Star, Flying Over Sunset) as Mary Todd Lincoln, Quentin Earl Darrington (MJ: The Musical, Once On This Island) as Frederick Douglass, John-Andrew Morrison as William Slade, and Saycon Sengbloh as Elizabeth Keckley.
Making up the ensemble are Geno Carr, Alaman Diadhiou, Fernell Hogan, Jana Krumholtz, Bets Malone, Magic Mosley, Kent Overshown, Noah Rivera, Naomi Tiana Rodgers, Evan Ruggiero, Nathan Salstone, Johnathan Tanner, and Blake Zelesnikar. Swings are Van Angelo, DeShawn Bowens, Michael Samarie George, Michael Allan Haggerty, and Jaxon Smith.
3 Summers of Lincoln, which features a book by Joe DiPietro, lyrics by Daniel J. Watts and DiPietro, and music by Crystal Monee Hall, is set in summer 1862 as the Civil War has been raging for more than a year, and President Abraham Lincoln must find a way to end the conflict. 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 brilliant leaders that shaped the course of history. Watts co-choreographs with Jon Rua.
The production also has scenic design by Derek McLane, costume design by Toni-Leslie James, lighting design by Amanda Zieve, sound design by Jonathan Deans and Mike Tracey, projection design by David Bengali and Hana S. Kim, wig and hair design by Matthew Armentrout, music supervision by Wilkie Ferguson, music direction by Victoria Theodore, and orchestrations by Michael Thurber, with Ann James as the sensitivity specialist. Casting is by The Telsey Office's Rachel Hoffman and Jacole Kitchen.
The stage manager is James Latus, and the assistant stage managers are Alexa Burn and Monét Thibou.
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