'One Destiny' returns to Lincoln museum

LCU graduate Jeremy Goeckner to play Harry Ford

Popular short play back for six performances as presidential museum marks anniversary of Lincoln's assassination

[April 05, 2014]  SPRINGFIELD — One of the most popular theater offerings at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, the play "One Destiny," returns for six performances in April to mark the anniversary of Lincoln's assassination.

The one-act play will be performed Wednesday, April 9; Monday, April 14; Tuesday, April 15; Thursday, April 17; Friday, April 18; and Saturday, April 19. All performances begin at 1:30 p.m.

Tickets are free with museum admission and are distributed to visitors starting at 11:30 a.m.

Richard Hellesen's play takes place in the days after the assassination of President Lincoln in April 1865. Harry Hawk, the actor who was on stage when the president was shot, revisits the night of April 14 with Harry Ford, the theater manager. Actors Jeremy Goeckner and Nathan Peak portray several characters during the course of the 35-minute performance.

"This is a fast-paced play geared for all ages," says Phil Funkenbusch, director of the presidential library's shows division. "It's been a favorite with our audiences, and we're glad to have the opportunity to stage the show for the coming season."

There will be a Q&A session after each performance.

Peak, who portrays Harry Hawk, studied vocal performance with the Westminster College choir in Princeton, N.J., and has performed locally in productions of "Spamalot," "Crazy for You" and "Avenue Q." He has been a member of the presidential library's acting team since the fall of 2013.

Goeckner, who portrays Harry Ford, graduated from Lincoln Christian University in 2010 after studying vocal performance and music composition. He has performed locally in "Rent," "Sunset Boulevard" and "Into the Woods." He joined the presidential library's acting team in autumn 2012.

The production is directed by Ed MacMurdo.

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum has presented the play 143 times to nearly 32,000 people. "One Destiny" premiered at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C., and continues to be performed there.

[Text from Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum file received from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency]