44 PLAYS FOR 44 PRESIDENTS Set for 44 Productions in 22 States, 2012

In conjunction with the 2012 Presidential Election, no fewer than 44 theatres, colleges, and high schools from all over the country will produce 44 Plays for 44 Presidents as part of the Plays for Presidents Festival 2012. The Festival will culminate in simultaneous election night events and an online composite video production of 44 Plays for 44 Presidents made up of contributions from all 44 Productions. Productions have been confirmed at venues ranging from Geva Theatre Center to Little Rock Central High School, slotting the show in 22 different states.

“This experiment is a way of uniting the theatre community around something specific,” says Andy Bayiates, Festival Co-Chair and Co-Writer of 44 Plays for 44 Presidents. “It puts high school drama kids side-by-side, virtually speaking, with professional theatre companies, providing them with an experience that immerses them in their country's history.”

44 Plays For 44 Presidents is a chronological, biographical survey of the lives and presidencies of each of the 44 men who have held the office so far, told in 2-minute plays dedicated to each of the 44 presidencies. Their mistakes and successes are celebrated by a company of actors who take turns donning a star-spangled coat that symbolizes the presidency. Beginning with George Washington's almost Eden-like perfection, the scenes shift frequently between the comic and the tragic, from Ben Franklin giving Thomas Jefferson a Borscht Belt-style roast, to the frank portrayal of William Henry Harrison's life as an "Indian slayer," and later the grim onset of the Civil War. Act II starts off the twentieth century with the assassination of William McKinley, moves through a Nixon-praising dance number, a George Bush Sr. mini-musical about dirty campaigning and arrives at a polarized America in both the George W. Bush and Barack Obama plays. Audience members consider their role in shaping the history they've just witnessed, as they are left to ponder where the presidency has gone since its fall from paradise...and where it will go next. The show ends with cast members handing out voter registration cards and urging audience members to recruit the apathetic among them—regardless of party affiliation—to vote.

44 Plays for 44 Presidents premiered in 2002 at The Neo-Futurists Theatre Company (originally 43 Plays for 43 Presidents). Audiences have included a famous historian, several Georgia congressmen, and former President Jimmy Carter.

The Plays for Presidents Festival 2012 is a national collaboration of theatre and educational artists seeking to encourage artistic conversations and partnerships across the United States and to provide audiences with a renewed appreciation for the power of democracy and the responsibility of the electorate. This is the inaugural year for the Festival; Plays for Presidents has plans to remount this Festival every 4 years.

The Plays for Presidents team is made up of a group of affiliated theatre artists, media specialists, and history buffs who see the potential in creating a national conversation and artistic event countering the clamor and monotony of mainstream political coverage. The Plays for Presidents staff includes several Neo-Futurist alumni, along with educational, corporate, theatre, and media professionals whose expertise and passion help shape and communicate their ultimate message for greater civil engagement through a new breed of patriotism.

The online composite video production of 44 Plays for 44 Presidents will be made up of contributions from the first 44 Productions to join the Festival. Starting with Awesome Possum Theatre Symposium’s take on Washington and going through each president and producer until The Neo-Futurists’ rendition of Obama, the online video project will allow viewers to view a full production video seamlessly integrating 44 separate contributions woven together to create a composite rendition of 44 Plays for 44 Presidents.

Adds Bayiates “We need to throw history at the madness of the Presidential election cycle because nothing stifles temporary insanity like history. It reminds us of our power as voters and our ability to weather strife as a people.”

For more information visit playsforpresidents.com/praise-for-presidents/.

Current production schedule

April 5 – April 14, 2012 - Lake Forest College (IL)

June 29 – July 14, 2012 - Theatre Pro Rata (MN)

August 24 – 26, 2012 - Washington County Actors Community Theatre (IN)

September 20 – October 7, 2012 - Geva Theatre Center (NY)

September 27 – November 6, 2012 - The Neo-Futurists (IL)

September 28 – 30; October 4 – 7, 2012 - The ArtsCenter (NC)

October 1 – 4, 2012 - Savannah College of Art and Design (GA)

October 3 – 14, 2012 - University of Illinois (IL)

October 4 – 6, 2012 - Hastings College (NE)

October 4 – 7, 2012 - Concordia College (MN)

October 11 – November 6, 2012 - Drive Theatre Company (CA)

October 18 – November 3, 2012 - square product theatre (CO)

October 19 – November 10, 2012 - Awesome Possum Theatre Symposium (WA)

October 25 – November 4th, 2012 - Des Moines Social Club (IA)

October 25 – 28, 2012- Notre Dame High School (CA)

October 28 – November 11, 2012 - Bad Habit Productions (MA)

October 29, 2012 - dog & pony dc (DC)

November 1 – 10, 2012 - Bard’s Town Theatre (KY)

November 1 – 15, 2012 - Elemental Theatre Collective (RI)

November 2 – 6, 2012 - LaSalle-Peru Township High School (IL)

November 9 – 18, 2012 - Lewis University (IL)

Other Productions (dates to be announced)

City Lights Theatre Company (CA)

Creekview High School (GA)

Cyrano’s Theatre Company (AK)

Dad’s Garage (GA)

Gnap! Theatre Projects (TX)

Little Rock Central High School (AR)

Muhlenberg College (PA)

The NOLA Project (LA)

The Rascal People (NY)

Silver Creek High School (IN)

Washougal High School (WA)