Political Drama: Our Favorite On-Stage Presidents
Is it just us or has this political season been a little . . . dramatic?
No matter which political party gets you buzzing (or which gives you a hangover…), one thing is clear: politicians love the stage and the stage loves them.
Almost every U.S President in history has had their moment in the theatrical spotlight, from the beloved Abraham Lincoln (who’s been in nearly a dozen plays beginning with Benjamin Chapin’s Lincoln in 1906) to the not-so-memorable Rutherford B. Hayes (who was played by Gene Wilder in A.E. Hotchner’s The White House in 1964).
Even some of our current nominees have been popping up in front of audiences lately. Hillary Clinton balanced out the two Bills in Off-Broadway’s Clinton The Musical and certainly comes to mind as the characters in Eclipsed get hilariously invested in a book about Bill Clinton. Meanwhile, Donald Trump gets endorsed by a serial killer eight times a week in American Psycho and is “only for now” in Avenue Q.
In honor of today’s primary election in New York City, we’re nominating our top candidates for best on-stage president:
>>Benjamin Walker as Andrew Jackson in Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson
Photo via PopEntertainment.com
Tight pants and black eyeliner make Andrew Jackson more than a president: he’s a rockstar. Honorable Mention: Martin Van Buren, John Quincy Adams, and James Monroe.
>>Daveed Diggs as Thomas Jefferson in Hamilton
Photo via NewYork.com
Alexander Hamilton may have made the $10 bill, but he never made it to the Oval Office. So for this list, our vote goes to worthy rap battle opponent, Thomas Jefferson. Honorable Mention: George Washington and James Madison.
>>Bryan Cranston as Lyndon B. Johnson in All the Way
Photo via BuzzFeedCeleb
From Breaking Bad to Broadway, Bryan Cranston knows how to steal a scene. Cranston will be back in the role on May 21 in HBO’s upcoming adaptation.
>>Will Ferrell as George W. Bush in You’re Welcome, America: A Final Night with George W. Bush
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Photo via LA Times
Ferrell reprised the role he perfected on Saturday Night Live in a limited engagement that began on George W. Bush’s last day in office. Talk about “strategery.”
>>William Daniels as John Adams in 1776
Photo via NYCityCenter
Before he taught history on Boy Meets World, William Daniels was recreating it in the original production of 1776. Lin-Manuel Miranda says it perfectly: “We don’t have a John Adams in our show, but we can just refer to him, and everyone just pictures you, Mr. Daniels.”
>>Frank Langella as Richard Nixon in Frost/Nixon
Photo via Boston.com
Based on the television interviews between Richard Nixon and David Frost, Langella delivers a Tony and Academy Award-nominated performance in this Tony and Academy Award-nominated work.
>>Tom Galantich & Duke Lafoon as Bill Clinton in Clinton The Musical
Photo via NewYorkTheatreGuide
Playing the more mature “WJ,” and the out-of-control (but oh-so-fun) “Billy,” Galantich and Lafoon showed us all the sides of Bill Clinton in this musical parody.
>>Raymond Thorne as F.D.R in Annie
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Photo via NYPL
If anyone would get Annie’s proclamation that “the sun would come out tomorrow,” it would totally be F.D.R.
Whoever wins come November, we can’t wait to see the plays and musicals they inspire!
But today, don’t forget to vote! The polls close at 9pm. Click here to find your polling location.
See you at the polls and see you in the theatre!