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'The Lincoln Assassination' premieres at Golden Chain Theatre this weekend

Submitted by the Golden Chain Theatre

(Updated: Thursday, March 04, 2010, 12:00 AM)

The Golden Chain Theatre is currently building a special set for "The Lincoln Assassination" that will be performed this month. Theatre set builders are recreating the Ford Theatre box where Abraham Lincoln sat on that fateful night, April 14, 1865.

As part of the The Wild Wonderful King Vintage Museum's Abraham Lincoln "Self Made in America" Learning Station Exhibit, the Golden Chain Theatre will be performing "The Lincoln Assassination," an original play by Roger Clugston, a former president of the theatre, which was first performed in 1998.

The production will run weekends March 5 - 28.

Clugston, who will again play the part of Lincoln, is directing the play, assisted by Landon Weiszbrod.

This emotional play takes place in the day of Lincoln's fateful visit on April 14, 1865 to the Ford Theatre, where John Wilkes Booth assassinated the President.

Lincoln and his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, played by Mickey Puckett, are still mourning the loss of their son, with Lincoln dealing with the aftermath of the Civil War and his efforts to unite the country. Many, including Mary, thought that leaders from the South should be punished, but Lincoln had other ideas.

While the daily life of a post-war White House are played out, the play shows Booth's anger and frustration over the South's loss, driving him to "fulfill our obligation to our country." Booth is played by Isiah Phillips.

The play uses some dramatic music and short voiceovers to provide the somber moods and sadness of a nation.

Details: Fridays and Saturdays, 7 p.m. Sundays, 2 p.m. Adults: $12 -- Seniors: $10 -- Students, 13 to 18 years-old, and active military $8 -- Children: $6. (559) 683-7112, www.goldenchaintheatre.org.