RSS FeedFord’s Theatre: Rediscovering An Old Neighborhood Friend
When you live in a tourist area such as the Penn Quarter you might wait for visitors to come to DC before you head out to the newest museum or attraction. We can understand that and do it ourselves – we still haven’t made it to Madame Tussauds Wax Museum yet (it’s on our list…just waiting for the next time family come up to visit). One place you should not wait to visit is the recently reopened Ford’s Theatre.
Originally constructed as a Baptist church in 1833 and subsequently converted to a theater by John Ford in 1862, the theater has been under substantial renovation since the summer of 2007. On President’s Day we were given a behind the scenes tour of the reopened theater and invited to watch One Destiny, a one act play that is one of two one-acters now integrated into the standard Ford’s tour. The Heavens Are Hung In Black is the first full length production to go on in the renovated space.
The theater is beautiful, completely restored from top to bottom. Remember the holes in the ceiling and the water damage? All repaired and freshly painted and detailed. The uncomfortable wooden seats with a cushion slapped on top? We test drove the newly replaced seats ourselves – very nicely padded and comfortable – contrary to other comments, we didn’t find them too small or close together. New stage lights and better speakers (and speaker placement) make the theater look and sound significantly better. The bathrooms and elevators now placed in the townhouse immediately adjacent to the theater make a visit that much more enjoyable. Check out the virtual tour online to glimpse the interior and you’ll find out the meaning of the 25 cent Family Circle sign that adorns the theater’s exterior, something we always wondered about (click on Third Tier once inside the tour).
Visitor flow is greatly enhanced by the new theater entrance found to the left of the old theater building and beneath the brand new marquee (the old cramped entrance is now the exit) which opens into a large modern lobby complete with a display of Lincoln’s overcoat, the ticket window, and a concession and gift shop area. A museum on the lower level will open this upcoming spring.
You won’t walk right by Ford’s like it was so easy to do before. Most importantly, our yearly tradition of seeing The Christmas Carol at Ford’s with family and friends won’t have our butts chiding us for hours after!
First (exterior) and fourth (President’s Box) photos by PQ Living; second (view from stage) and third (lobby) photos by Maxwell MacKenzie (by way of Ford’s)
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Comments
Yes, Ford’s is again a delight for tourists. Among the great new features, those in the front of the line are actually under shelter from the rain! First floor restrooms, too. The One Destiny play shows around noon time on many weekdays. I highly recommend the play since it is free and amazingly good! Professional theater, actors, lights, costumes. The schedule is VERY unusual, so check their calander before setting out. http://www.fordstheatre.org/event/fords-theatre-tours
Thanks for coming to the Ford’s Theatre open house! We’re very excited to have visitors in the historic space again. The renovations to the Theatre and the new lobby area are just the first steps in the expansion of Ford’s. The museum below the Theatre will reopen later this spring, and next year we’ll break ground on a new education center across the street where visitors can learn more about Abraham Lincoln and his legacy. We’re looking forward to engaging the community and out-of-towners for years to come!
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Did you discover what Ford’s Thetre did with $10 million in DC taxpayer money, or what justified that disgraceful DC Council earmark?