FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Kentucky Repertory Theatre in Horse Cave, Ky. has been awarded a grant of $170,000 by the Kentucky Arts Council, funded through the Kentucky Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, to produce Abraham Lincoln and With Malice Toward None, celebrating the 200th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth.
Kentucky Repertory Theatre’s production of Abraham Lincoln is adapted from the 1918 play by John Drinkwater, which appeared on Broadway in the early 20th century. Featuring a cast of fifteen, this historical drama recounts events from Lincoln’s life from his election as president, through the Civil War, to his assassination in 1865. Audiences will have a chance to see Abraham Lincoln at the Kentucky Repertory Theatre in Horse Cave, beginning in August, 2008. Schedule details can be found on the Kentucky Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Web site at http://kylincoln.org/ under Calendar of Events.
Based on an original concept by Kentucky Repertory Theatre’s Artistic Director, Robert Brock, With Malice Toward None is an exciting multimedia production that uses lights, music, sounds, photographs and video to call attention to Lincoln’s important speeches and writings. Featuring a cast of five performing dramatic scenes set against the backdrop of the Civil War, this play will tour schools, colleges, theatres, and performing arts centers throughout Kentucky in the spring of 2009.
The Kentucky Arts Council’s support of Abraham Lincoln and With Malice Toward None will offer thousands of Kentuckians the chance over the next two years to participate in the arts while increasing their knowledge and understanding of Lincoln.
Founded in 1976, the Kentucky Repertory Theatre at Horse Cave is recognized nationally for its professional acting company and first-rate performances of comedy, drama, classics and original Kentucky plays.
The Kentucky Arts Council is a state agency in the Commerce Cabinet that creates opportunities for Kentuckians to value, participate in and benefit from the arts. Kentucky Arts Council funding is provided by the Kentucky State Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art.
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The Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, invests in programs that develop vibrant communities, provide lifelong education in the arts and support arts participation. Every $1 invested in operating support grants by the Kentucky Arts Council leverages $24 in earned income and matching funds from individuals, philanthropic sources and other levels of government.