What if the history you thought you knew… wasn’t the full story?
This June, The Lincoln Debate arrives at the Hollywood Fringe Festival 2026 with a bold, eyebrow-raising question that feels both shocking and strangely overdue: Was Abraham Lincoln in love with the man he shared a bed with for four years—and what might that mean when viewed through a modern LGBTQIA+ lens?
Before you decide how you feel about that… you might want to see this show.
Written by Terry Ray and directed by Steve Rosenbaum, this award-winning comedy isn’t here to rewrite history—it’s here to revisit it. Every moment is rooted in real letters, diaries, and documented accounts… including Lincoln’s own deeply affectionate correspondence with Joshua Speed. No speculation. No fabrication. Just facts… presented in a way that will have you questioning everything you thought you knew.
And here’s the hook: it’s funny.
Like, genuinely, disarmingly funny… the kind of humor that sneaks up on you while your brain is quietly going, wait… is this true?
The cast—featuring Jason Reale, Alex Price, Kimleigh Smith, Terry Ray, and Angela Landis—brings a sharp, fast-paced energy to the stage, turning what could be a dry historical debate into something electric, surprising, and—dare I say—kind of thrilling.
This isn’t just a play… it’s a conversation starter.
It’s the kind of show you go to with someone… and then end up talking about for hours after.
It’s already earned multiple award nominations and wins, including honors from the Desert Theatre League and BroadwayWorld, and it’s coming to Hollywood for a limited run only—which in Fringe terms means: blink and you’ll miss it.
If you love smart comedy…
If you’re even a little bit obsessed with untold history…
If you enjoy leaving a theater saying, “I had no idea…”
Go.
See.
This.
Show.
The Lincoln Debate plays at Broadwater Second Stage for five performances only:
June 8 at 5:00 PM (Preview)
June 13 at 8:30 PM
June 21 at 7:30 PM
June 26 at 5:00 PM
June 27 at 12:00 PM
Tickets are available now through the Hollywood Fringe Festival.
Because whether you agree with the premise or not… one thing is certain:
You’re going to have an opinion.
And that’s exactly the point.
