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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, PLEASE

AMERICAN HISTORY UNBOUND RETURNS TO
CARNEGIE HALL WITH
“WE CHOSE TO GO TO THE MOON”
ON TUESDAY, APRIL 7 & WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2026

MULTIMEDIA MUSICAL SPECTACLE
CHRONICLES THE DRAMA OF AMERICA’S RACE TO SPACE
THROUGH ARCHIVAL FILM AND PHOTOGRAPHY,
LUNAR FLAGS, AND LIVE PERFORMANCES
FEATURING LEADING BROADWAY VOCALISTS

WITH NARRATION BY HISTORIAN JOHN MONSKY

TWO SPECIAL PERFORMANCES AT CARNEGIE HALL
DIRECTED BY TONY-WINNER MICHAEL MAYER

TO BE FILMED FOR FUTURE NATIONAL TELEVISION BROADCAST
BY ACADEMY AWARD-WINNING RADICALMEDIA

LANDMARK PRODUCTION PRESENTED WITH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF KENNETH C. GRIFFIN AND GRIFFIN CATALYST

New York, NY (March 16, 2026) – American History Unbound returns to Carnegie Hall with We Chose to Go to the Moon, an immersive sensory theatrical experience that tells the dramatic tale of America’s race to space and decision to land a man on the Moon in one of the most ambitious scientific and exploration achievements in history. The production is a “living documentary,” blending theater, concert, and documentary storytelling to create a vivid on-stage experience of an iconic moment in history.

The story is told through multiple perspectives, following the journeys of pioneers in space exploration including: astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Michael Collins and Ed White; Mission Control trailblazer Poppy Northcutt and NASA “Hidden Figures” mathematician Katherine Johnson; and the families behind America’s ambitious space program such as Janet Armstrong and Betty Grissom. Audiences are transported from quaking launch pads at Cape Canaveral to the tension filled rooms of Mission Control and into the living rooms where families watched their loved ones literally disappear into the skies as people around the world watched history unfold in real time.

Set against a cultural soundtrack of music from the era performed by acclaimed Broadway actors with Orchestra of St. Luke’s – the performance reaches a crescendo in the fulfillment of President John F. Kennedy’s 1961 challenge to land a man on the Moon and return him safely to Earth before the end of the decade. The words of the astronauts, engineers, and their families recall the excitement, the fear, and the triumph of the race to space. In a breathtaking moment, viewers will see American flags that the astronauts brought to the Moon and back. Neil Armstrong’s son Mark Armstrong and granddaughter Kali Armstrong will perform a special tribute to the astronaut.

Developed over several years by historian, writer, and narrator John Monsky, the production is directed by Tony-winner Michael Mayer (Spring Awakening, Chess) and will be performed for two nights only—Tuesday, April 7 and Wednesday, April 8, both at 7:30 p.m.—in Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage. Ian Weinberger (Chess, Hamilton) conducts top Broadway vocalists and the Orchestra of St. Luke’s in music from the era—popular, patriotic, and protesting, including, “Fly Me to the Moon,” “Rocket Man,” “Space Oddity,” and “My Generation.”

This landmark multimedia production is presented with the generous support of Kenneth C. Griffin in partnership with Griffin Catalyst. Griffin Catalyst is the civic engagement initiative of Citadel founder and CEO Kenneth C. Griffin. The live performance is produced by American History Unbound, Inc.

We Chose to Go to the Moon will be filmed by Academy Award-winning RadicalMedia (Summer of Soul) for a national television broadcast this Fall, coinciding with the commemoration of America’s 250^th anniversary and Veterans Day.

These performances are presented by Carnegie Hall as part of its citywide United in Sound: America at 250 festival. “John Monsky has a remarkable gift for capturing pivotal moments in history through a powerful combination of music of the period, storytelling, and archival imagery,” said Clive Gillinson, Executive and Artistic Director of Carnegie Hall. “With We Chose to Go to the Moon, audiences are transported back to the years of the space race, when bold ambition and the spirit of discovery captured imaginations around the world—an inspiring story and a meaningful addition to our United in Sound festival.”

“The decision to go to the Moon was one of the most ambitious and aspirational undertakings of mankind,” said Ken Griffin. “We Chose to Go to the Moon pays tribute to the talent, courage, and perseverance behind this momentous achievement and highlights what can be achieved when bold goals are pursued by extraordinary teams.”

“Going to the Moon was not inevitable, it was a choice, a willingness of the heart, that reflected the very best of America’s spirit—curiosity, courage, and a belief in the power of shared effort,” said John Monsky. “Ken Griffin’s sustained commitment to preserving and elevating these stories has allowed us to bring moments like this to life by connecting history, culture, and civic purpose for audiences today and generations to come. The outstanding cast and team behind this production will transport audiences back to this fascinating period in American history, in the magnificent Carnegie Hall, where so many moments in American history were made.”

The Carnegie Hall performances are produced by American History Unbound, Inc. John Monsky is writer, creator, narrator, and executive producer. Michael Mayer is director for the stage. Ian Weinberger is music supervisor, arranger, and conductor. Austin Regan is associate director. Emily Maltby is choreographer. Meredith Wagner is executive producer. Bethany Weinstein Stewert is general and production manager. Eric Duran is media producer. Gene Graham, Rick Miramontez and Reece dos Santos are producers. Josephine Hurshell-Hobson is associate producer. Casting is by Jim Carnahan, CSA and Liz Fraser, CSA.

We Chose to Go to the Moon is produced for television by RadicalMedia. Executive producers are Jon Kamen, John Monsky, Dave Sirulnick, Meredith Wagner and Karla Zambrano. Michael John Warren directs. Declan Quinn serves as director of photography and Spencer Averick as editor.

ABOUT AMERICAN HISTORY UNBOUND

The American History Unbound series combines live music—performed by leading orchestras and celebrated Broadway actors—lecture, photographs and film from the National Archives, historic American flags, and material culture to explore watershed moments in American history.

These symphonic and visual journeys through history are commissioned by the Carnegie Hall Presents series. Created and narrated by historian John Monsky, programs to date have explored the Vietnam War, D-Day, and World War I.

These works have been presented at Carnegie Hall, Boston’s Symphony Hall, the John F. Kennedy Center Opera House, Miami’s New World Center, New Orleans’ Orpheum Theater, Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts, The New York Historical, Parrish Art Museum in Water Mill, New York, Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach, Florida, Yale University, New York University’s Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, and the New York Stock Exchange. In December 2024, The Eyes of the World: From D-Day to VE Day was performed at the White House commemorating the anniversary of Pearl Harbor. A performance with the legendary Boston Pops is currently streaming via PBS Passport.

American Heart in WWI: A Carnegie Hall Tribute, filmed at Carnegie Hall in April 2025 by the Academy Award-winning RadicalMedia (Summer of Soul) and directed for the stage by Tony-Award winner Michael Mayer (Spring Awakening), is currently streaming on PBS Passport, presented by Kenneth C. Griffin and Griffin Catalyst. American History Unbound Inc is a 501(c)(3). For more information, visit americanhistoryunbound.com

ABOUT GRIFFIN CATALYST

Griffin Catalyst is the civic engagement initiative of Citadel founder and CEO Ken Griffin, encompassing his philanthropic and community impact efforts. Tackling the world’s greatest challenges in innovative, action-oriented, and evidence-driven ways, Griffin Catalyst is dedicated to expanding opportunity and improving lives across six areas of focus: Education, Science & Medicine, Upward Mobility, Freedom & Democracy, Enterprise & Innovation, and Communities. For more information, visit griffincatalyst.org.

Griffin Catalyst’s partnership with American History Unbound reflects its broader commitment to strengthening freedom and democracy by connecting Americans to the ideals and individuals that define our shared story. Recent efforts include transformative support for the National Medal of Honor Museum, the Navy SEAL Foundation, and the Call of Duty Endowment, as well as initiatives to facilitate public access to foundational documents—including a loan of a rare first-edition copy of the U.S. Constitution and an early printing of the seventeen proposed amendments that became the Bill of Rights, as well as the acquisition and planned public display of historic editions of the Emancipation Proclamation and the Thirteenth Amendment.

ABOUT RADICALMEDIA

RadicalMedia is among the world’s leading producers of premium content, developing and creating award-winning film, television, advertising, design, live events, digital, and immersive experiences. The company’s work includes the Academy Award–winning documentaries Summer of Soul and The Fog of War, and acclaimed films of Broadway shows, including the Emmy Award–winning Hamilton, David Byrne’s American Utopia, and Merrily We Roll Along. RadicalMedia has also produced a series of historical documentaries with Doris Kearns Goodwin for History Channel exploring defining figures in American life, including Lincoln, Grant, Theodore Roosevelt, and FDR. Recent projects include Ladies & Gentlemen… 50 Years of SNL Music, SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius), and Bono: Stories of Surrender. Upcoming projects include a documentary about Earth, Wind & Fire (HBO), and a documentary about Noah Kahan (Netflix). The company has earned Academy Awards, Emmy Awards, Grammy Awards, Golden Globes, the Sundance Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award, SXSW Awards, Independent Spirit Awards, BAFTA Awards, Peabody Awards, amongst others.

ABOUT CARNEGIE HALL

Since 1891, New York’s Carnegie Hall has been the aspirational destination for the world’s greatest performers, the home of landmark concerts that have helped to define music history. From American icons like Leonard Bernstein, George Gershwin, Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, Judy Garland, and Bob Dylan to international legends from Tchaikovsky, Dvořák, Mahler, and Bartók to The Beatles, every form of music has filled Carnegie Hall throughout its history—the only prerequisite: that it be the finest. Today, Carnegie Hall presents a wide range of performances each season on its three stages each season including concert series curated by acclaimed artists and composers; citywide festivals featuring collaborations with leading New York City cultural institutions; orchestral performances, chamber music, new music concerts, and recitals; and the best in jazz, world, and popular music. Complementing these performance activities, Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute creates extensive music education and social impact programs that annually serve hundreds of thousands of people in the New York City area, nationally, and internationally, playing a central role in Carnegie Hall’s commitment to making great music accessible to as many people as possible. For more information, please visit carnegiehall.org.

TICKET INFORMATION

A limited number of general admission tickets for We Chose to Go to the Moon, starting at $55, are on sale now. Tickets may be purchased on the Carnegie Hall website, carnegiehall.org, by calling 212-247-7800, or by visiting the Carnegie Hall Box Office at West 57^th Street and Seventh Avenue. When purchased through carnegiehall.org or by phone, a non-refundable service charge of $11 applies per ticket. There is no service charge for any tickets purchased in person at the Carnegie Hall Box Office. Artists, program, and prices are subject to change.

For more information on Carnegie Hall’s United in Sound: America at 250 festival, visit carnegiehall.org/unitedinsound.

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