La Jolla Playhouse has announced the full cast for “3 Summers of Lincoln,” a musical about the philosophical evolution of Abraham Lincoln making its world premiere there in February.
Heading the cast as Lincoln will be stage and screen star Ivan Hernandez. He replaces Tony-winning actor Brian Stokes Mitchell, who was originally announced in the title role, but withdrew for personal reasons. Hernandez has appeared on Broadway in “Dear Evan Hansen” and co-starred in the Lifetime TV series “Devious Maids” as the character Javier Mendoza.
Also featured in principal roles are Broadway veterans Carmen Cusack (Old Globe-born “Bright Star” and “Flying Over Sunset”) as Mary Todd Lincoln; Eric Anderson (“The Great Gatsby,” “Waitress,” “Kinky Boots”) as Union Gen. George B. McClellan; and Quentin Earl Darrington (Broadway’s “MJ: The Musical” and “Once On This Island”) as abolitionist Frederick Douglass.
Written by Joe DiPietro, the musical will feature a score by Crystal Monee Hall, lyrics by Daniel J. Watts and choreography by John Rua and Watts. It will play Feb. 18 through March 25 in the Playhouse’s Mandell Weiss Theatre.
Set during the Civil War, “3 Summers of Lincoln” chronicles the three meetings that occurred between Lincoln and Douglass from 1863 to 1865. Historians have written that those encounters were crucial in transforming Lincoln’s ideas about the critical importance of abolishing slavery and how it could help preserve the Union and end the Civil War. The score will have elements of gospel and R&B music.
Playhouse artistic director Christopher Ashley will direct the production, marking his sixth collaboration with DiPietro, including the musical “Memphis,” which had its pre-Broadway tryout at the Playhouse in 2008, then went on to win the Tony Award for Best Musical a year later.
“I cannot think of a better time in our society to bring this bold new work to our audiences,” Ashley said, in a statement. “It is an honor to collaborate with this stellar cast and creative team on a world-premiere musical that spotlights a history-changing friendship through an extraordinary lens and soaring original music.”
The show’s original star, Mitchell, grew up in San Diego and honed his acting at San Diego Junior Theatre. In a statement about withdrwaing from the show, Mitchell said: “It is with great regret that due to a personal matter I will be unable to ‘3 Summers of Lincoln’ at La Jolla Playhouse within the timeframe of the production.”
For more details and tickets, visit lajollaplayhouse.org.
