A man in a suit stands at a podium and gives a speech.

Inspired by President Abraham Lincoln’s powerful use of words, Ford’s Theatre National Oratory Fellows and 24 student delegates from their classrooms will perform historical and original speeches on the Ford’s Theatre stage. Throughout the school-year our National Oratory Fellows have worked closely with Ford’s teaching artists and staff to strengthen their skills to teach historical speeches in the classroom, as well as the art of public speaking and original persuasive speech writing. As a result of their work, our fellows have helped their students deepen their understanding of history and of the power of their own words to shape the present and future.