NEW YORK - American and Hollywood Singer/Actress Mary Millben returns to the theatrical stage playing the historical figure Elizabeth Keckley in the new Broadway-bound musical “The Lincolns of Springfield.”
Directed by four-time Tony Award winner and 12-time Tony Nominee Corey Brunish, alongside playwright, lyricist, and composer Terrence L. Cranert, and musical direction by Stephen Applegate, Mary shares the stage with film/Broadway actor Matthew Patrick Davis starring as Abraham Lincoln and film/stage actress Deborah Robin, as Mary Todd Lincoln.
“This is my ‘dream come true’ return to theatre. Working with Corey, Terry, Stephen, and this remarkable show. A show – that speaks to love, liberty, and my favorite American President, President Abraham Lincoln. And a role – that truly embodies what I have spent a career singing about – freedom. Having sung America’s patriotic music for three consecutive U.S. Presidents and lifting America’s National Anthem across the country, my story is the American dream as was Elizabeth Keckley’s. Art has a powerful way of speaking truth to our reality. I feel that playing Elizabeth Keckley is truly a holy calling. I am privileged to highlight the beautiful role she played in Abraham Lincoln’s dream of freedom and to continue to carry that message of hope and freedom to the world,” Millben said.
The parallels between Mary’s personal journey and the historical account of Elizabeth Keckley are unique. As Washington, D.C. was the location where Keckley's successful career as a seamstress began, Washington, D.C. was also the city where Mary's political and music career began; working and performing for The White House, U.S. Congress, and for bipartisan political events in the Nation's Capital. Keckley worked at The White House for President Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln. Mary was a White House Presidential Appointee to President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush. Virginia is Keckley’s birth home. Virginia is Mary’s longtime home.
Narrated by Elizabeth Keckley, “The Lincolns of Springfield” chronicles the incredible story of America’s greatest President and his beloved wife, from their first meeting through the end of the Civil War. The relationship between Mary Lincoln and her closest friend and confidante, former slave and dressmaker, Elizabeth Keckley, is pivotal to the story. As Mary Lincoln’s dearest friend, Mrs. Keckley is privy to Mary’s most intimate and private history and is thus the ideal storyteller for the show.
Mary just returned from India in celebration of India’s 75th Anniversary of Independence as an official guest from the United States invited by the Government of India, the Ministry of External Affairs, and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. Mary made history – as the first American and African American artist to be invited to India for Independence Day observance and for an audience of 1.4 billion people.
Mary made her New York debut at the Westchester Broadway Theatre starring in Ray Roderick’s Gershwin musical “‘S Wonderful”. In June 2019, Mary starred in the world premiere of Tazewell Thompson’s play “Jubilee” at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. In addition, Mary starred in Arena Stage’s premieres of “Sophisticated Ladies” and “Crowns,” for which she received a Helen Hayes Award nomination. Mary has headlined solo concerts at popular New York venues including The Copacabana, Joe's Pub at The Public Theater, The City Winery, The Cutting Room, and featured at the Iridium.
A global ambassador for Education Africa, Mary is a noted advocate for religious freedom, the ideals of freedom and free enterprise, creating opportunities for marginalized communities, small businesses, children, arts education and school choice, and the empowerment of women and girls across the world. Mary earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Oklahoma’s prestigious Weitzenhoffer Department of Musical Theatre, a minor in political science, and completed studies and fluency in Mandarin in China - Xian University, Kunming University, Peking University, and Fudan University.
The Santa Barbara run of The Lincolns of Springfield serves as the professional world premiere of this new musical. The show will travel from city to city across the country as it heads to New York and Broadway.
CCD edited with permission.
