Farragut North (play)
Encyclopedia
Farragut North is a 2008 play written by Beau Willimon
, loosely based on the 2004 Democratic primary
campaign of Howard Dean
. The original script won the 2005 Dayton Playhouse FutureFest (a festival of new plays), where it was first produced, to rave reviews by critics and a warm response from audiences.
The play is billed as "a classic tale of hubris set against a contemporary landscape — about the lust for power and the costs one will endure to achieve it". It is titled after Farragut North
, a Washington Metro
station, on the Red Line
. Farragut North serves downtown Washington and is located just north of Farragut Square
near Connecticut Avenue. Willimon, who worked for Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) and former Governor of Vermont
and 2004 Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean, titled the play for the Metrorail station located nearest the district's center for think tanks, lobbyists, and advocacy groups.
It was slated to open on Broadway
in 2008, in the lead up to the 2008 United States presidential election
The production premiered at the Linda Gross Theater of the Atlantic Theater Company in New York City. The production was directed by Doug Hughes
and starred John Gallagher, Jr.
, Chris Noth
, Olivia Thirlby, Kate Blumberg and Isiah Whitlock, Jr. The production ran from October 22, 2008 – November 29, 2008 with official opening on November 12. On June 24 2009 the production transferred to Los Angeles' Geffen Playhouse
with Noth, Thirlby and Whitlock Jr reprising their roles. Chris Pine
joined the cast. Concurrently tt received a production at the Contemporary American Theater Festival
in July of 2009.
, directed by George Clooney
, and was released by Sony Pictures in October 2011.
Beau Willimon
Beau Willimon is a playwright, whose works have been developed and performed at MCC Theater, Ars Nova, HERE Arts Center, the Phoenix Theatre in Arizona, and the Battersea Arts Centre in London....
, loosely based on the 2004 Democratic primary
Democratic Party (United States) presidential primaries, 2004
The 2004 Democratic presidential primaries were the selection process by which voters of the Democratic Party chose its nominee for President of the United States in the 2004 U.S. presidential election...
campaign of Howard Dean
Howard Dean
Howard Brush Dean III is an American politician and physician from Vermont. He served six terms as the 79th Governor of Vermont and ran unsuccessfully for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination. He was chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2005 to 2009. Although his U.S...
. The original script won the 2005 Dayton Playhouse FutureFest (a festival of new plays), where it was first produced, to rave reviews by critics and a warm response from audiences.
The play is billed as "a classic tale of hubris set against a contemporary landscape — about the lust for power and the costs one will endure to achieve it". It is titled after Farragut North
Farragut North (Washington Metro)
Farragut North is a Washington Metro station in Washington, D.C., on the Red Line.Farragut North serves downtown Washington and is located just north of Farragut Square. It lies at the heart of the business district on Connecticut Avenue, with two entrances at L Street and one at K Street...
, a Washington Metro
Washington Metro
The Washington Metro, commonly called Metro, and unofficially Metrorail, is the rapid transit system in Washington, D.C., United States, and its surrounding suburbs. It is administered by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority , which also operates Metrobus service under the Metro name...
station, on the Red Line
Red Line (Washington Metro)
The Red Line of the Washington Metro is a rail rapid transit service operating between 27 stations in Montgomery County, Maryland and the District of Columbia, United States. It is a primary line through downtown Washington, and the oldest and busiest line in the system...
. Farragut North serves downtown Washington and is located just north of Farragut Square
Farragut Square
Farragut Square is a city square in Washington, D.C.'s Ward 2. It is bordered by K Street NW on the north, I Street NW to the south, and on the east and west by segments of 17th Street NW, and it interrupts Connecticut Avenue NW...
near Connecticut Avenue. Willimon, who worked for Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) and former Governor of Vermont
Governor of Vermont
The Governor of Vermont is the governor of the U.S. state of Vermont. The governor is elected in even numbered years by direct voting for a term of two years; Vermont and bordering New Hampshire are the only states to hold gubernatorial elections every two years, instead of every four...
and 2004 Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean, titled the play for the Metrorail station located nearest the district's center for think tanks, lobbyists, and advocacy groups.
It was slated to open on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
in 2008, in the lead up to the 2008 United States presidential election
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
The production premiered at the Linda Gross Theater of the Atlantic Theater Company in New York City. The production was directed by Doug Hughes
Doug Hughes
Douglas Hughes is an American theatre and film director. He is the son of acting couple Barnard Hughes and Helen Stenborg.-References:-External links:...
and starred John Gallagher, Jr.
John Gallagher, Jr.
John Howard Gallagher, Jr. is an American actor and musician perhaps best known for originating the role of Moritz Stiefel in Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater's rock musical Spring Awakening...
, Chris Noth
Chris Noth
Christopher David "Chris" Noth is an American actor. He is known for long-running television roles as Det. Mike Logan on the police procedural and legal drama television series, Law & Order and Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and as Big on Sex and the City. For the latter role, he has been...
, Olivia Thirlby, Kate Blumberg and Isiah Whitlock, Jr. The production ran from October 22, 2008 – November 29, 2008 with official opening on November 12. On June 24 2009 the production transferred to Los Angeles' Geffen Playhouse
Geffen Playhouse
The Geffen Playhouse is a not for profit performing arts theater in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Originally named the Westwood Playhouse, UCLA purchased the property in 1993. UCLA's then chancellor, Charles E. Young, appointed Gil Cates Producing Director...
with Noth, Thirlby and Whitlock Jr reprising their roles. Chris Pine
Chris Pine
Christopher Whitelaw "Chris" Pine is an American actor. He has appeared in the romantic comedies The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement and Just My Luck , as well as the action films Smokin' Aces and Unstoppable . In 2009, he portrayed James T...
joined the cast. Concurrently tt received a production at the Contemporary American Theater Festival
Contemporary American Theater Festival
The Contemporary American Theater Festival is an American annual professional-theatre festival held at Shepherd University, located in Shepherdstown, West Virginia...
in July of 2009.
Film adaptation
The play has since been turned into a film, The Ides of MarchThe Ides of March (film)
The Ides of March is a 2011 American political drama thriller film directed by George Clooney from a screenplay written by Clooney, along with Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon. The film is an adaptation of Willimon's 2008 play Farragut North...
, directed by George Clooney
George Clooney
George Timothy Clooney is an American actor, film director, producer, and screenwriter. For his work as an actor, he has received two Golden Globe Awards and an Academy Award...
, and was released by Sony Pictures in October 2011.