President Bush references in Musicals
President Bush references in Musicals
musicalsaregreat
Understudy Joined: 4/13/05
#0President Bush references in Musicals
Posted: 11/29/05 at 9:32pmI don't think this has been discussed on here before. Avenue Q, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and The Frogs all had jokes about the President. Even Hairspray had a comment about fixing an election. Are there any other Bush references I've missed and have any other presidents been commented on in a musical while serving as president?
theatreboi11
Broadway Star Joined: 5/9/05
#1re: President Bush references in Musicals
Posted: 11/29/05 at 9:35pmAlso the characters of Madam Morrible, Gaston, and Scar just to name a few.....pretty much all villians.
(Martha Graham from a letter to Agnes de Mille) "There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening That is translated through you into action, And because there is only one of you in all time, This expression is unique. If you block it, It will never exist through any other medium And be lost. The world will never have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is, Nor how valuable it is, Nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours, clearly and directly, To keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep open and aware Directly to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open. No artist is pleased. There is no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer, divine dissatisfaction, A blessed unrest that keeps us marching And makes us more alive than others."
Becky
Broadway Star Joined: 5/14/03
#2re: President Bush references in Musicals
Posted: 11/29/05 at 9:36pm
tick, tick...BOOM! references George Bush Sr. as president...
***edited to say it wasn't *while* he was in office (unless we're talking about the early performances of TTB, and even then I can't be sure that line was a part of the early productions....)
Updated On: 11/29/05 at 09:36 PM
ihearttheatre
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/12/05
#3re: President Bush references in Musicals
Posted: 11/29/05 at 9:38pmThere's an entire musical...Bush is Bad- I think that's what it's called.
#4re: President Bush references in Musicals
Posted: 11/29/05 at 10:01pmWhen I saw Spelling Bee in September, Sarah Saltzberg ad-libbed about Bush and Hurricane Katrina... It was quite funny!
gumbo2
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/21/05
#5re: President Bush references in Musicals
Posted: 11/29/05 at 10:12pmWait,Scar and Gaston are references how? I don't think I'm deep enough to go into the symbolism on my own. Also there is the entire show of Assassins, but that's not making fun of any presidents.
#6re: President Bush references in Musicals
Posted: 11/29/05 at 10:13pmSorry I haven't listened to Avenue Q in a while. What's the reference? I LOVE the one in DRS though!
#7re: President Bush references in Musicals
Posted: 11/29/05 at 10:16pmDuring "For Now" they say "George Bush...is only for now..."
Hi, Shirley Temple Pudding.
#8re: President Bush references in Musicals
Posted: 11/29/05 at 10:20pm
Hahaha.
I also don't get the scar /gaston /madame morrible. Busg wasn't president when Gaston was created.
i*heart*fame
Broadway Star Joined: 9/15/04
#9re: President Bush references in Musicals
Posted: 11/29/05 at 10:22pmWhen I saw Spelling Bee for the 2nd time in late August Sarah Saltzberg adlibbed, "Our country is like a driverless SUV with Karl Rove hiding under a blanket in the back seat."
"Don't thank your parents, if you were raised in a nurturing environment you wouldnt be in show business"--Conan O'Brien at the 2006 Emmy Awards
#10re: President Bush references in Musicals
Posted: 11/29/05 at 10:24pmIn regards to the Scar/Madame Morrible/Gaston bit, it was comparing Bush to the villains, because he is one himself.
"The stage is where I live and come alive and act out all the things that go on in my life. It's not just what I do for a living, it's my shrink and my love affair. No one in my life has ever or ever will kiss me on the mouth like this lover called my relationship with my performance."
timote316
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/20/04
#11re: President Bush references in Musicals
Posted: 11/29/05 at 10:28pmAssassins does indeed poke fun of some presidents... there's a scene between Moore and Fromme that makes fun of Gerald Ford. He then comes in, falls on his face, acts like a fool, pets a dead dog, and then walks off. I know this because I played Ford. Lots of fun.
cubbiegirl
Stand-by Joined: 11/15/05
#12re: President Bush references in Musicals
Posted: 11/29/05 at 10:39pmI've read that the line in Wicked about giving people a common enemy (and the whole political stuff in Wicked) was inspired by Bush/Iraq.
Jim Caruso: You know, you are doing Wicked.
Stephanie J Block: I am!
Jim: Is anyone coming to that old thing?
Stephanie J Block: I am!
Jim: Is anyone coming to that old thing?
gumbo2
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/21/05
#13re: President Bush references in Musicals
Posted: 11/29/05 at 10:45pmThe Wicked thing makes sense, but as far as Scar and Gaston, I realize they are evil, but I just don't see political undertones, and was Bush even in office when the shows opened?
#14re: President Bush references in Musicals
Posted: 11/29/05 at 10:48pmWhat's the one in DRS? I saw it this summer, but I guess I never caught it.
i*heart*fame
Broadway Star Joined: 9/15/04
#15re: President Bush references in Musicals
Posted: 11/29/05 at 10:51pm"The Bushes of Tex we nervous wrecks because their son was dim" in All About Ruprecht
"Don't thank your parents, if you were raised in a nurturing environment you wouldnt be in show business"--Conan O'Brien at the 2006 Emmy Awards
#16re: President Bush references in Musicals
Posted: 11/29/05 at 11:03pm
Criminal is a strong word, lol...but point taken!
When I saw Spelling Bee last, which was October, Sarah said something about "Who the heck is Harriet Miers?"
although she got withdrwan, i believe, after that.
"That Sondheim kid has a big future."-Nathan Lane
#17re: President Bush references in Musicals
Posted: 11/29/05 at 11:04pm
Here's the tick, tick...BOOM! reference Becky mentioned. I have so many lines from that show saved just because they crack me up and this is one of them.
"It's 1990 for God's sake. It is not an exciting period. It is not a period of ferment. It's f*cking stodgy is what it is- conservative, complacent, obtuse and unimaginative. Or, to put it another way: George Bush is president of the United States."
Like a firework unexploded
Wanting life but never knowing how
Updated On: 11/29/05 at 11:04 PM
Wanting life but never knowing how
ashley0139
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/3/05
#18re: President Bush references in Musicals
Posted: 11/29/05 at 11:06pmI saw Spelling Bee and had an understudy for Logainne. She did some stuff about it too.
"This table, he is over one hundred years old. If I could, I would take an old gramophone needle and run it along the surface of the wood. To hear the music of the voices. All that was said." - Doug Wright, I Am My Own Wife
theatreboi11
Broadway Star Joined: 5/9/05
#19re: President Bush references in Musicals
Posted: 11/29/05 at 11:43pmsorry guys didn't mean to confuse....I was simply saying that those villians are just like stupid Bush. Nothing more, nothing less. I didn't mean that they were based on him....stupid political joke. Sorry.
(Martha Graham from a letter to Agnes de Mille) "There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening That is translated through you into action, And because there is only one of you in all time, This expression is unique. If you block it, It will never exist through any other medium And be lost. The world will never have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is, Nor how valuable it is, Nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours, clearly and directly, To keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep open and aware Directly to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open. No artist is pleased. There is no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer, divine dissatisfaction, A blessed unrest that keeps us marching And makes us more alive than others."
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#20re: President Bush references in Musicals
Posted: 11/29/05 at 11:48pmSo in performances such as Ave Q, what will they do when Bush leaves office? Change the lines to the new Pres.'s name?
<---Adopt a shelter pet!
gumbo2
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/21/05
#21re: President Bush references in Musicals
Posted: 11/29/05 at 11:53pmAh, I see. I was wondering that, too, what will happen when George W. leaves office? A lot of good jokes gone to waste...
#22re: President Bush references in Musicals
Posted: 11/29/05 at 11:55pm
No that would be defacing to their liberal point of view.... They would never have a song that had BILL CLINTON - For Now...
Sad, as much as they like to claim being open-minded -- the great white way is very one sided.
Jim
#23re: President Bush references in Musicals
Posted: 11/30/05 at 12:02amAt the Bee this weekend, I saw Kate Weatherhead as Logainne and she did a bunch of stuff about George Bush that was new...
[title of show] on Broadway. it's time. believe.
#24re: President Bush references in Musicals
Posted: 11/30/05 at 12:11am
"I've read that the line in Wicked about giving people a common enemy (and the whole political stuff in Wicked) was inspired by Bush/Iraq."
I'm sure it inspired them to be extra snarky about it...but it didn't inspire the theme. Have you read the novel? The entire thing is about politics, it's a beautiful masterpiece as far as fiction goes.
The first time I heard "Wonderful" I cried because it's all true. Nobody likes the classroom scene with Dr. Dillamond or "Something Bad" and while it's not the most entertaining aspect of the show it's so important and meaningful. There are so many important messages in that show that go beyond the whole girl-boy-girl-angsty-angst-popuuuular theme.
My grandfather was an American History professor, historian, and published author in that field so sometimes I get baffled when people forget history repeats itself. Politics, "finding a common enemy to bring the people together", twisting the truth..."his-story." Nothing is concrete, or truely objective.
Though I do think Nessa's line, "I can't harbor a fugitive, I'm an un-elected official" to be a direct remark towards Bush's presidency. That always made me laugh. 
--Like an odd exotic creature on display inside a zoo, hearing children asking questions makes me ask some questions too...--
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