Many people know about the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, and that famous photo of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. waving to more than 250,000 people gathered around the Reflecting Pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial on Aug. 28, 1963. However, “ The American Five ,” now at Ford’s Theatre until Oct. 12, shares the larger story behind that historic day — going back more than 70 years.

Beginning in 1952, the play chronicles how King developed into a global leader for equality. The inner circle featured in this production reveals how the group organized the historic march, with King placed at the forefront of the movement when he delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech.

Through playwright Chess Jakobs’ words and Aaron Posner’s directing, the audience witnesses how K

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