Last time a U.S. President saw a Broadway show while in office? — Page 2

Geoge W saw Avenenue Q.

It was a big deal b/c no one knew if they were gonna change the line that name checks him in "For Now".

That, and the fact that it wasn't realy a show you'd expect him to see.

They didn't change the line, and he (at least pretended) to enjoy the show.

---

I was actually there the day Ted Kennedy saw The Producers. It was his birthday. My parents even introduced me to him and honestly, I didn't know who the hell it was. Then I found out and I was like, "Holy crap." My prayers go out to that man.

---

The Clinton's saw AVENUE Q.

Figures.

---

Wasn't McCain in attendance when Lincoln saw My American Cousin?

---

John Kennedy saw the Jule Styne musical DO RE MI in 1961. Supposedly the show was completely sold out, but the house manager asked one elderly ticket holder if she would give up her tickets for the President and she said she would providing that she could meet John Kennedy. She is said to have fainted when the meeting took place. The story does not make too much sense, in that the St. James Theatre would have to have security guards for him, etc. But security was not as tight back then, prior to Kennedy's assasination while riding in an open convertible limousine.

President Harry Truman attended a performance of CALL ME MADAM starring Ethel Merman, back in 1950. References are made to Harry Truman throughout the show where Merman plays an ambassador to a small foreign country who gets phone calls from the President. Incidentally, this is one instance where the movie version of a Merman vehicle did star Ethel Merman. Much of the film is faithful to the Broadway show. It is available on DVD from Amazon and is very enjoyable. The score is pretty much intact. And Merman's comic ability is evident.

---

Updated On: 5/30/08 at 10:25 AM

I believe Bush Sr., Clinton, and the current Bush all saw the original run of Les Mis while they were in office.

I was about to post that Bill saw Stones in His Pocket, but in looking up what year that would have been (2001), I realized that was the dawning of the new era. Joy.