HOW TO USE THE TICKET MARKETPLACE
On a program-by-program basis, all online subscribers have the opportunity to upgrade to seats in the theater, should any become available through theater subscriber ticket donation. So, how does it work?
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TICKETS BECOME AVAILABLE The Ticket Marketplace will open at 7:00 AM the Monday before each program. All donated seats will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. If you do not see seats in the section you are looking for, check back later in the week as tickets are continuously added as they are made available. We often have many good seats available as late as the day of the program. We would love to see you there!
SEARCH FOR SEATS Log in to the Portal and follow the link to the Ticket Marketplace. Select the current program and then choose the section of the theater in which you are looking for seats.
CHOOSE YOUR SEATS Select up to four seats in the theater and submit your order. The price of the upgrade is the per-program value of your selected seats minus $29—the per-program value of your online subscription. You will not be charged a service fee.
PRINT YOUR TICKETS Follow the instructions after you complete your transaction to access your new tickets. You can either print them immediately or download them to scan from your phone at the theater.
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LEGENDARY JOURNALIST TED
KOPPEL RETURNS to the 40th season of The Richmond Forum to reflect on the transformative media moments that have shaped journalism — and the world — since he opened The Forum’s first season in 1987. From Tiananmen Square to Columbine, 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, and beyond, Koppel will share his insights into how these events were covered — and how they changed the way we understand history. In a full-circle moment, he will be interviewed by Amna Nawaz, co-anchor of “PBS NewsHour” and a former “Nightline” intern. Together, they will explore the stories behind the headlines and the ever-evolving role of the press in an increasingly complex world.
FOR OVER FIVE DECADES, TED KOPPEL has been a defining voice in broadcast journalism, bearing witness to the most pivotal events in modern history.
Best known as the anchor and managing editor of ABC’s “Nightline”, Koppel led the program from its launch in 1980 until 2005. Over more than 6,000 broadcasts, he covered landmark stories across the globe. On the final day of the Soviet Union, Koppel was the only journalist reporting from inside the Kremlin with Mikhail Gorbachev. He also conducted the first U.S. television interview with Nelson Mandela at his home in Soweto, South Africa, following his release after 27 years in prison.
Before “Nightline”, Koppel was a correspondent and bureau chief for ABC News. When he was hired in 1963, he was the youngest network correspondent working in the country. He notably reported on the civil rights movement in Selma, Alabama, and covered presidential campaigns from 1964 onward. He also reported on the conflicts in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, President Nixon’s historic 1972 trip to China, and Henry Kissinger’s Middle East shuttle diplomacy.
By the time he stepped down from “Nightline”, Koppel was the most decorated journalist in ABC News history. His honors include 43 Emmy Awards (including a Lifetime Achievement Emmy), eight Peabody Awards, 12 duPont-Columbia Awards, and nine Overseas Press Club Awards — more than any contemporary.
In 2015, he authored “Lights Out”, a New York Times bestseller that explored the threat of a major cyberattack on America’s power grid. Koppel continues to contribute insightful reporting as a senior contributor, and the nation’s oldest working network correspondent, at “CBS News Sunday Morning.”
AMNA NAWAZ IS CO-ANCHOR OF “PBS NEWSHOUR” and an Emmy- and Peabodywinning journalist.
At PBS, Nawaz has reported from the White House, across the U.S., and around the world on issues including immigration, foreign policy, gun violence, education, and climate.
Before joining “NewsHour” in 2018, Nawaz was an anchor and correspondent at ABC News, where she led livestream coverage of the 2016 presidential election. She previously served as a foreign correspondent and Islamabad bureau chief at NBC News, where she was the first foreign journalist to report from North Waziristan—then a Taliban stronghold—while pregnant with her first child.
A first-generation American born to Pakistani parents, she grew up in Alexandria, Virginia, and continues to live in the Washington, D.C., area with her husband and two daughters.
AT 34, SANNA MARIN BECAME THE WORLD’S YOUNGEST SERVING PRIME MINISTER, leading Finland through a historic era of transformation. Boldly shifting her country’s foreign policy with a landmark NATO bid, Marin has emerged as a symbol of modern, values-driven leadership on the global stage. Now, as Europe faces rising geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, and growing internal divides, Marin offers a thoughtful and urgent perspective on what comes next. With the clarity of a seasoned leader and the optimism of a next-generation changemaker, she will share stories from her time in office and present her vision for a stronger, more unified Europe.
SANNA MARIN SERVED AS THE PRIME MINISTER OF FINLAND FROM 2019 TO 2023 and is the former leader of the country’s Social Democratic Party. Appointed at age 34, Marin became the youngest serving prime minister in the world when she took office in 2019. She quickly gained international attention for her composed and collaborative leadership style, and she remains a vocal advocate for human rights, civil rights, and democracy.
During her tenure, Marin led Finland through several defining global and domestic challenges. Her government was widely praised for its effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in limiting loss of life and mitigating economic disruption. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, she played a central role in shifting Finnish public opinion and political will toward NATO membership, guiding the country through the fastest accession process in the alliance’s history.
Marin’s administration also advanced a number of progressive reforms, including groundbreaking climate legislation that aims for carbon neutrality by 2035, an equitable family leave policy that shares paid time off between both parents, and structural improvements to public health care, education and LGBTQ+ rights.
In September 2023, Marin joined the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change as a strategic counselor, where she advises political leaders on governance, technology, climate, and gender equality programs.
Her memoir, “Hope in Action,” is scheduled for release in November. Marin holds a master’s degree in administrative sciences from the University of Tampere and an honorary doctorate from New York University.
“EUROPE IS STRONGER THAN WE GIVE OURSELVES CREDIT FOR. WE HAVE TO STEP UP, USE OUR STRENGTHS, AND NOT DIMINISH THE COLLECTIVE POWER THAT WE HAVE. SMALL COUNTRIES [LIKE FINLAND] SHOULD DEEPEN OUR COOPERATION WHEREVER WE CAN TO BUILD A BETTER AND SAFER WORLD.”
Joe Manchin, Andrew Yang, & Justin Amash
The Two-Party Problem
THE TWO-PARTY SYSTEM IS SHOWING ITS CRACKS. As polarization deepens and trust in government erodes, many Americans are asking if the red-versus-blue framework can still fulfill the needs of a diverse and complicated society. In this provocative panel, former Senator Joe Manchin, Forward Party co-founder Andrew Yang, and former Congressman Justin Amash will examine how political tribalism stifles innovation and consensus. From alternative voting systems to the rise of independents, these three leaders will explore whether a post-partisan future is possible — challenging us to rethink the foundations of American democracy in a time when the old rules are not working.
FORMER SENATOR JOE MANCHIN
represented West Virginia in the U.S. Senate from 2010 to 2025, where he was known for his independent streak and commitment to bipartisan cooperation. He served as chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and was also a member of the Appropriations, Armed Services, and Veterans’ Affairs committees.
Before joining the Senate, Manchin served in the West Virginia House of Delegates and Senate, as Secretary of State, and as Governor from 2005 to 2010. A centrist Democrat who later registered as an independent, he prioritized job creation, fiscal responsibility, and a balanced energy strategy that included both traditional and renewable resources.
ANDREW YANG is an entrepreneur, author, and political reform advocate whose career has spanned the private, nonprofit, and political sectors.
In 2020, Yang ran for president as a Democrat. His signature policy proposal was universal basic income—a monthly payment to every American adult in response to economic disruptions caused by automation and artificial intelligence.
In 2021, Yang left the Democratic Party and registered as an independent. The following year, he joined former Democrats, Republicans, and independents to form the Forward Party, focused on electoral reform, ranked-choice voting, and promoting a more collaborative political culture.
JUSTIN AMASH is a constitutional conservative and libertarian who served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2021. Representing Michigan’s 3rd Congressional District, he was known for his principled stance on individual liberty, economic freedom, and the rule of law. Over the course of his five terms, Amash developed a reputation for independence, transparency, and a consistent constitutional approach to legislation.
He became a leading voice on civil liberties, opposing warrantless surveillance, indefinite detention, and civil asset forfeiture. He was also a critic of corporate welfare, government overreach, and excessive spending. In 2019, Amash left the Republican Party and became the first and only Libertarian member of Congress.
FROM CEMENTING A LEGACY OF TELEVISION AND FILM STARDOM to building a multimilliondollar brand that celebrates Black beauty, Tracee Ellis Ross has spent her life breaking molds and making space — for herself and for others. In this evening of conversation, she will open up about her career, her passions, and the power of showing up as your whole self. Expect reflections on creativity, courage, and joy — with the signature humor and honesty that have made her a beloved cultural force.
TRACEE ELLIS ROSS IS AN AWARD-WINNING ACTRESS, PRODUCER, AND CEO.
For eight seasons, Ross starred as Dr. Rainbow Johnson in the acclaimed ABC comedy “Blackish”, which earned Emmy, SAG, Critics Choice, and Golden Globe nominations, as well as NAACP Image Awards and a Peabody Award. She has received a Golden Globe, nine NAACP Image Awards, and a People’s Choice Awards “Fashion Icon Award.” In 2022, she was named a “Disney Legend” for her extraordinary contributions to The Walt Disney Company.
Ross appeared in the Oscar-nominated film “American Fiction”, alongside Jeffrey Wright, Sterling K. Brown, and Issa Rae. Directed by Cord Jefferson, the film won the People’s Choice Award at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival and was named one of AFI’s “Movies of the Year”. She also starred in Amazon’s “Candy Cane Lane” with Eddie Murphy—the platform’s most-watched U.S. debut—and appeared in the 2023 thriller “Cold Copy”.
Ross has a multi-year overall deal with ABC Signature under her production company, Joy Mill Entertainment. She is also executive producer and star of “Jodie”, the forthcoming animated spinoff of MTV’s “Daria”.
In 2019, Ross founded PATTERN Beauty, a top-selling hair care brand for curly, coily, and tight-textured hair. PATTERN is the No. 1 BIPOC-owned brand at Ulta Beauty and is available at major retailers across the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. Through PATTERN, Ross celebrates Black beauty and supports organizations empowering women and people of color.
A champion for equity and joy, Ross delivered viral speeches at Glamour’s Women of the Year Summit and TED, and received the 2023 Webby Special Achievement Award.
As ULTA Beauty’s Diversity & Inclusion Advisor, Ross champions initiatives that reframe the narrative around Black women and Black consumers.
She holds honorary doctorates from Spelman College and Brown University, her alma mater.
“LUXURY, TO ME, IS THE SPACE TO BE WITH ONESELF, TO KNOW ONESELF, TO ENJOY YOUR OWN COMPANY, OR AT LEAST TO GIVE YOURSELF SPACE TO BE IN YOUR OWN COMPANY. I THINK EVERYONE DESERVES TO FIND A SENSE OF LUXURY IN THEIR LIFE.”
John Green
THE WORLD IS A STRANGE PLACE. PEOPLE ARE EVEN STRANGER. Why do we stand in awe at the sight of a sunset? Why do diseases remain uncured despite astonishing advances in medicine? And why, in an age of touchscreens and voice commands, are we still clinging to the QWERTY keyboard? Bestselling author and perpetually curious human John Green invites us to tug at the loose threads of our beautifully baffling world. Through heartfelt storytelling woven with scientific insights and historical oddities, Green will make us fall deeply in love with the complexities of the human experience, even the ones we deem a bit strange.
JOHN GREEN IS THE NO. 1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR of “Looking for Alaska”, “Paper Towns”, “The Fault in Our Stars”, and “Everything is Tuberculosis”. He is also the coauthor, with David Levithan, of “Will Grayson, Will Grayson”. He was the 2006 recipient of the Michael L. Printz Award, a 2009 Edgar Award winner, and has twice been a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. Green’s books have been published in more than 55 languages and over 24 million copies are in print.
Green’s latest book, “Everything is Tuberculosis”, was an instant No. 1 New York Times, Washington Post, and Indie bestseller. Regarded as a timely and “highly readable call to action” in a starred Kirkus review, the book is a deeply human social and scientific history in which Green illuminates the healthcare inequities that allow this curable, treatable infectious disease also to be the deadliest, killing 1.5 million people every year.
Film and television adaptations of his novels have reached wide audiences. The 2014 film version of “The Fault in Our Stars”, starring Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort, was a
critical and box office success. “Paper Towns” followed in 2015, and a Hulu adaptation of “Looking for Alaska” premiered in 2019. Green’s short story was also featured in the 2019 Netflix holiday film “Let It Snow”.
In 2007, John and his brother Hank ceased textual communication and began to talk primarily through videoblogs posted to YouTube. The videos spawned a community of people called “nerdfighters” who fight for intellectualism and to decrease the “overall worldwide level of suck.” Although the Greens have long since resumed textual communication, they continue to upload two videos a week to their YouTube channel, vlogbrothers, where their videos have been viewed more than 800 million times.
In 2011, the Green brothers co-founded the educational platform Crash Course, which offers video series on subjects ranging from history and literature to physics and economics, and has amassed more than 10 million subscribers and over 1 billion views.
He lives with his family in Indianapolis and is a graduate of Kenyon College.
“OUR OBSESSIVE DESIRE TO MAKE AND HAVE AND DO AND SAY AND GO AND GET—SIX OF THE SEVEN MOST COMMON VERBS IN ENGLISH—MAY ULTIMATELY STEAL AWAY OUR ABILITY TO BE, THE MOST COMMON VERB IN ENGLISH.”
Board of Directors
Chris Accashian
Corynne S. Arnett
Kevin D. Best
Jonathan Brabrand
Kristen Cavallo
Anthony Conte
Dr. Ronald A. Crutcher
Teresa Downs
Eva Hartmann
William R. B. Hershey
Steve Humble
Cynthia Joyce
D. Brennen Keene
A. Brent King
Kelly O’Keefe
Rick Palmieri
Susan P. Quinn
Celia A. Rafalko
P. Anand Rao, Ph.D.
Daphne Maxwell Reid
Alison Rogish
Lisa Sims
Zack Smith
Greg Stivers
Sally Tate
Ashley L. Taylor Jr.
Maria Tedesco
Janet Tope
Pient Tran
Todd B. Waldo
Austin Welder
Andrea Lynn White
Staff
Heather Mullins Crislip Executive Director
Kathryn Blessing Director of Development & Sponsor Events
Michael Brown Director of Subscriber Services & Operations
Maggie McVicar Director of Communications
Sandra Wheeler Director of Student Programs
Lucretia M. Anderson Assistant Director of Student Programs
Sanchez Tucker RFSDI Tournament Manager
THE WAIT IS OVER!
This June, the 2026 National Speech & Debate Tournament takes center stage in Richmond!
Thank you to all who included a gift with their subscription purchase to support the Richmond Forum Speech & Debate Initiative.
Thank you also to these speech & debate sponsors:
and learn more at RICHMONDFORUM.ORG/SPEECHANDDEBATE .
