The Scott County Museum Theatre Company will stage An Evening with the Lincolns at the museum during three performances scheduled for Friday, February 26 at 7:00 pm, Saturday, February 27 at 7:00 pm and Sunday, February 28 at 3:00 pm. The Museum Theatre Company is a volunteer theatrical company that performs a range of productions whose proceeds benefit the museum.

In February of 2009, to commemorate the 200th Anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth, the Theatre Company performed An Evening with the Lincolns in the Michael L. Smith Room at the museum.  The play is an original production written by Danny Berry and Colette Pedersen, both members of the Theatre Company.  Due to the great success of and the numerous requests for repeat performances, they will bring Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln back to the stage this month.

Both Berry and Pedersen spent many hours researching the Lincolns.  They were much taken in by the couple's story, discovering many facts not readily known by most individuals.   “We wanted to show people a broader perspective of the couple.  This is not your typical high school history lesson.  I tried to bring some of Lincoln’s core values and character to the audience that they could connect to in a personal way.  Colette did the same with Mary Todd,” Berry said. “I’m confident that anyone who attends will leave with a different perspective of the Lincolns,”  he added.

An Evening with the Lincolns marks the 19th production for the Theatre Company since its beginning in 2005.  This production will be the 16th for Berry, who has directed four plays and served as Assistant Director on four others.  Pedersen and Berry have worked on six projects together, including this one, to benefit the museum.  Pedersen, serving as Assistant Director on both Lincoln shows, has much to offer. 

“Colette does a wonderful job.  She particularly grasps and holds on to any character she portrays,” the Berry said.  He first worked with Pedersen while directing her in the production of American Women.

“I appreciate Danny’s range of emotion when he gets on the stage,”  Pedersen commented.  “When he is portraying Mr. Lincoln, he touches on many parts of his life; young man, lawyer, husband, president, grieving father, and war leader.  He translates all of those phases of Abraham’s life so each audience member experiences each piece that made up our 16th President.”  

Berry concluded, “I hope we are not Scott County’s ‘Best Kept Secret’.  We certainly do not want to be.  If you have not seen a production by the Theatre Company, or have not visited the museum, now is your chance.  You will not be disappointed by either.  See you at the show!”

The play has three acts, the first of which features Mary Lincoln serving as a narrator and storyteller, leading the audience through a chronology of Abraham Lincoln’s life. In the second act, Mary will discuss her life as a wife and mother. In the third act, the audience will see the lighter side of Abraham as he recalls stories and anecdotes from his life.  Tickets are $8.00 in advance and $10.00 at the door, and are available at the museum.