Have visited several times as a historical site. This week we were thrilled to experience the musical "1776" in the theater. Great presentation! read more

Ford's theatre is super cool! I watched the 1776 play here and it was super good. But why the 3 stars you might ask? A crazy lady named Cindy kept going to people and telling them to put their phones away. Nothings wrong with telling people to put their phones away but the people who "used" their phone were either checking the time or being on it briefly (10 seconds) to check something. Also, the scene she made was a way bigger thing than someone being on their phone briefly and could be heard from the other side of the theatre. The play was super good but the staff wasn't so good. read more

I can't believe how many times I've walked past Ford's theater before actually visiting. This week I saw Sister Act there; what an incredibly cool venue!! There's a museum on the first level with amazing context and artifacts, and the theater itself is gorgeous. Staff were so helpful and kind. Such a fun night and great show!! read more

Ford's Theatre - Sister Act at Ford's Theater - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This was a great visit for historical purposes. I went through the museum first, then into the theatre and then to the Peterson house. You have to read/select your ticket option carefully because not all include everything. To get to the museum you go down some steep steps The museum was packed with people, so I did a quick loop and then went up the 50+ steps to the balcony of the theatre. A ranger was answering questions so I sat up there for a few minutes then exited and walked across to the Peterson house to view the actual spot where he died. I did find it funny that the box in the theatre was decorated but had George Washington's photo hanging, not Lincoln's but didn't inquire as to why. read more

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Worth the wait in line. There is an app to get reservations and tickets in advance. It's accessible from metro stops or the bus services. read more

This has been on my list to do and see and coming to DC for the 3rd time was the charm! Actually it started yesterday with me coming and then me being told the theater was closed which really bummed me but it's not always guaranteed But they told me to come today in the morning and sure enough it was open!! The exhibit and museum areas are incredible and fascinating and to see the actual gun and pillow and to see the where he was tragically shot and also the bedroom/house he eventually died in was surreal and chillin to be there I definitely recommend going and seeing actual history read more

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I visited Ford's Theatre for the first time a few weeks ago when I was in DC for the weekend with some friends. A historic site visit to the theatre includes entrance to a small museum in the basement of the theatre, a history talk offered by a National Park Service ranger in the theatre, and entrance to the Petersen House (the house across the street from the theatre where President Lincoln was taken after he was shot and where he died the following morning). You can make reservations for a historic site visit on their website, and you only pay a small fee ($3.50, I think). I learned a lot and enjoyed the visit. Definitely worth visiting if you're interested in history! read more

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Decoration is nice.Customer service is horrid vivid smell across the whole house.Many seats have pillars in front of them The Show is not visible.Honestly this is very disappointing. read more

Very informative exhibits. It's small enough that you don't feel overwhelmed with information, but big enough that you can walk around and explore. Also very cool to see the main theater area. We came here a few years ago and saw a show held at the theater, and a dramatic "recreation" of the events leading up to the assassination. I would recommend trying to get tickets for that one over the version we went to today which was just a walk around in the museum downstairs and a brief talk in the theater about Booth and Lincoln coming into the theater. Overall, it is a very interesting experience and a good way to get away from the heat. Be warned that you will have to spend about 30 min in the museum downstairs before being able to leave and go up to the theater for the brief presentation. If you have trouble with smaller/dark places, take the first half of the experience slow as the museum can get a little crowded in some spots. Also, we were told that during the summer Lincoln's box is closed to the public, but if you come during the winter in the off season, you may be able to get to walk around in the box. I would recommend coming here a little earlier in the day as the fatigue from the heat made it hard to walk around the museum for the designated 1/2 hour before being able to move on. read more

I totally forgot to post my review of this historic theater which was famously known for President Lincoln's assassination by John Wilkes Booth...Inside you can see where it took place, as you imagine the event that unfolded that day on April 14, 1865. Attached is a screenshot of my initial review...appreciate the preservation of history because as humans we learn through events and lessons learned! read more

Ford's Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I am deeply disappointed in my recent experience with Ford's Theatre On the night of our visit, my sister experienced a medical emergency and had to leave at intermission with our father. I immediately brought this to the attention of a manager, who told me the box office would be open the following morning and that I should call back then. Since then, I've been bounced around to several departments within the organization, each passing me off to someone else, with no meaningful resolution. I initially requested a refund for two of our four tickets, given that half our party had to leave due to a health emergency. I was later told by Paul Tetreault, the Director of Ford's Theatre, that "buying a ticket is entering into a contract," and that the theatre had fulfilled its obligation by presenting the performance. I explained that I understood that from a policy standpoint--but reality sometimes requires flexibility and empathy. Instead of compassion, I was met with hostility. Paul accused me of being "aggressive" and "terrorizing his staff." He even said, "no one at this nonprofit gets paid enough to deal with this." That's a shocking and unprofessional statement coming from the Director of a nonprofit organization that should pride itself on community and service. I raised my voice out of frustration after being passed around for days, not because I intended to be threatening. After all of this, I received another email--not from Paul, but from the marketing department--offering the same credit Paul had already offered me. I had already made it clear that a credit was not acceptable, as I do not live in the area and will not be returning. A credit to a place I cannot use is meaningless. At this point, given the way I've been treated, I believe a full refund for all four tickets is more than justified. The only person who showed any concern or compassion was Megan in the Membership Department, whom I spoke with on April 7th. She was the first person to ask how my sister was doing and genuinely apologized for the experience. She said she would escalate the matter, and I appreciated that--but no resolution has come. I was deeply disappointed in the way I was treated--especially at such a historic venue like Ford's Theatre, with its national significance. You would think an institution with such a legacy would know how to treat its patrons with dignity and respect. read more

What a lovely venue with a fantastic museum ! The original detailing is still in tact. We saw a production of little shop of horrors and holy cow - the talent the singing the production the staging just FANTASTIC! We were so shocked at the quality of the show! We're looking forward to going to more shows! read more

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Great museum exploring the events surrounding Abraham Lincoln's assassination. We visited Ford's Theatre on a Sunday morning and were able to walk in and get tickets. I spent about 40 minutes in the museum reading the plentiful information about the events leading up to the assassination. Afterwards a National Park Service ranger gave an informative 20 minute presentation about the sequence of events on the night of the assassination and answered questions. Overall, it was a great experience, and I would recommend visiting Ford's Theatre if you are interested in this snapshot of history. read more

$3.50 for a ticket to tour the theatre, get a walk thru of the night Lincoln was assassinated and see the former boarding house across the street. What a deal! Spend the $3.50! Huge line- but no worries you have already bought your ticket online, right? You pile in to the theatre. But before the line is moving a Ranger gives you a little information. (Beware no food or drinks allowed inside and strollers are welcome. Don't be like my in-laws who opted to spend money on food and drinks just minutes before entering this historic place. Their drinks met the garbage.) We got in and got great seats even though there were at least 100 people in front of us. Sit to the left or the center of the theatre for the best vantage point of the balcony box that they keep talking about. A young historian stood on stage for about 25 minutes and recanted the stories of that evening. He really did an amazing job! Vivid, clear and just the details I needed/wanted. I felt like I was a part of the story. I fully understand what happened that night at Ford's Theatre and the best part, my 11 year old was captivated. Worth It! Tip: If you have a young child don't let them open the door on the top floor of the boarding house of the replica log cabin where Booth was captured- let's say the gun shot literally scared the crap out of my 2 year old! read more

Ford's Theatre - Where it happened - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Just an iconic place to see a play! We go every year and watch A Christmas Story and love it every year. I don't really have anything bad to say about this old theatre. I would highly recommend attending a play here. Might also go across the street to the museum while you're there. read more

I have been multiple times. It is a nice explanation of events as they occurred on the Day Lincoln went to the theater in addition to the tour through the house across the street. I encourage everyone to visit at some point. read more

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This is a Skip It when visiting DC. I would say that it was a lackluster experience. Meh. Some of the staff are a bit rude. The play that they perform is boring and the actors were not very good. They should hire someone to create a better production. read more

This will be my second time at the Ford Theatre and I really enjoy the small personal feeling this place exudes. From the aged stairs and balconies to the people that work here it seems like the type of place that you can enjoy both a high quality or amateur production. In my opinion there are no bad seats in the house but I prefer the second floor first row on the side or angle across from where Lincoln was shot. This last visit I went to see Little Shop of Horror for my sister's birthday and I really enjoyed the show. If you are into plays I would highly recommend going here at least once. read more

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One of those places I'd never been, and with its significance to American history, didn't want to miss it this time. The times tickets are an interesting thing to figure out because different times allow you access to different elements of the experience. The museum (downstairs), the theatre (where you get a 20 minute talk about the theatre), and the house across the street where Lincoln died are all potential elements of your visit. Unfortunately you can't get very close to or go into Lincoln's box, but just being "in the room where it happened" was interesting. So glad I went, actually wish they didn't shoo everyone out of the museum so quickly. read more

I visited the theater on a Tuesday in late January and was fortunate enough to have a volunteer docent who was very knowledgeable and passionate about the events leading up to President Lincoln's assassination and his last 9 hours in the Peterson House across the street. The docent was dressed in appropriate garb for the era which enhanced her presentation. I would love to return and see a production in the theater. read more

We were eating across the street from here and decided to check it out. It was very interesting with lots of pictures and artifacts. Went through the whole tour that took us to the seating area from where you can see the balcony where Lincoln was shot. The tour continues across the street where they took Lincoln and where he died the next morning. You go through the house and into the actual room where the bed he died on is still there (don't know if it's the actual bed or replica). After that it takes you to a wagon or trolley (not sure) and there's a casket and a map that shows their voyage taking him to his final resting place. It's informative and very interesting. I'm glad we came! read more

Ford's Theatre - The balcony where Lincoln was shot. - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Unique historical tour sponsored by the Park Service! Nice museum and the ability to go to the theater. Well worth the time to drop in. Been by there dozens of times and was happy I dropped in. read more

Ford's Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Great place. its an odd, yet somewhat surreal to be in the place where Lincoln was assassinated. to see the blood stained pillow and the balcony read more

We were three minutes past the last tour entry due to a matinee show, and they refused to let us join, merry Christmas! Such bad attitude and customer service read more

I enjoyed that the self guided tour I booked also included the Peterson House. I only wish that there was a docent in the theater that answered questions. The gift shops throughout had an excellent selection of items. read more

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My wife and I love history and try to visit as many historical sites as we can when we travel. We were lucky to be able to visit Ford's Theatre this past May and it was extra special that we got to bring along several of her students as we were in town for a conference. We opted for the self-guided tour and we spent a while exploring the museum as it had excellent information on the Civil War and really helped you prepare for what happened inside the theater. We got to explore the theater as well and it's humbling to be inside a building that was so pivotal in American history. It's a must-see when you come to D.C. and it's a great way to spend an afternoon. Make sure you also go across the street and visit the Petersen House (where Lincoln died) as well. read more

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You can't help but chuckle to see a Lincoln-themed gift shop in the very theater where he met his untimely demise... Aside from the monumental history, this is a very nice theater! There really isn't a bad seat in the house, although a few seats in the balcony are limited visibility. The productions are also top notch. A friend and I recently saw The Trip To Bountiful and we're blown away by the incredible acting. What made this experience less than five stars was the ambiance. With only a half-filled audience on a Saturday night, I was disappointed by the lack of control from the staff. Other patrons were carrying on full conversations during the show, and ushers in the hallways were doing the same. It certainly took away quite a bit from the ambiance. I would come back here for another show, but probably not under those conditions. read more

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What a lovely experience! "A Christmas Carol" will leave you full of Christmas/holiday spirit. We throughly enjoyed this show. The staff was really accommodating and offered to move to adjacent seats (I booked last minute an there were only single seats available). We ended up keeping our original seats but appreciated the effort. They don't allow photos, but I gook this shot when the lights were up and BEFORE they made the no camera announcement. Recommended for sure read more

I wanted to update my review of Ford's Theater. This is a great place to learn about history and see a great play. Parking can be tricky. Read the social media or web site to have the most updated information about street closures or events nearby (especially events at Capital One Arena). I would metro or park several blocks away. There are garages that have evening rates after 5pm. There is a small gift shop on the main floor. If you arrive early, you can see the museum downstairs. When we attended, masks were still required. No eating or drinking in the theater. Hard Rock Cafe is on the same side of the street if you want to grab a bite before or after a play. Capital City Brewery is approx two blocks away (closes at 9pm weekdays). Clydes in Chinatown is open until midnight. Follow @fordstheatre to stay in the loop about new shows. #fordsgrace was worth seeing. read more

Ford's Theatre - "Grace" set. - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We had a wonderful time just wandering and listening to the audio tour! Very well done. It was mind-blowing to see the chair he actually sat in and it was so quiet that my imagination took flight and I felt like I was right there. It must be all the pictures and movies over the years that help put you in the moment. There was a man giving a private tour (or maybe he was just REALLY knowledgeable!) but we listened in on some of that. The other thought I had was how small of a theater it was - nothing like we have today, and it made it even eerier! Because of covid (ugh!) we couldn't access the museum and house where he died across the street. I can't wait to return when it's all open. I have no idea why I waited for this DC trip to go, it's almost like you should start here and move to the newer parts after this. What a great exhibit of history!! read more

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This place was really interesting and the tour we took was really great as well. Tickets are free if you show up or like 2 dollars or something to reserve online and pick up at the box office. (well worth it) There was a lot to see here and learn about the events surrounding and leading up to Lincoln's assassination. The theater has been remarkably preserved and it's wild to see how to period it still is. At the time of our visit the bottom floor museum was under renovations but it was still great. The ticket can also include a visit to the house across the street where Lincoln died which was underwhelming admittedly but still pretty interesting! This is an important part of American history and should definitely be on your list of places to see in DC! read more

I avoided posting about Ford's Theatre because it's a hard lesson in world history. The group of people that went after Lincoln...it's a hard lesson..how interesting..I don't know how that could be...I am not myself..we are all part of the whole world...cmon people smile on your brother..everybody get together..try to love one another ....could go to this tourist attraction..you won't be disappointed..you were warned...hang out with the saints and not the sinners. read more

I brought a group of California middle schoolers to D.C. for a trip to connect with our nation's history, and this afternoon at Ford's Theatre we witnessed something I'll never forget--for all the wrong reasons. In front of the theater was an energetic, joyful street performer--someone we'd seen earlier in the week and who left a genuinely positive impact on our kids. He had them clapping, dancing, and singing along, sparking the kind of joy and connection that should be at the heart of any historical space that claims to be about community, inclusion, and "sparking conversations about the American experience" (Paul Tetreault's own words). And yet, within moments, Paul Tetreault--the director of the theater--stormed out of the building and got in this man's face, yelling at him for doing absolutely nothing wrong on public property. My students were stunned. I was disgusted. I approached to confirm the performer was on public land, and Paul tried to gaslight me, standing three inches from my face in an attempt to intimidate and dismiss me. Once I got him to acknowledge the dancer had every right to be there, he huffed off saying he was "returning to work." Except--he didn't. He crossed the street and started taking photos of us. Creepy and cowardly. Let's be clear: this was a Black man, dancing, smiling, and spreading joy on a public sidewalk. Paul Tetreault's reaction was not only unprofessional, it felt pointed and deeply problematic. When you, as a white man in power, use your position to publicly berate a Black street performer in front of kids, you're not just being a jerk--you're embodying the exact kind of performative "diversity" that institutions like this claim to be dismantling. Paul Tetreault should not be representing a place like Ford's Theatre--a site that is supposed to represent progress, history, and justice. His behavior today was the opposite of all three. Do better. And if you're going to preach diversity, inclusion, and the celebration of voices--start by not trying to silence the ones literally dancing in the street read more

First time at Ford's Theatre. Love their new lobby (built next to the historic Ford's theatre). They actually seal the doors to the old entrance. One can still tell from outside the historic site used to be a church. The new lobby has a shop, a coffee station, box office, and a ramp leading to the theatre itself. Considering how new it is, there seems to be very few stalls in the ladies' room (I was expecting something more equal provisions). The auditorium is beautiful with grand ceiling. There's the (in)famous balcony (booth) where Lincoln was assassinated which is now adorned with American flags. The museum in the basement is quite big, with lots of interesting displays. However, lighting is so unnecessarily dim. Please adjust the lighting. The text in many dimly lit corners is not legible. A huge problem! Came here to see Trip to Bountiful. What an experience. read more

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We researched our trip to Washington DC and places to see. Ford's Theater was on the list - and it didn't disappoint. It was also near the Old Town Trolley hop on/hop off. The history was not limited to the assassination of Abraham Lincoln but many things going on in that time. Being somewhere so historical was chilling at times. read more

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If you're going to charge that much for tickets for a show at least have comfortable seats. The back of the seats are thin cushions on a plank of wood and the rows are too close together. Hurt my knees and my back. Sister Act is funny though. read more

Watched a musical here! Such a splendid way to spend a spring evening at the historic Ford's Theater. Nolan William Jr.'s #FordsGrace is an incredible musical feast of culinary tradition, family, and storytelling. The show runs through end of May, and is a must watch! I was lucky to be part of a group invited for a free preview of the musical. Orchestra seating was perfection, although I don't think there's any seat that could be terrible. It's a gorgeous theater! The theater itself has a ton of character. There was history all around, and I believe they do historic theater tours as well on most days. The area itself is incredibly lively too. Local theaters are wonderful cultural landmarks that beautifully capture stories and storytelling, voices and lived experiences. Even in the most trying times, theater can be a respite from the world. And in happy hopeful times, they can spark thought and action. Don't give this a miss! read more

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Super informative!!! Crazy to read everything leading up to the assassination. The blood stained pillow lincoln used kinda hits differently when you see it. read more

I was on time for a production of Sister Act but unfortunately I ran into a bit of unprofessionalism at the box office that resulted in us missing the beginning of the show. It really stunk considering how much we paid for the tickets. The show, cast, and musicians were phenomenal though. They saved my rating because I wanted to give one star. read more

If you like to nerd out over history, I highly recommend the tour of Ford's Theater and the museum. Learning about Lincoln and seeing real artifacts up close was surreal. If you do the guided tour, I recommend paying extra to tour the house across the street where Lincoln was taken to die. There is a museum there too and it's worth the extra money. Tour guides are extremely knowledgeable and encourage you to ask questions. It is a timed tour since the theater and museum is very small and they want to get as many people in as they can in a day. I was disappointed because I didn't feel like I had time to see everything. I still recommend it though I learned a lot. read more

Ford's Theatre - The booth where Lincoln was killed - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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