Coming Soon to Broadway: "Howard Dean: The Play"

(HT Allah)

Well, at one-time this year I wanted to go to New York, but admitted not to see something like this.

Who knew political drama was so . . . theatrical? A play about David Frost's interview with Richard Nixon just nabbed a Tony for best actor. A stage bio of Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun is in the works. Now comes word that another unlikely subject may be headed for Broadway this fall: Howard Dean's 2004 presidential campaign.

Last week, Oscar-nominated actor Jake Gyllenhaal did a private reading of "Farragut North" (written by playwright and former Dean campaigner Beau Willimon) about the presidential hopes of a charismatic, unorthodox candidate and his staff. The 26-year-old "Brokeback Mountain" star would play the idealistic young communications director sabotaged by old political dogs with dirty tricks, reports the New York Post. If he's cast, it would be Gyllenhaal's Broadway debut.

"Jake was a big campaign supporter of mine, so I hope he takes it," Dean told us yesterday. "But I want him to play me." The DNC chairman likes the concept -- "Hell, I'll go to it" -- even if it includes his famous scream. "I'd like to see him do that."

Besides working for Dean's campaign, Willimon has worked for Schumer, Hillary Clinton, Bill Bradley, and probably enough liberal Democrats in New York City to keep him busy writing plays about their campaigns.

One can already imagine the hook-up scenes. The known cheating on your boy or girlfriend back home, without a shred of guilt between either party. Tons of drama there.

Obvious fact here, but I'll point it out for those who don't know DC. The name "Farragut North" is no doubt intentional. It's the Metro stop on the Red Line all the K-Street lobbyists use.

It will open just in time for people to start talking Tony nominations. Though, it will be quite the climb for Gyllenhaal since "Bubble Boy."