Written by Robert Schenkkan, directed by Keven Moriarty and co-produced with Alley Theater, the Wyly Theater brings to Dallas the 2014 “Best Play” Tony award-winning show “All The Way.” This suspenseful Texas-sized new play about one of the most powerful Texans, takes us from the earliest moments of Lyndon B. Johnson’s accidental presidency to his hard-won landslide election one year later. The resident acting companies of Dallas Theater Center and Houston’s Tony Award-winning Alley Theater join together to create this monumental play, which will be performed in both cities.
Pulitzer Prize-winner, and Texas native Robert Schenkkan’s masterful script paints a gripping portrayal of LBJ as a civil rights hero, ruthless bully, and perhaps one of our greatest legislative presidents. With a title reflecting back to the slogan for his 1964 campaign, “All The Way” is a searing and enthralling dramatization that explores political gridlock, strong-arm manipulation, and the morality of politics and power.
The Wyly Theater is a black box venue that changes its stage/audience configurations to meet the needs of each show produced. This allows directors and scene designers to create a unique environment for each show. “All The Way” is performed on a proscenium thrust configuration with seating that brings the audience right up to the edge of the stage, with blocking taking actors nearly into the laps of their audience. A very dynamic and powerful use of historic news film footage clips are projected on the stage that add incredible depth and intensity to the story.
“All The Way” was originally commissioned by The Oregon Shakespeare Festival as part of the American Revolution Project. The idea was to have plays written that captured American history in the same way that Shakespeare had captured England’s Tutor history. Mr. Schenkkan first presented “All The Way” in 2012 at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. The passion and historical accuracy that Schenkkan has poured into his work is only second to the brilliance with which he has captured the characterizations of this historical time.
An audience’s reactions speak volumes to the success of a show. At intermission, it was interesting to hear audience members’ comments. Several were discussing their involvement in LBJ’s campaign and having been employed in Washington during Jonson’s time in the White House. Their conversation pivoted on how the character’s on stage – especially LBJ – were flawlessly written and being portrayed.
The time frame that “All The Way” covers is just slightly over eleven months. After the assassination of John F. Kennedy in Dallas on November 22, 1963, Lyndon Baines Johnson took the oath of office as President of the United States. With the country still in shock, LBJ, mindful that he was an “accidental president,” was determined to carry on the Kennedy legacy by manipulating a reluctant Congress into passing a Civil Rights Bill. LBJ had to reassure Hubert Humphrey, Martin Luther King, Jr., and other senators and Civil Rights leaders that he was serious about passing this bill. At the same time, he was forced to contend with the Southern Democratic bloc, including Senators Richard Russell of Georgia, James Eastland of Mississippi and Strom Thurmond of South Carolina who wanted to preserve segregation at all costs. In this play, from November 1963 to October 1964, LBJ uses his power and personality in a covert, intrigue-filled battle to gain the necessary votes to ratify the Civil Rights Bill.
The talent that fills “All The Way” with life and breath of historical characters is jaw-dropping. Brierley Resident Acting Company member Brandon Potter takes the stage as LBJ. With a flawless dialect and dynamic accuracy with his mannerisms and characterizations, Potter portrays Johnson as emotionally needy and vulnerable. Even as Johnson bullies other people in his life such as his wife, Lady Bird Johnson, and his longtime aide Walter Jenkins, it is easy to see the passion and fear that drove LBJ because of Potter’s skill and dedication to the part.
Rarely have I seen a portrayal of Dr. Martin Luther King given such humanity and roundness of character. This is part to a well written script, but equally to the talent and commitment of Shawn Hamilton who brings real life to the part.
Schenkkan describes “All The Way” as a play about “the morality of politics and power. Where do you draw the line in term of intentions and actions. How much leeway does a good intention give you to violate the law?” If there was ever any doubt that I understood this critical time in our nation’s history, experiencing “All The Way” has evaporated that fear.
For ticket information, please click here or call the box office at (214) 880-0202
Now playing at the Wyly Theatre in Dallas March 3 – April 3
Went to see this at the paywhatyoucan performance. What a great performance. There is no fault I could find with this show.