‘Clinton’ Musical Featuring Dual Bills Set for New York City Debut
A musical exploring the dual life of former president Bill Clinton is set to make its American debut in New York City, with two actors portraying two different sides of the former president. Clinton – which, according to its producers, “follows two Bill Clintons and Hillary on their quest to save their presidency” – will open for a week-long run on July 18th during the New York Musical Theatre Festival, Billboard reports.
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The two-hour musical explores all sides of Clinton’s presidency, featuring supporting characters like Newt Gingrich, Monica Lewinsky, Kenneth Starr, Dick Morris and Eleanor Roosevelt. Karl Kenzler plays the more serious Clinton, while Duke Lafoon will portray the looser, more relaxed side of the former president. The production (which won Best New Musical in 2012 at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe) is directed by Adam Arian; Paul Hodge authored the book, with music and lyrics by his brother Michael Hodge.
“Clinton needs to be played by two actors because he led two parallel lives,” Paul Hodge tells the New York Daily News. “I’ve always been interested in politics. Clinton was such a pivotal president and fascinating human being; he was a natural for a musical.”
Last year, NBC announced plans for a four-hour biopic miniseries based on Hillary Clinton, the former first lady and U.S. Secretary of State, though it was later canceled. In Bill-related news, U2 frontman Bono appeared at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York last September, offering a surprisingly strong impression of the 42nd commander-in-chief’s Arkansas drawl.