Lincoln and Shakespeare

February 21, 2026 - February 22, 2026
Saturday - 7PM; Sunday - 3:00PM

The Hoogland Center for the Arts
420 S. Sixth St, Springfield
217-523-2787

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The Hoogland Center for the Arts is proud to present Lincoln and Shakespeare on Saturday, February 21 at 7 p.m. and Sunday February 22 at 3 p.m. in the Peggy Ryder Theatre on the 3rd floor of the Hoogland. Admission is $22 for adults and $20 for seniors (with a $1 ticket fee per ticket).

Abraham Lincoln, the 16th U.S. President, loved the works of William Shakespeare and carried a copy of the plays wherever he went. In her book “Team of Rivals,” Doris Kearns Goodwin wrote: “The political genius of Abraham Lincoln rarely spoke of his inner feelings and often expressed emotions through the poetry he admired.”

Kevin Purcell, an active director, actor and playwright, has created Lincoln and Shakespeare, a one- act play starring Kim Curlee from Carbondale as Lincoln, and co-starring Carrie Levin and Michael Ralph. Purcell also directs the play.

“The play is a compilation of writings and speeches from Lincoln, plus research done about him,” Purcell said. “It also includes work from the plays and sonnets of Shakespeare, as well as original writing by me. Nearly all the Shakespeare lines have been selected because we know Lincoln loved these specific selections."

“Much of this play is based on actual historical events in Lincolns’ life,” Purcell continued. “The focus of the play is this question: Did Lincolns’ love of Shakespeare influence his writing and actions?”

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