Current Production
Prepare for Democracy!
an hour with the spirit of Theodore Roosevelt
Starring B. Stanley as Theodore Roosevelt
Former President Theodore Roosevelt has returned from the dead to speak directly to the American people because, “I am as concerned as I was when I walked this earth that our democracy is in a dire state.” But there are rules: he cannot say anything he didn’t when alive, and he has limited time.
In his signature robust style, Roosevelt makes his case plain and straightforward; lamenting inequality and injustice in our political and economic systems, decrying money and deceit in politics, demanding redistribution of wealth, warning against extremism, and begging us to raise the moral bar for our leaders. He quotes Lincoln at length, relates a story of an unscrupulous cowboy, and recounts being shot in 1912.
Taken directly from the book Progressive Principles, this one-person performance is derived from transcripts of speeches made by Roosevelt on the campaign trail in 1912. His passionate appraisals of the media, the wealth gap, money in politics, and human rights are as on point today as they were over one hundred years ago. Although a self-proclaimed individualist, conservative and Republican, his observations and calls to action belie the very basis of today’s progressive politics.
Technical and Directing assistance by Jerry Herbilla.
Photographs by Michael Matason.