“The Other Mr. Lincoln” Book and Lyrics by Don Hood, Music by Harry Reed Contact Email: donhood@pacbell.net
I’m Don Hood. Let me ask you a question. Do you know who Robert Todd Lincoln was? I bet you know who his father, President Abraham Lincoln, was. So I wrote the book & lyrics for “The Other  Mr. Lincoln,” an original musical about the incredible life and times of Lincoln’s oldest son, Robert. From the 1860’s to the 1920’s, most people know many of the names and places of the important events showcased in this musical, but do they know how they unfolded? Through the eyes of Robert Lincoln, we take you there, because he was there at all of those events! He’s the only man in history who was! Fresh out of Harvard Law School, he helped thwart a conspiracy to kill his father. As a Union Captain, he rode all night to give his father the Appomattox surrender, only to be too exhausted to go to Ford’s Theatre to prevent his father’s assassination. He dealt with having to commit his mother to a mental hospital, as she had, like Jackie Kennedy decades later, experienced the tragedy of her President-husband’s murder. On top of all that, Robert was right there, witnessing first-hand, Presidents Garfield and McKinley being assassinated for political reasons, as audiences can relate to similar events in today’s world. But he was strong-willed, and became an avid astronomer to take his mind off these horrors, and re-invented himself as CEO of the Pullman Car Company, where he was one of the largest employers of African-American workers in the 1890’s, which we see in musical harmony, possibly in contrast to today’s realities. But even in his 70’s, Robert supported his wife and was part of the women’s suffragette movement. I told Harry Reed, the composer, my ideas for this, and he said, “You have writer’s real estate, story, story, story!” And so, the music takes you on a ride through history! With 11 different genres spanning 17 songs, from ballads to ragtime, from salsa to opera, and from conspiracy concerto to rock ‘n’ roll, with captivating choreography of dance and dream sequences. There are also surprising reveals, such as, a brilliant female detective foiling the conspiracy and ultimately the Baltimore plot against President Lincoln, the intrigue and cunning, shown through song and dance. And we show how his father’s murder affected him throughout his life, and how ultimately, he was able to resolve his conscience in a haunting musical “Twilight Zone”-like finale.  We have a full cast and 12-piece orchestra production scheduled for the Hammer Theatre in San Jose, CA, near San Francisco, this October, 2024, to which I’d like to invite all of you to come. Email me from the Web Page, and I’ll arrange tickets. We also have a demo CD of the 17 songs, three of which I’ve attached to the Web Page, and I encourage you to listen to them to show the musical range, as we are also looking beyond this, for a production at the next level. There will also be a video recording, so let me know if you’d like to see that as well.  This is a remarkable true story of a tumultuous time in American History, a history you only thought you knew. It’s an exciting musical journey, with historical characters and events, which changed history forever! Thank you for listening and for your consideration. After several years of research, writing the book, lyrics, and music, “The Other Mr. Lincoln” is completed. It has been workshopped, with a demo CD recorded (three of the songs are uploaded below), and is now with a full cast and designers, being readied for production at the Hammer Sobrato Main Stage Theatre in San Jose, CA, this October, 2024. We are also looking beyond this, for a production at the next level. If you would like a copy of the recording of our performance, please contact via email on the Web Page and let me know. Thank You. Don Hood, Writer of the Book & Lyrics, Stage Director of the production. Don graduated from the UCLA Theatre Arts Department, has written several plays, screenplays, TV series, and musicals, while also performing in, directing, writing, and producing over two dozen theatrical productions, along with pilots and series for cable TV, and acting parts in several films. Harry Reed, Composer of the Music, Musical Director of the production. Harry is a music teacher with a lifetime credential from San Jose State University; owner of Arts Initiative, working with over 15 schools in three districts in Santa Clara County. Expertise in writing, producing, and directing, along with managing music and drama touring groups of high school and college students for 36 years.

“The Other Mr. Lincoln”

Book and Lyrics by Don Hood, Music by Harry Reed

Contact Email: donhood@pacbell.net

I’m Don Hood. Let me ask you a question. Do you know who Robert Todd Lincoln was? I bet you know who his father, President Abraham Lincoln, was. So I wrote the book & lyrics for “The Other  Mr. Lincoln,” an original musical about the incredible life and times of Lincoln’s oldest son, Robert. From the 1860’s to the 1920’s, most people know many of the names and places of the important events showcased in this musical, but do they know how they unfolded? Through the eyes of Robert Lincoln, we take you there, because he was there at all of those events! He’s the only man in history who was! Fresh out of Harvard Law School, he helped thwart a conspiracy to kill his father. As a Union Captain, he rode all night to give his father the Appomattox surrender, only to be too exhausted to go to Ford’s Theatre to prevent his father’s assassination. He dealt with having to commit his mother to a mental hospital, as she had, like Jackie Kennedy decades later, experienced the tragedy of her President-husband’s murder. On top of all that, Robert was right there, witnessing first-hand, Presidents Garfield and McKinley being assassinated for political reasons, as audiences can relate to similar events in today’s world. But he was strong-willed, and became an avid astronomer to take his mind off these horrors, and re-invented himself as CEO of the Pullman Car Company, where he was one of the largest employers of African-American workers in the 1890’s, which we see in musical harmony, possibly in contrast to today’s realities. But even in his 70’s, Robert supported his wife and was part of the women’s suffragette movement. I told Harry Reed, the composer, my ideas for this, and he said, “You have writer’s real estate, story, story, story!” And so, the music takes you on a ride through history! With 11 different genres spanning 17 songs, from ballads to ragtime, from salsa to opera, and from conspiracy concerto to rock ‘n’ roll, with captivating choreography of dance and dream sequences. There are also surprising reveals, such as, a brilliant female detective foiling the conspiracy and ultimately the Baltimore plot against President Lincoln, the intrigue and cunning, shown through song and dance. And we show how his father’s murder affected him throughout his life, and how ultimately, he was able to resolve his conscience in a haunting musical “Twilight Zone”-like finale.  We have a full cast and 12-piece orchestra production scheduled for the Hammer Theatre in San Jose, CA, near San Francisco, this October, 2024, to which I’d like to invite all of you to come. Email me from the Web Page, and I’ll arrange tickets. We also have a demo CD of the 17 songs, three of which I’ve attached to the Web Page, and I encourage you to listen to them to show the musical range, as we are also looking beyond this, for a production at the next level. There will also be a video recording, so let me know if you’d like to see that as well.  This is a remarkable true story of a tumultuous time in American History, a history you only thought you knew. It’s an exciting musical journey, with historical characters and events, which changed history forever! Thank you for listening and for your consideration.

After several years of research, writing the book, lyrics, and music, “The Other Mr. Lincoln” is completed. It has been workshopped, with a demo CD recorded (three of the songs are uploaded below), and is now with a full cast and designers, being readied for production at the Hammer Sobrato Main Stage Theatre in San Jose, CA, this October, 2024. We are also looking beyond this, for a production at the next level. If you would like a copy of the recording of our performance, please contact via email on the Web Page and let me know. Thank You.

Don Hood, Writer of the Book & Lyrics, Stage Director of the production.

Don graduated from the UCLA Theatre Arts Department, has written several plays, screenplays, TV series, and musicals, while also performing in, directing, writing, and producing over two dozen theatrical productions, along with pilots and series for cable TV, and acting parts in several films.

Harry Reed, Composer of the Music, Musical Director of the production.

Harry is a music teacher with a lifetime credential from San Jose State University; owner of Arts Initiative, working with over 15 schools in three districts in Santa Clara County. Expertise in writing, producing, and directing, along with managing music and drama touring groups of high school and college students for 36 years.