Lincoln's Assassination Remembered in a Unique Way at Historical Societies
"Thinking Inside the Box" to be performed on Saturday April 5th in Milford and Sunday April 6th in Dingmans Ferry.
Join us for a special encore presentation of the one woman-three character play Thinking Inside the Box on Saturday April 5th at 4pm in the Foundation Room of the Columns Museum. The play tells the story of the night President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated through the eyes of the three women who were in the Presidential Box that fateful night. Patricia Durante will reprise her roles as Laura Keene, Mary Todd Lincoln and Clara Harris in a short historical play which brings these ladies to life in a most creative fashion. You will find the transformation between characters interesting, as it happens right before your eyes, the actress never leaves the stage! Clever costuming and a costume assistant make the transformation part of the show and the actress portrays each of the three ladies to perfection, giving them all a distinct persona and capturing the nuances of each character. "The Box" as it has come to be known, was written by the Lori Strelecki, Director of the Pike County Historical Society and Museum. The play evolved out of a short play written about Mrs. Lincoln which was very well received. "Mary Todd Lincoln: A Woman on the Edge" was very popular and had a good run of its own, said Strelecki. We had two Mary Todd's. Stacey Case originated the role and then Ruth Randone portrayed her; I believe Ruth is still performing that play in Monroe County on occasion. They both did a wonderful job! The script is quite "meaty" and shows a range of emotion - which is every actors dream, I think". Strelecki eventually added the scripts for the two other ladies in "the box "that night at Ford's - Laura Keene, the star of the play, and Clara Harris, socialite and guest of the Lincoln's - and Thinking Inside the Box" was born!
Strelecki enlisted the help of actress Patricia Durante to bring the characters to life and the two have seen much success and good reviews. It has been performed over 10 times and in various locations such as the Parsippany Women's Theater and the University of Scranton.
April 2025 will mark 160 years since the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. The Pike County Historical Society invites all to a special performance of Thinking Inside the Box at 4pm on April 5th in The Foundation Room of the Museum, followed by wine and cheese on the main floor of the museum where folks can view the blood stained Lincoln Flag.
Cost is $20 per person and includes the play, museum admission and wine and cheese reception. Please let us know you are coming by calling and making a reservation 570-296-8126 or pikemuse@ptd.net
For more information regarding the performance in Dingmans Ferry please contact Tim Singleton at tsingleton286@mapletree.com