NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 5, 2000

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Glenn A. Walsh, Life Trustee, Andrew Carnegie Free Library

(412) 561-7876, <andrcarn@alphaclp.clpgh.org>

MUSIC HALL SHOW COMMEMORATES 135^th

ANNIVERSARY OF LINCOLN ASSASSINATION
BENEFITS LIBRARY'S CIVIL WAR MUSEUM

Carnegie, Pa., April 5 - On Friday evening, April 14, 1865, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln was fatally shot, while watching the play "Our American Cousin" in Ford's Theatre in Washington. Exactly 135 years later, on Friday evening, April 14, 2000, the memory of President Lincoln will be honored with a performance of "Our American Cousin, " written by Tom Taylor, in the Music Hall of the Andrew Carnegie Free Library, located at 300 Beechwood Avenue in Carnegie Borough.

The 8 p.m. April 14^th performance kicks-off a weekend of Civil War-related activities, all of which will benefit artifact restoration in the Library's Civil War Museum, the Captain Thomas Espy Post, No. 153, Grand Army of the Republic. This weekend of events is being presented by the Ninth Pennsylvania Reserves, a group of Civil War reenactors, and co-sponsored by the Chartiers Valley Partnership and the Andrew Carnegie Free Library.

"Our American Cousin" will also be shown Saturday, April 15 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, April 16 at 2 p.m. Steve Fatla, Director of the Theatre Group of Pittsburgh's Carlow College, directs the weekend performances in the Music Hall of the Andrew Carnegie Free Library.

Other events, during this weekend, include tours of the Civil War Museum, reenactment of a Civil War encampment in Library Park outside of the Library, and a gallery of Civil War-era pictures that can be viewed and purchased, provided by Photo Antiquities. There will also be a Civil War medical demonstration and the opportunity to "meet" the 16^th President of the United States and Mrs. Lincoln.

More than one hundred Civil War artifacts are located in the Library's Civil War Museum. Most of these artifacts were brought back, from the War, by area soldiers who fought in the conflict. The money raised, during this benefit weekend, will be used to pay for a professional study of how best to preserve these historic relics; a humidity control system, to prevent moisture damage to Civil War-era books and newspaper articles, is also being considered.

Ticket prices for "Our American Cousin, " which are a tax-deductible, are $15 for General Admission, $20 for Dress Circle, $25 for Grand Tier, and $30 for Presidential Circle. Tickets can be reserved in advance by sending a check for the proper amount, along with the preferred performance date, to Ninth Pennsylvania Reserves, P.O. Box 10402, Pittsburgh, PA 15234; include a self-addressed, stamped envelope with your order. Tickets will also be on sale at the door. For more information, look at the Civil War Museum's Internet web site at http://www.clpgh.org/ein/andrcarn/hoursgar.html#OACbenefit or telephone the Library at (412) 276-3456.

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