June 1, 2008 seemed like any other day, but it was very special in a unique way in Washington D.C. It was a Sunday and many important people were getting together at The National Theater.
It seemed that Broadway came to the nation’s capital for a star-studded gala to bring attention to the newly refurbished Ford’s Theater. The event was attended by many Washington D.C. dignitaries, including President Bush and first lady Laura Bush.
Actor Hal Holbrook, country music singer Trisha Yearwood, Broadway headliner, Clay Aiken and other stars performed songs and spoken word pieces from the musical “The Civil War”.
The musical premiered in Houston in 1998 before opening on Broadway. The story follows the course of the war from many perspectives.
Clay performed the song, Sarah. It was reported by some audience members that his performance was so beautifully presented that there were tears in the eyes of the audience members. The music from “The Civil War” is gospel in style so Clay’s performance was mild and tender and a great contrast to the other songs.
Besides the musical performance, Lincoln Medals were presented to Maya Angelou and Ruby Dee. The Lincoln Medal has been awarded each year since 1981 by the Ford’s Theatre Society. According to the Ford’s Theatre Society,
“the medals are given to individuals who through their body of work, accomplishments or personal attributes, exemplify the lasting legacy and mettle of character embodied by the most beloved president in our nation’s history, President Abraham Lincoln.”
It must have been an emotional night for Clay as he felt the excitement and awe of performing at such a prestigious event. However, he must have also felt frustration when he left the theater. This was just a few days after TMZ broke the news about Clay and Jaymes expecting a baby.
According to eyewitnesses, as Clay and his mother were leaving the theater, the TMZ photographer was pushing and shoving to get up front to his car and actually twisted a woman’s arm to get her out of the way. Of course, the photographer filmed the entire confrontation for TMZ. What was seen on film was Clay attempting to get into his vehicle and pushing his hand over the lens of the camera. There was no angry altercation. It was just a camera pushed into his face. The Theatre reported to inquirers that Clay was a gentleman throughout and that the press people were out of control. The story was completely fabricated to make it look as though there was a problem. What’s new?
Congratulations to Clay Aiken for the honor of performing in this exciting and important event. The concert was another benchmark in his admirable career.