In photos: 'Ford's Theater reopening'

By James Wray Feb 12, 2009, 3:56 GMT

US President Barack Obama speaks at the Ford's Theater reopening celebration in Washington D.C., USA, 11 February 2009. The Ford Theatre reopens after an 18-month renovation process. EPA/Aude Guerrucci/POOL

US President Barack Obama greets Opera Singer essye Norman while Ben Veeren applauses at the Ford's Theater reopening celebration, Washington, DC, February 11, 2009. Abraham Lincoln was shot at the Ford Theater in 1865. The theater underwent an 18 months renovation. EPA/Aude Guerrucci/POOL

President Barack Obama greets TV Anchor Katie Couric at the Ford's Theater reopening celebration, Washington, DC, February 11, 2009. Abraham Lincoln was shot at the Ford Theater in 1865. The theater underwent an 18 months renovation. EPA/Aude Guerrucci/POOL

George Lucas, a 2009 Lincoln Medal Recipient listens to US President Barack Obama at the Ford's Theater reopening celebration, Washington, DC, February 11, 2009. Abraham Lincoln was shot at the Ford Theater in 1865. The theater underwent an 18 months renovation. EPA/Aude Guerrucci/POOL

US President Barack Obama receives a replica of the Gettysburg Address, a gift from the Ford Theater, from an actor dressed as Abraham Lincoln at the Ford's Theater reopening celebration in Washington D.C., USA, 11 February 2009. The Ford Theatre reopens after an 18-month renovation process. EPA/Aude Guerrucci/POOL

American singer Jessye Norman arrives at the ceremony to mark the reopening of the Ford Theatre and the bicentennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, in Washington D.C., USA, 11 February 2009. The Ford Theatre reopens after an 18-month renovation process. EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS

U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao arrives at the ceremony to mark the reopening of the Ford Theatre and the bicentennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, in Washington D.C., USA, 11 February 2009. The Ford Theatre reopens after an 18-month renovation process. EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS

ATTENTION EDITORS: CAPTION CORRECTION: CORRECTING NAME Mellody Hobson arrives at the ceremony to mark the reopening of the Ford Theatre and the bicentennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, in Washington D.C., USA, 11 February 2009. The Ford Theatre reopens after an 18-month renovation process. EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS

James Earl Jones (R) and his wife Cecilia Hart arrive at the ceremony to mark the reopening of the Ford Theatre and the bicentennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, in Washington D.C., USA, 11 February 2009. The Ford Theatre reopens after an 18-month renovation process. EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS

ATTENTION EDITORS: CAPTION CORRECTION: CORRECTING NAME George Lucas (R) and Mellody Hobson arrive at the ceremony to mark the reopening of the Ford Theatre and the bicentennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, in Washington D.C., USA, 11 February 2009. The Ford Theatre reopens after an 18-month renovation process. George Lucas receives the Lincoln Medal Award at the ceremony. EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS

Sidney Poitier arrives at the ceremony to mark the reopening of the Ford Theatre and the bicentennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, in Washington D.C., USA, 11 February 2009. The Ford Theatre reopens after an 18-month renovation process. Sidney Poitier receives the Lincoln Medal Award at the ceremony. EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS

US actress Audra McDonald arrives at the ceremony to mark the reopening of the Ford Theatre and the bicentennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, in Washington D.C., USA, 11 February 2009. The Ford Theatre reopens after an 18-month renovation process. EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS

US President Barack Obama (front) and his wife Michelle arrive to the Ford's Theater reopening celebration, Washington, DC in Washington D.C., USA, 11 February 2009. The Ford Theatre reopens after an 18-month renovation process. EPA/Aude Guerrucci/POOL

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (front) greets actor Sydney Poitier at the Ford's Theater reopening celebration, Washington, DC in Washington D.C., USA, 11 February 2009. The Ford Theatre reopens after an 18-month renovation process. EPA/Aude Guerrucci/POOL

Kelsey Grammer arrives at the ceremony to mark the reopening of the Ford Theatre and the bicentennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, in Washington D.C., USA, 11 February 2009. The Ford Theatre reopens after an 18-month renovation process. EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS

Ben Vereen arrives at the ceremony to mark the reopening of the Ford Theatre and the bicentennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, in Washington D.C., USA, 11 February 2009. The Ford Theatre reopens after an 18-month renovation process. EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS

Melanie Hobson arrives at the ceremony to mark the reopening of the Ford Theatre and the bicentennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, in Washington D.C., USA, 11 February 2009. The Ford Theatre reopens after an 18-month renovation process. EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS

George Lucas arrives at the ceremony to mark the reopening of the Ford Theatre and the bicentennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, in Washington D.C., USA, 11 February 2009. The Ford Theatre reopens after an 18-month renovation process. George Lucas receives the Lincoln Medal Award at the ceremony. EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS

Jeffrey Wright (R) and his wife Carmen Ejogo arrive at the ceremony to mark the reopening of the Ford Theatre and the bicentennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, in Washington D.C., USA, 11 February 2009. The Ford Theatre reopens after an 18-month renovation process. EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS

Violinist Joshua Bell arrives at the ceremony to mark the reopening of the Ford Theatre and the bicentennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, in Washington D.C., USA, 11 February 2009. The Ford Theatre reopens after an 18-month renovation process. EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS

Tom Daschle (R) and his wife Linda Hall Daschle arrive at the ceremony to mark the reopening of the Ford Theatre and the bicentennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, in Washington D.C., USA, 11 February 2009. The Ford Theatre reopens after an 18-month renovation process. EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS

George Lucas (R) and Melanie Hobson arrive at the ceremony to mark the reopening of the Ford Theatre and the bicentennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, in Washington D.C., USA, 11 February 2009. The Ford Theatre reopens after an 18-month renovation process. George Lucas receives the Lincoln Medal Award at the ceremony. EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi arrives at the ceremony to mark the reopening of the Ford Theatre and the bicentennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, in Washington D.C., USA, 11 February 2009. The Ford Theatre reopens after an 18-month renovation process. EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS