Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
 

Bluenorthwest

(45,319 posts)
Sat Jul 27, 2013, 11:26 PM Jul 2013

A great play coming to Cambridge in September at A.R.T. about LBJ buy early!

'All The Way' premiered last year at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and will be in Cambridge with a seriously great cast including Bryan Cranston as LBJ and Michael McKean as J Edgar Hoover. Highly recommend the play, and I say go buy tickets now!
September 13, 2013 - October 12, 2013
Loeb Drama Center
http://www.americanrepertorytheater.org/events/show/all-way

4 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
A great play coming to Cambridge in September at A.R.T. about LBJ buy early! (Original Post) Bluenorthwest Jul 2013 OP
Do you want to understand how American politics can work ...or at least 'worked' once upon a time... DreamGypsy Jul 2013 #1
I remember you posting about it back then... Bluenorthwest Jul 2013 #4
Maybe we can get some Boston-area DUers together to see this? MannyGoldstein Jul 2013 #2
I wish I could fly there to see it, saw the premier production but McKean as Hoover is worth travel Bluenorthwest Jul 2013 #3

DreamGypsy

(2,252 posts)
1. Do you want to understand how American politics can work ...or at least 'worked' once upon a time...
Sat Jul 27, 2013, 11:52 PM
Jul 2013

...then go see this play.

We attended a late season performance of All The Way at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival last fall on our way to visit with friends in California for a few days. Dynamite performances in a wonderfully disturbing play. From the OSF review:

Johnson is responsible for the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the 1965 Voting Rights Act, the Great Society initiative and the War on Poverty. His legislative programs created Medicare and Medicaid, food stamps, the Head Start preschool program and the Job Corps. He dramatically changed American society, and much of our present political discourse involves the continuation, expansion or dismantling of these programs.

<snip>

All the Way recounts Johnson's strategy to pass the Civil Rights Act with a minimum of compromise and his subsequent struggle to hold on to the Democratic nomination for president in the 1964 election. (Johnson, of course, became the "accidental" president when Kennedy was assassinated in November 1963.)

Schenkkan, Rauch and the superb actors of the repertory company give each of these figures his own life, his own story. Christopher Liam Moore is particularly moving as Johnson's longtime, trusted aide, Walter Jenkins, who is callously and summarily thrown under the bus when a scandal threatens Johnson's campaign.

With its powerful examination of power and morality, I wish that OSF had opened All the Way earlier in the season. This play is a reminder of where this country was politically in the 1960s and why we still are fighting the same battles today.


A rare opportunity to see LBJ, MLK, J. Edgar, and Stokely together again...

 

Bluenorthwest

(45,319 posts)
4. I remember you posting about it back then...
Mon Jul 29, 2013, 11:24 AM
Jul 2013

Smart to snag that video clip!!!! This is so worth recommending, thanks for adding your excellent post! DUers would love this play so much.

 

MannyGoldstein

(34,589 posts)
2. Maybe we can get some Boston-area DUers together to see this?
Sun Jul 28, 2013, 12:07 AM
Jul 2013

If anyone's interested, check in below or PM me.

 

Bluenorthwest

(45,319 posts)
3. I wish I could fly there to see it, saw the premier production but McKean as Hoover is worth travel
Mon Jul 29, 2013, 11:22 AM
Jul 2013

Also Cranston who is one of the best of the best. Robert Schenkkan is the playwright and he is very great.
Same director from the OSF production, Bill Rauch who is one of my favorite theater directors. I'm sure this production will wind up on Broadway. It will sell out very quickly so act fast!
I'm jealous and would love to see it there!

Latest Discussions»Region Forums»Massachusetts»A great play coming to Ca...