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Cabinet Conversations

Conversations on Creativity, History and Leadership

Join us live as we stream interviews with scholars, artists and other thought leaders as they think aloud about the future of the arts, civics and history. With each conversation, we connect the lessons of the Civil War, Lincoln’s presidency, theatre, arts and education to our contemporary life.

Watch past events on this web page, Facebook Live or YouTube.

Length: 30-60 minutes.


Latest Broadcast

Cabinet Conversations returns with a live-streamed discussion with playwright Pearl Cleage, historian Dr. Hilary N. Green and dramaturg Dr. Faedra Chatard Carpenter! They’ll discuss civics, memory and Maynard Jackson in advance of our world premiere production of Something Moving: A Meditation on Maynard.

Past Conversations

October 20, 2022: The Emmett Till Antilynching Act

June 17, 2021: Judy and Dennis Shepard Discuss LGBTQ+ Activism and Healing

May 20, 2021: Page to Stage: Directors Talk Producing at Ford’s Theatre

April 15, 2021: The Crossroads of History, Storytelling and Healing

April 8, 2021: Lincoln: The Great Emancipator?

March 18, 2021: Black Women Leading the Change

March 4, 2021: Lincoln and Leadership

February 25, 2021: Black Voices in American Theatre

January 27, 2021: In Lincoln’s Words: Inaugural Addresses

December 17, 2020: A Christmas Carol: A Holiday Tradition at Ford’s Theatre

November 19, 2020: Let’s Talk Turkey!: Abraham Lincoln and Thanksgiving Traditions

October 22, 2020: “A Hearty Laugh Relieves Me”: Political Humor in Contentious Times

October 8, 2020: Mental Health in Times of Crisis

September 24, 2020: A Discussion About Voting Rights

August 27, 2020: Remembering the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom

August 13, 2020: Speak Your Truth, A Conversation on the Representation of Black Voices in the National Story

July 30, 2020: A Reckoning for Confederate Memorials

July 15, 2020: Lessons in Leadership with Carly Fiorina and Sheila Johnson

June 18, 2020: How We Remember and Memorialize the Civil War

June 4, 2020: Interpreting History Through Dramatic Writing and Actor Portrayal

May 20, 2020: Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer