Robert Wilson and the Civil Wars

Robert Wilson and the Civil Wars is a 90-minute documentary by filmmaker Howard Brookner that chronicles the ambitious and ultimately unrealized 12-hour historical opera conceived by legendary theater artist Robert Wilson. The film follows Wilson alongside composers Philip Glass and David Byrne, as well as several production troupes, as they work to stage an epic work encompassing the American Civil War, the life and death of Frederick the Great, and the unification of Italy. This screening is part of the National Gallery of Art’s “We Have Always Been Here 2026” series and features a DCP restoration completed in 2025 by Pinball London, Janus Films, the Criterion Collection, Bando a parte, Dan Zlotnik, and Matar Studio.

When: Saturday, June 13, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Venue: National Gallery of Art, East Building, East Building Large Auditorium, 6th and Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20565.

Tickets: Admission is free, but registration is required.

Lineup: Directed by Howard Brookner; features theater artist Robert Wilson and composers Philip Glass and David Byrne.

Run time: 90 minutes.

Format: DCP (Digital Cinema Package).

Ages: Adults (program is part of the adult-oriented film series).

Note: The documentary is a restored version from 2025, making its debut in this newly preserved form.