Ford’s Theatre presents A First Look — A Festival of New Plays on January 16 and 17, 2026.
In its fourth edition, Ford’s Theatre’s new plays festival, A First Look will showcase readings of three works currently in development. The free, two-day festival gives audiences a rare opportunity to witness the development of new historical dramas. The festival offers staged readings of the plays and allows for a closer look into the creation of stories and characters steeped in history. Audiences attending the festival have seen firsthand the process of the playwrights and experienced the evolution of the work from first draft to a world premiere production on the historic Ford’s stage. The 2026 festival will showcase readings of three works currently in development.
A First Look features new works that explore historically significant events and figures that have contributed to the fabric of America and serves as the showcase to Ford’s Theatre Legacy Commissions. The initiative is an artistic incubator for new works that illuminate the stories of lesser-known individuals whose courage and perseverance helped shape the ongoing pursuit of civil rights and equality in America. The 2026 festival will showcase the following plays:
- Springs, written by Jeanne Sakata, directed by Jessica Kubzansky. Springs is a Ford’s Theatre Legacy Commission
- Providence Spring, written by Richard Hellesen, directed by Holly Twyford
- Young John Lewis: Prodigy of Protest, book and lyrics by Psalmayene 24, music by Kokayi, directed by Reginald L. Douglas
“The Ford’s Theatre Legacy Commissions and A First Look continue to champion works that illuminate the struggles, triumphs and enduring hope of the American experience,” said Ford’s Theatre Director Paul R. Tetreault. “Whether it’s the story of a young man striving to find his place in a country that has not always embraced him, a relentless advocate unearthing forgotten truths in the wake of a devastating war, or a young leader discovering the courage to stand up for justice, these readings illuminate the depth and complexities of our past and how our history continues to echo through today. We are especially proud of the celebrated success and powerful impact of The American Five, which originated as one of these important commissioned pieces.”
Tickets are free and must be reserved. Each reading will be followed by a post-show discussion with members of the creative team. Additional details will be available at www.fords.org.
The initiative is guided by Senior Artistic Advisor Sheldon Epps, Director of Artistic Programming José Carrasquillo and Ford’s Theatre Legacy Commissions Advisor Sydné Mahone. Epps has long expressed his passion for uplifting “unsung heroes — men and women whose contributions have quietly but powerfully influenced the direction of our nation.”
The lineup for the 2026 festival includes the following:
Springs
Written by: Jeanne Sakata
Directed by: Jessica Kubzansky
Public Reading: Friday, January 16, 2026, at 7 p.m.
A dialogue with the audience will take place after the reading
Set against the shifting landscapes of the early twentieth century, this play follows Kyusaburo “Harry” Sakata, a young man who leaves Japan in search of a place to build a life shaped by purpose and possibility. From the farms of the West Coast to the fields of an internment camp during WWII, Harry’s knowledge of the land becomes both his livelihood and his lifeline, sustaining his family and the community around him. As he confronts exclusion laws, suspicion and the violence of forced incarceration, Harry holds fast to his belief in what America could be. When he later turns his attention to the Gilroy Hot Springs, he imagines a sanctuary where people might find peace in nature — and in one another. At its heart, this play asks what it means to belong while keeping faith in a country that has not always kept faith with you.
About the Playwright:
Jeanne Sakata is an award-winning actor and playwright with a career spanning theater, television, film, and voiceover. Her recent TV roles include ABC/Shondaland’s Station 19, CBS’ Magnum P.I., NCIS Hawai’i, NCIS Los Angeles and Disney+’s High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. Her voice work features Marvel’s Hit-Monkey, Apple TV’s Stillwater, Disney’s Big Hero 6, Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender and audiobooks including How High We Go in the Dark (2023 Audie Award Finalist) and Trust.
Onstage, she has appeared in Anna Deavere Smith’s Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992, Moisés Kaufman and Amanda Gronich’s Here There Are Blueberries and Carla Ching’s Revenge Porn, with additional credits at Center Theatre Group, La Jolla Playhouse, Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, Berkeley Rep, Oregon Shakespeare Festival and East West Players, among others.
Her acclaimed solo play Hold These Truths, inspired by civil rights activist Gordon Hirabayashi, premiered in 2007 at East West Players and has since been produced nationwide, earning awards, a Drama Desk nomination, and placement in the Library of Congress’ AAPI Playwrights Archive. She also authored the 2021 audio play For Us All, inspired by Fred Korematsu’s landmark court battle; both plays are available via Audible and other streaming platforms.
Providence Spring
Written by: Richard Hellesen
Directed by: Holly Twyford
Public Reading: Saturday, January 17, 2026, at 2 p.m.
A dialogue with the audience will take place after the reading
Set in the years following the Civil War, Providence Spring traces Clara Barton’s little-known mission to uncover the fate of thousands of missing Union soldiers. What begins in a modest office on Seventh Street becomes a sweeping journey through bureaucratic resistance, personal animosity and the unexpected allies who help shape her purpose. As Barton brings answers to grieving families, she confronts the reality that while the war has ended, the nation’s struggle to fulfill its promise of “a new birth of freedom” is only beginning. Grounded in the power of memory — personal and historical — the play explores why preserving truth matters in a country so often asked to forget.
About the Playwright:
Richard Hellesen is an acclaimed playwright whose work spans more than forty produced plays and musicals for both adult and young audiences. An Associate Artist at Ford’s Theatre, his work there includes Necessary Sacrifices, Freedom’s Song (book cowriter), One Destiny, The Road From Appomattox, and Investigation: Detective McDevitt, as well as the 2015 Lincoln Commemoration Now He Belongs to the Ages and four Annual Galas. His most recent play, the solo show Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground, starring Tony-winner John Rubinstein, premiered off-Broadway at Theatre at St. Clement’s in 2023 and has been produced nationally, including regionally at Olney Theatre Center and the Majestic Theatre in Gettysburg.
Hellesen’s work has been seen at theaters across the country, including South Coast Repertory, Denver Center Theatre Company, Los Angeles Repertory Company, Barrington Stage, North Coast Repertory, Florida Stage, Syracuse Stage, People’s Light & Theatre and City Theatre in Miami. Twice playwright-in-residence at the William Inge Center for the Arts, he has received awards from the National Theatre Conference, Philadelphia Festival Theatre for New Plays, Beverly Hills Theatre Guild and PEN USA-West; among his two dozen short plays are five finalists for the National Award for Short Playwriting. A member of the Dramatists Guild and National Theatre Conference, Hellesen also serves as a dramaturg, including for the 2024 Ford’s production of Mister Lincoln, and continues to develop new plays at the B Street Theatre New Comedies Festival in Sacramento, where he resides.
Young John Lewis: Prodigy of Protest
Written by: Psalmayene 24
Music by: Kokayi
Directed by: Reginald L. Douglas
Public Reading: Saturday, January 17, 2026, at 7 p.m.
A dialogue with the audience will take place after the reading
Set against the turbulent backdrop of the Civil Rights era, Young John Lewis: Prodigy of Protest follows the Congressman’s early life and traces how the murder of Emmett Till transformed his understanding of justice and set him on a path of purposeful service. What begins with a young man grappling with the weight of a national tragedy becomes a sweeping journey through grassroots organizing, moral conviction and the mentors who help shape his calling. As he rises to lead the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and works alongside the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., he discovers that the fight for equality demands both courage and unwavering hope. Grounded in memory and movement, the musical explores why ordinary citizens step into extraordinary roles and illuminates the arc that ultimately led him to nearly two decades of influential service in Congress.
About the Playwright:
Psalmayene 24 is an award-winning playwright, director and actor, and currently serves as the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Playwright in Residence at Mosaic Theater Company. His playwriting credits include Young John Lewis (Suzi Bass Award, Outstanding Production of a Musical) at Theatrical Outfit; Monumental Travesties, Dear Mapel, and Les Deux Noirs (Charles MacArthur Award nominations) at Mosaic Theater Company; Out of the Vineyard at Joe’s Movement Emporium; The Blackest Battle at Theater Alliance; The Frederick Douglass Project (co-written with Deirdre Kinahan) at Solas Nua; and Cinderella: The Remix at Imagination Stage. Les Deux Noirs, inspired by the legendary 1953 confrontation between Richard Wright and James Baldwin in Paris, is published by TRW Plays, and his one-person play Free Jujube Brown! is recognized as a seminal work in Hip-Hop Theater.
As a director, Psalm has helmed productions including Metamorphoses (Helen Hayes Award, Outstanding Direction of a Play) at Folger Theatre; Tempestuous Elements at Arena Stage; The Colored Museum, Good Bones, Flow, and Pass Over at Studio Theatre; Necessary Sacrifices: A Radio Play at Ford’s Theatre; Native Son at Mosaic Theater Company; and Word Becomes Flesh (Helen Hayes Award, Outstanding Direction of a Play) at Theater Alliance. His acting credits include Dear Mapel at Mosaic Theater Company, Ruined at Arena Stage, and HBO’s The Wire. Psalm is also the writer, director, and producer of the short musical film The Freewheelin’ Insurgents and is a member of the Dramatists Guild, Stage Directors and Choreographers Society and Actors’ Equity Association.
Festival Events
Meet & Mingle
A First Look audience members are invited to continue the conversation during an intimate post-show gathering following the Saturday, January 17, 7 p.m. reading. Meet the A First Look Festival playwrights, members of the creative team and mingle with fellow theater enthusiasts. Explore the inspiration, themes and writing process behind these new works as the creatives share their thoughts and questions in a casual, engaging setting.
From Quill to Curtain: Crafting Plays Inspired by History
This three-part public program series invites writers of all levels to explore the craft of playwriting through the lens of historical figures and events. Participants will develop narrative structure, use of primary sources, and character development while considering how the past connects to the present. Facilitated by Howard University Professor of Dramaturgy and Playwriting Denise Hart, each session will build on the last and the series will culminate with a sharing of excerpts from participants’ works. The series will be held at the Center for Education and Leadership on Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. on January 17, 31 and February 14, 2026.
A First Look — A Festival of New Plays runs January 16-17, 2026 at Ford’s Theatre, 511 10th St NW, Washington, DC 20004. Tickets are free; RSVP required online.
Ford’s Theatre Society
One of the most visited sites in the nation’s capital, Ford’s Theatre reopened its doors in 1968, more than a hundred years after the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. Operated through a partnership between Ford’s Theatre Society and the National Park Service, Ford’s Theatre is the premier destination in the nation’s capital to explore and celebrate Abraham Lincoln’s life and legacy.
Ford’s Theatre Society was founded under the guidance of executive producer Frankie Hewitt, who, during her 35-year tenure, established Ford’s as a living, working theater producing performances that highlighted the diversity of the American experience. Since the arrival of Paul R. Tetreault as Director, critics and the theater-going public have recognized Ford’s for the superior quality of its artistic programming. With works from the Tony-nominated Come From Away and the nationally acclaimed Big River, to the world premieres of Meet John Doe, The Heavens Are Hung In Black, Liberty Smith, Necessary Sacrifices, The Widow Lincoln, The Guard, Grace, Something Moving and The American Five, Ford’s Theatre is making its mark on the American theater landscape. Under the current leadership of Board of Trustees Chairman Phebe N. Novakovic and through the lens of Lincoln’s leadership and legacy, Ford’s today endeavors to advance Lincoln’s “unfinished work” with programs and performances that cultivate empathy, encourage dialogue and bridge divides in American life.
