Evening Events
Thu. 4/22
Katori Hall'sThe Mountaintop
takes stage
Sat. 4/24
Paula Vogel and"A Hot Waltz with Paula!"
During the Daylight Hours
Workshops, Panels, and Scenes at the Inge HouseWed. 4/21/10
Paula Vogel's A Civil War Christmas opens Inge Festival
A Civil War Christmas, An American Musical Celebration, opens the 29th Annual William Inge Theatre Festival on April 21, at 7:30 p.m., at Independence Community College, Independence, Kansas.
From Paula Vogel's A Civil War
Christmas. (Photos courtesy of
Huntington Theatre Company.)
It is one of the newest plays by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Paula Vogel, who is the Inge Festival's Honoree playwright. The songs are all drawn from old-time carols, patriotic themes, and spirituals that were sung in the Civil War era.
The music is arranged and orchestrated by composer Daryl Waters, who received Tony and Grammy nominations for his work on Bring In 'da Noise, Bring In 'da Funk and many other shows, including Jelly’s Last Jam and Crowns.
A Civil War Christmas is a tapestry of events set Christmas Eve, 1864. Inspired by historical events of that night, A Civil War Christmas weaves historic figures such as President and Mrs. Lincoln, Clara Barton, and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow with the lives of civilians, soldiers, and fugitive slaves.
Actor and singer Yvette Freeman is a featured player, portraying Elizabeth Keckley, Mrs. Lincoln’s seamstress and confidante. Freeman is known to television viewers as Nurse Haleh Adams of the long-running series ER.
Joining the large ensemble cast are additional professional guest actors, Independence Community College students, members of the community, and a community chorus.
The guest director is Mark Brokaw. He is a veteran director of professional shows, garnering numerous awards for his work across the nation. Brokaw has directed four productions on Broadway, of which two earned Tony Awards for best of the season, for Best Musical (2008), and Outstanding Revival (2006).